Household syphilis (syphilis oeconomica) : with observations on acquired syphilis in infants / by J.A. Nixon.

  • Nixon, John Alexander, 1874-1951.
Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Household syphilis (syphilis oeconomica) : with observations on acquired syphilis in infants / by J.A. Nixon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    regard acquired syphilis in children as being commonly the result of a criminal assault. Syphilis ceconomica is the true explanation of no small proportion of cases occurring in children, and extra-genital chancres about the mouth in adults, as well as in children, are more often than not due to infection from food utensils ; especially is this the case when the primary sore is situated on the tongue or tonsil. Gaucher and Flurin,10 in their excellent study upon the situation of chancres in children under fifteen years of age, show from their own observations and those of Professor Fournier that the lips are the most common seat of extra- genital chancres in children. By Professor Gaucher’s courtesy I am able to quote his conclusions at length : “ All observers are agreed in recognising the very great frequency of the site of the chancre on the face, and particularly of the chancre of the lips. As for chancre of the tonsil, of which Duncan Bulkley and Boeck have shown the extreme importance in children, we cannot support their opinion, as we have never seen primary tonsillar syphilis below the age of fifteen. It is fair to say that Bceck has observed it in Norway, and explains the frequency of tonsillar chancre in that country by the large number of poor families who share the same food utensils, and who possess only one spoon for a whole household. . . . We may conclude with the remark that just as there is no age protected from acquired syphilis, so there is no region of the skin or mucous membranes which may not at every age be the seat of syphilitic chancre, and where this may not be the result of some accidental contact.” REFERENCES. 1 Colies’ Works, New Syd. Soc. Ed., 1881, p. 276. 2 Diday, Infantile Syphilis, New Syd. Soc. Ed., 1859, passim. 3 Ibid.., 155. 4 Ibid., 168. 5 Lancereaux, Treatise on Syphilis, New Syd. Soc. Ed., 1869, ii. 229. 6 Ibid., ii. 232. 7 Sydenham, Opera Omnia, Syd. Soc. Ed., 1844, p. 309. 8 Lancereaux, op. cit., ii. 237. 9 Schamberg, J. Am. M. Ass., 1911, lvii. 783.