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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    puzzled medical authorities by its obvious resemblance to syphilis, though “ they could not bring themselves to acknowledge identity, because sibbens was not venereal.”11 The converse point of view, that syphilis spreads by venereal infection only, is at least acquiesced in by the medical profession at the present day, and is universal among the non-medical public. Hence it comes to pass that many cases of non- venereal syphilis are overlooked, especially among infants. It is doubtful whether we fully realise the ravages the disease is capable of in the midst of an unsuspecting and innocent family. Zarubin12 holds strongly to the opinion that non-venereal syphilis is very common in Russia, and goes so far as to say “ that it does not correspond with my observations to consider acquired syphilis in children is rarer than heredo- syphilis, and Kalmanowski, studying the subject in rural populations, agrees with me.” Khijine found in rural districts of Russia extra-genital infection in 8i per cent, of all cases, and Militchevitch states that half the cases in Servia are extra- % genital infection. Zarubin's conclusions are very interesting. The non-venereal contagion is commoner in the country than in the towns. Children are more liable to extra-genital infection than adults. Infection by the mouth is the most frequent form of extra- genital syphilis. Chancre of the pharynx is not less frequent than chancre of the lip. The upper classes are as liable to non-venereal infection as the lower. Children play an important part in the domestic spread of syphilis, both on account of the extreme infectivity of heredo- syphilis in infants, and by reason of their liability to acquire syphilis extra-genitally. It should not be a very difficult matter to differentiate between acquired and inherited syphilis in infants, but the following points may help in the recognition of acquired syphilis.