syphilis

(sif i-lis) [fancifully and incorrectly derived (according to tradition) from G. sys, hog, + philos, loving; or syn, -with, + philos, loving.] An infectious disease spread by inoculation through sexual intercourse and also largely through the medium of contaminated table utensils, pipes, towels, etc. After an incubation period of 12 to 20 days, the first symptom is the chancre,* followed by slight fever and other constitutional symptoms, and a skin eruption of various appearances with mucous patches; this constitutes the second stage. The third stage is marked by the formation of gummata. The specific organism is Treponema pallidum (Spirochizia pallid a), congen'ital s., s. her edit aria, equine s., dourine. pri'mary s., the first stage of the disease from the development of the chancre to the appearance of the eruption, sec'ondary s., the second stage of the disease, beginning with the appearance of the eruption and lasting an indefinite period. quater'nary s., para syphilis. s. d'emblfie (donbla') [Fr. right away], s. occurring without an initial sore. s. her edit a'ria, hereditary s., o. present in a child at the time of birth, s. her edit a'ria tar'da, s., supposed to be hereditary or congenital, which does not manifest itself Tm.til several years after birth, s. innocen'tium, s. inson'tium [L. s. of the innocent], syphilis acquired in other ways than by coitus or other sexual practices, as may occur through the common use of table instruments, public drinking cups, lavatory towels, etc. s. oeconom'ica, s. insontium in which infection occurs through the medium of table utensils, towels, and other articles of domestic use. ter'tiary s., the final stage of the disease, of indefinite beginning and ending, marked by the formation of gummata.