syph111phobia

[Eng. syphilis, and Gr. phobos =fear.] Pathol.: Syphilitic monomania: a morbid fear of being affected by syphilis, producing some imaginary symptoms of the disease, and often leading to suicide. The most obstinate cases are in women. syphilis syph-I-lis, s . [A word introduced by Sauvages, from Syphilus, the name of a shepherd in Fracostoro's poem, Syphilus , sive Morbus Gallic us : Gr. sys= a hog, and philos =dear, loving. ( Mahn .)] Pathol.: A disease due to the introduction of a specific poison into the system by direct contact of an infected with a healthy surface. In the majority of cases syphilis is venereal; but it is no means nece arily so, as the poison may be communicated to the fingers (as is often the case ase with medical men and midwives) from touching diseased parts, or it may be introduced by infected lymph in vaccination. It is characterized in the first in stance by the presence of a single sore, the hard chancre, and frequently by induration of the absorbent glands, chiefly those of the groin. It has probably existed from time immemorial wherever promiscuous sexual intercourse has prevailed, though the statement has often been made that it was first brought to Europe by the followers of Columbus. Mention of it occurs, however, in the ancient literature of China, and before the period above fixed, places called stews existed in the borough of South wark, England, where prostitutes suffering from this contagious disease were confined. In the secondary or constitutional form, the throat is chiefly affected, frightful ulceration being common, with cutaneous eruptions, affections of the nose, ears, joints, and bones. Tertiary symptoms also occur, with the presence of nodes or gummata. In its constitutional form the fœtus in utero, or newly-born infant is frequently affected.