Figure 1: Scientific Classification and Image of Treponema Pallidum
Generally acquired through sexual contact with an individual hosting the spirochete bacteria, Treponema Pallidum, syphilis is catalogued as a disease with four distinct progressive stages (primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary.). Prior to modern technology, the disease was known as The Great Imitator due to the fact that its many tertiary symptoms made it difficult to readily identify, and it is argued that historical cases of leprosy epidemics were more likely syphilitic outbreaks. [1] Coined ‘syphilis‘ in 1530 by Italian physician and poet Girolamo Fracastoro, the disease was epically identified as punishment sent by Apollo against a shepherd named Syphilus as a result of his defiance against Apollo[2].
Primary syphilis manifests as a usually painless chancre forming within 10 – 90 days of contact with the spirochete and unless the chancre is in a visible location it may well go unnoticed. There may be local swelling of lymph nodes. The chancre resolves itself within 4 to 6 weeks and the disease moves to the secondary stage within 1 to 6 months. Involving a likewise painless reddish-pink or coppery colored rash/lesions that may cover the whole body but particularly on the palms of the hands and soles of feet, this stage is considered the most contagious and can be accompanied by mild fever, sore throat, general malaise, weight loss, meningeal headaches, arthritic complaints, and enlarged lymph nodes (see images Appendix A). More severe cases can involve acute meningitis, hepatitis, renal disease, gastritis, disorders of the rectum and colon, and several kinds of eye disorders which can eventually lead to blindness. Latent syphilis is defined as having proof of infection (by blood test) without symptoms and is sub-categorized as either early-latent (under two years since infection without symptoms) or late-latent (over two-years since infection without symptoms). Syphilis is conventionally treated using antibiotics, but it is important to note that this suppressive measure only places the patient in a state of latency, not of cure – a patient is still considered to be infectious in this stage. Tertiary syphilis generally develops within 1 to 10 years after initial infection, but may take as long as 50 years and is characterized by the formation of gummas, a non-cancerous form of granuloma, most commonly found in the liver (gumma hepatis), but can also be found in brain, heart, skin, bone, testis, and other tissues, leading to a variety of problems. The area of the gumma eventually fails due to coagulative necrosis, or cell death, related to lack of oxygen delivery to the area due to long-term inflammation.
When viewing photos of the disease stages, one finds it hard to believe that most are actually painless, as the appearance evokes (for me, at least) a sense that it should be excruciatingly painful, suggesting a strong hint for the miasm‘s characteristic withdrawal and lack of emotion, as though one has been totally desensitized (GENERALS, Reaction, lack of). Indeed, of the 388 rubrics in Kent‘s repertory, only 13 of them are bold type. Shroyen‘s Synthesis Treasure Edition shows only 35 bold-type rubrics out of a total of 1585, and it is no surprise to find that the ‘boldest‘ rubric for Syphilinum, rated 4 in degrees is MIND, Disgust, a rubric that pretty much sums up the influence of the syphilitic miasm in present-day society.
Figure 2: Fifteenth century medical assigning astrological causes to the disease.
Looking to the bold remedy symptoms of syphilinum in Kent’s[3], we can see the destructive tendency of this disease physically and mentally manifesting itself, primarily in the bones (head, face, and legs), through eruptions, ulcerations and abscesses, and pains in the body. What the mind lacks in expression and reaction, the body seems to counter with major expressions of severe pain, particularly in agonizing (described as unsupportable) bone pains.
Sorting the whole set of rubrics by similarity gives these major groupings:
Insanity
Paralysis (incl. paralysis of the mind and emotion)
Tissue Changes (tumors, growths)
Eruptions, Ulcers, Abscesses
Discharges
Heat / Cold and Inflammation
Itching/Twitching
Pains of the Body (esp. head, face, eyes, teeth, back, and extremities)
Cough and Expectoration
Interestingly, with all the eruptive discharges, the body seems no longer able to discharge normally: there is prolapse, fissure, and constriction of the rectum as well as a morbid urge to urinate with only the ability for a feeble stream; blocks of the nose, and oppression of the chest with dry, hard, non-productive cough. Numbness in the extremities is paired with a kind of “numbness” in the mouth (lack of ability to taste) and an equal numbness of the mind (confusion and weakness of memory.). Kent indicates this is not the best remedy for the primary symptoms of the disease itself, but is more appropriate to restore order to the vitality of one who suffers in the latent stages or for patients who are “syphilized invalids”, and states it is by no means only for those who have had the disease, but for those “with symptoms like those of the proving“ or “with similar symptoms to those that are common to the disease.“ He indicates its use in high potencies only. In considering how the syphilitic influence manifests in society today, one can borrow easily from the rubrics of the mind and generals. Wherever it is that disgust, rot, insanity, apathy, blood-lust, confusion, disregard for life and other “paralyzed” reactions reign, we will find syphilis at its roots: violence, aggression, mayhem, destruction, terrorism – all are syphilitic.
The Syphilitic Big Bad Wolf from Unit 8, shown here with his “X-Rated“ placard removed, quickly gives one the idea this is not a guy to meet for tea, to meet the parents, or to meet in a dark alley.
Figure 3: The Syphilitic Miasm as seen in the Big, Bad Wolf
Spoiling and even aching for a fight (insanity), recklessly seeking an outlet for destruction (eruptions), he is perhaps the darkest side of humanity: the murderer, the rapist, the annihilator, the terrorist, the assassin, the shooter, the bomber, the serial killer, the prejudiced, the indifferent, the apathetic, the pyromaniac, the kidnapper, the self-destructive, the violent, the insane, the perverse, the severely depressed, the suicidal, the homicidal, the raging, the superstitious, the obsessive, the ones who have lost or sold their souls (lack of reaction), those who hate so violently that the conscience is muted (paralysis of emotion): all will have had their brush with syphilis at some point in time in some way, whether in direct contact with the disease or by way of generational inheritance.
And leave us not forget the many compensated individuals in whom this miasm also bears influence – the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker (ad infinitum).
Throughout history, these tendencies have manifested not only in individuals, but also in the group mindset. When group-think takes on a syphilitic posture, mass-destruction can follow quickly and always violently, such as in the case of the Ku Klux Klan, the murder of Jews during WWII, the willful annihilation and exploitation of races of people, airplanes being flown into buildings, bombs dropping from planes out of the sky, the shooting up of a schoolyard, the Mumbai massacre, and the list goes on. Wherever hate, terror, and fear reign covertly or overtly, our deepest inheritance, syphilis, will no doubt be the perpetrator.
Bibliography
Allen, H. C. Allen‘s Key Notes, with Nosodes. 8th Edition. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers, Ltd, 2001; pp 282 – 284.
Heudens-Mast, Henny. The Foundation of the Chronic Miasms in the Practice of Homeopathy. Tallahassee: Lutea Press, 2005.
Kent, James T. Materia Medica of Homeopathic Remedies. Sittingbourne: Homeopathic Book Service, 2000, pp 949 – 954.
Kent, James T. Repertory of the Materia Medica and a Word index. Sixth American Edition. New Delhi: B. Jain Publishers, 1927.
Ortega, Proceso Sanchez. Notes on the Miasms. New Delhi: National Homeopathic Pharmacy, 1980.
Radar Homeopathic Software, Version 10, Using Kent‘s Repertory.
Vermeulen, Frans. Prisma. Second Edition. Haarlem: Emryss bv Publishers, 2002, pp 1316 – 1326.
Appendix A
Disease Images
Figure 1: Primary chancre of syphilis at the site of infection on the hand (Wikipedia).
Figure 2: Typical presentation of secondary syphilis rash on the palms of the hands and usually also seen on soles of feet (Wikipedia).
Appendix B
Syphilinum MIND and GENERAL Rubrics, Kent
MIND – CONFUSION of mind
MIND – FEAR – insanity,of
MIND – FEAR – paralysis,of
MIND – IRRITABILITY – headache,during
MIND – MEMORY,weakness of
MIND – MEMORY,weakness of – dates,for
MIND – MEMORY,weakness of – names,for proper
MIND – MISTAKES – in calculating
MIND – RESTLESSNESS,nervousness – headache, – during
MIND – SPEECH,babbling – slow
MIND – WASHING always,her hands
GENERALS – EVENING – sunset – till sunrise
GENERALS – NIGHT – 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
GENERALS – ABSCESSES – recurrent GENERALS – ABSCESSES – glands
GENERALS – ASCENDING – high agg. – amel.
GENERALS – CONVULSIONS – epileptic
GENERALS – CONVULSIONS – menses, – after
GENERALS – PARALYSIS agitans – one-sided
GENERALS – REACTION,lack of
GENERALS – STORM, – approach of a
GENERALS – STORM, – during storm
GENERALS – SYPHILIS
GENERALS – WEAKNESS,enervation
GENERALS – WEAKNESS,enervation – morning
Syphilinum BOLD Rubrics, Kent
MIND – IRRITABILITY – headache,during
HEAD – PAIN, – night
HEAD – PAIN, – cutting,darting,stabbing – Occiput – night
FACE – ERUPTIONS – pimples – nose
FACE – ERUPTIONS – syphilitic
MOUTH – ULCERS – syphilitic
BACK – PAIN – evening – sunset to sunrise
BACK – PAIN – night
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Leg – night
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Leg – warmth – of bed
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Leg – bones
SKIN – ERUPTIONS – syphilitic
GENERALS – SYPHILIS
Syphilinum SINGLE Rubrics
MIND – WASHING always,her hands
HEAD – PAIN, – cutting,darting,stabbing – Occiput – night
HEAD – PAIN, – lancinating – Occiput – night
EYE – PAIN – drawing – lamplight agg.
FACE – ERUPTIONS – rash – syphilitic
MOUTH – TASTE, – putrid – epileptic fit,before
TEETH – CUPPED in children
TEETH – DWARFED
FEMALE GENITALIA – ITCHING – morning
RESPIRATION – DIFFICULT – midnight – after – 1 to 4 a.m.
COUGH – MORNING – daybreak amel.
COUGH – CHOKING sensation,fauces from,to bifurcation of bronchi
EXPECTORATION – BALL,feels like a round,and rushes into mouth
CHEST – PAIN – cutting (sudden sharp pain) – night
BACK – ERUPTIONS – maculae (syphilitic)
BACK – PAIN – evening – sunset to sunrise
BACK – PAIN – Lumbar region – urinating, – after – agg.
EXTREMITIES – ERUPTION – Upper Limbs – elevations – spots
EXTREMITIES – ERUPTION – Fingers – elevated spots
EXTREMITIES – ERUPTION – Leg – elevations – spots
EXTREMITIES – LAMENESS – Upper Limbs – raising the arm
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Foot – back of – extending to – toes
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – dislocation,as if,feeling, – Toes
EXTREMITIES – TUMORS, – Leg – tibia,osteosarcoma
EXTREMITIES – WASHES – always washing her hands
GENERALS – ASCENDING – high agg. – amel.
GENERALS – CONVULSIONS – menses, – after
Syphilinum Sorted Rubrics, KENT INSANITY
MIND – CONFUSION of mind
MIND – FEAR – insanity,of
MIND – MEMORY,weakness of – dates,for
MIND – MEMORY,weakness of – names,for proper
MIND – MISTAKES – in calculating
MIND – SPEECH,babbling – slow
MIND – RESTLESSNESS,nervousness – headache, – during
MIND – WASHING always,her hands
PARALYSIS
MIND – FEAR – paralysis,of
EYE – PARALYSIS – optic nerve,amaurosis
EAR – CALCAREOUS deposit on tympanum
HEARING – IMPAIRED – Lost
FACE – PARALYSIS
MOUTH – PARALYSIS, – Tongue
MOUTH – SPEECH – thick
MOUTH – TASTE, – wanting, loss of taste
EXTREMITIES – LAMENESS – Upper Limbs – raising the arm
EXTREMITIES – NUMBNESS – Hand – palm
EXTREMITIES – NUMBNESS – Foot – sole of
EXTREMITIES – CONTRACTION of muscles and tendons
EXTREMITIES – CONTRACTION of muscles and tendons – Knee,hollow of
EXTREMITIES – EXTENSION, – fingers,difficult
EXTREMITIES – WEAKNESS – Hip
EXTREMITIES – WEAKNESS – Knee
GENERALS – PARALYSIS agitans – one-sided
GENERALS – WEAKNESS,enervation[4]
GENERALS – WEAKNESS,enervation – morning
TISSUE CHANGES
EXTREMITIES – TUMORS, – Leg – tibia,osteosarcoma
FEMALE GENITALIA – TUMORS – Ovaries
NOSE – PROTUBERANCES
TEETH – LOOSENESS of – sensation TEETH – SERRATED
HEAD – HAIR, – falling
TEETH – CARIES,decayed,hollow – gums,at edge of
TEETH – CUPPED in children
ERUPTIONS, ULCERS, ABSCESSES
EYE – ERUPTIONS, – canthi
EAR – ERUPTIONS – boils
FACE – ERUPTIONS – nose
FACE – ERUPTIONS – crusty,scabby
FACE – ERUPTIONS – crusty,scabby – chin
FACE – ERUPTIONS – crusty,scabby – nose
FACE – ERUPTIONS – papular
FACE – ERUPTIONS – pimples
FACE – ERUPTIONS – rash – syphilitic
FACE – ERUPTIONS – red – nose,on
FACE – ERUPTIONS – vesicles
CHEST – ERUPTIONS – rash
BACK – ERUPTIONS – maculae (syphilitic)
EXTREMITIES – ERUPTION – Upper Limbs – boils
EXTREMITIES – ERUPTION – Upper Limbs – elevations – spots
EXTREMITIES – ERUPTION – Fingers – elevated spots
EXTREMITIES – EXCORIATION, – Toes,between
SKIN – ERUPTIONS – coppery
SKIN – ERUPTIONS – dirty
SKIN – ERUPTIONS – rash
NOSE – ULCERS – inside
NOSE – ULCERS – septum,round ulcers
MOUTH – ULCERS – base black – lardaceous
MOUTH – ULCERS – gangrenous
MOUTH – ULCERS – Palate – on velum
STOMACH – ULCERS RECTUM – ULCERATION
MALE GENITALIA – ULCERS – Penis – glans
FEMALE GENITALIA – ULCERS RECTUM – HAEMORRHOIDS – ulcerating
EXTREMITIES – ULCERS – Hand – back of
EXTREMITIES – ULCERS – Lower Limbs – varicose
EXTREMITIES – ULCERS – Thigh
EXTREMITIES – ULCERS – Leg
EXTREMITIES – ULCERS – Leg – burning
SKIN – ULCERS – burning
SKIN – ULCERS – shining
THROAT INTERNAL – MUCOUS patches
THROAT INTERNAL – SYPHILITIC affections
ABDOMEN – ABSCESS in walls – Inguinal region
RECTUM – ABSCESS BACK – ABSCESS – psoas
DISCHARGES, FLUIDS
EAR – DISCHARGES
EAR – DISCHARGES – purulent
NOSE – DISCHARGE, – crusts,scabs,inside
NOSE – DISCHARGE, – greenish
NOSE – DISCHARGE, – offensive
NOSE – DISCHARGE, – thick
NOSE – DISCHARGE, – yellowish-green
EYE – TEARS, – acrid
STOMACH – NAUSEA
STOMACH – VOMITING – coughing,on
EXPECTORATION – GRAYISH
EXPECTORATION – GREENISH
EXPECTORATION – PURULENT
EXPECTORATION – THICK
EXPECTORATION – WHITE
EXPECTORATION – YELLOW
RECTUM – DIARRHOEA – morning – bed,driving out of
RECTUM – MOISTURE
STOOL – ACRID,corrosive,excoriating
FEMALE GENITALIA – LEUCORRHOEA
FEMALE GENITALIA – LEUCORRHOEA – thick
FEMALE GENITALIA – LEUCORRHOEA – thin,watery
FEMALE GENITALIA – LEUCORRHOEA – white
FEMALE GENITALIA – MENSES, – bright-red
EXPECTORATION – BALL,feels like a round,and rushes into mouth
HEAT (INFLAMMATION, SWELLING) VS COLD
EYE – INFLAMMATION
EYE – INFLAMMATION – iris – rheumatic
EYE – INFLAMMATION – iris – syphilitic
EYE – CHEMOSIS[5]
EYE – CHEMOSIS – right
EYE – HEAT in – lids
EYE – REDNESS
EYE – PAIN – burning,smarting,biting
EYE – REDNESS – lids – edges of
EYE – COLDNESS in
EYE – COLDNESS in – cold air blew in,as if
THROAT INTERNAL – FULLNESS
FACE – SWELLING – submaxillary glands
FACE – SWELLING – submaxillary glands – hard
NOSE – PAIN in – burning,smarting
NOSE – PAIN in – burning,smarting – wings
EYE – SWOLLEN – lids
EYE – SWOLLEN – lids – margins
MOUTH – PROTRUDED,Tongue
FEMALE GENITALIA – SWOLLEN – Ovaries
MALE GENITALIA – SWELLING – Scrotum
RECTUM – HAEMORRHOIDS
RECTUM – HAEMORRHOIDS – touch agg.
EXTREMITIES – FELON (Onychia,Paronychia, Panaritium, etc.) beginning in nail – runaround.
EXTREMITIES – SWELLING – Fingers – second
EXTREMITIES – SWELLING – Toes
ITCHING/TWITCHING
FACE – TWITCHING
EYE – TWITCHING – lids – right
MOUTH – SPASMS,Tongue
BACK – SPASMS
EYE – ITCHING – canthi – inner
NOSE – ITCHING – inside
NOSE – ITCHING – inside – left
RECTUM – ITCHING
URETHRA-URINARY ORGANS – ITCHING – meatus
FEMALE GENITALIA – ITCHING
FEMALE GENITALIA – ITCHING – morning
COLORATION
FACE – SPOTS
MOUTH – DISCOLORATION, – Tongue, – dirty
MOUTH – DISCOLORATION, – Tongue, – red
TEETH – DISCOLORED, – black
EYE – DISCOLORATION – of iris
EYE – DULLNESS – iris
VISION – COLORS before the eyes – black – spots
SKIN – DISCOLORATION, – bluish
SKIN – DISCOLORATION, – red – spots – coppery
SKIN – INTERTRIGO
STOOL – YELLOW – orange
PAINS IN THE BODY
HEAD – PAIN, – sun,from exposure to
HEAD – PAIN, – Vertex
HEAD – PAIN, – cutting,darting,stabbing – Occiput
HEAD – PAIN, – lancinating – Occiput
HEAD – PAIN, – lancinating – Occiput – night
HEAD – PAIN, – pressing – Vertex
FACE – PAIN, – right
FACE – PAIN, – eating, – while
FACE – PAIN, – lying,while
FACE – PAIN, – lying,while – on affected side agg.
FACE – PAIN, – pressure – amel.
EYE – PAIN – light
EYE – PAIN – canthi – inner
EYE – PAIN – aching
EYE – PAIN – drawing – lamplight agg.
EYE – PAIN – sand,as from
EYE – PAIN – stitching – extending backward – inward
EAR – PAIN
NOSE – PAIN in – sore,bruised,externally – inside
TEETH – PAIN, – left
TEETH – PAIN, – cold, – anything
TEETH – PAIN, – masticating,from
TEETH – PAIN, – warm – drinks,from
TEETH – PAIN, – jerking
RECTUM – PAIN
RECTUM – PAIN – soreness
RECTUM – SENSITIVE
MALE GENITALIA – PAIN – sore,bruised
FEMALE GENITALIA – PAIN – Ovaries
FEMALE GENITALIA – PAIN – Ovaries – right
FEMALE GENITALIA – PAIN – Ovaries – left – extending to abdomen – right
FEMALE GENITALIA – PAIN – Ovaries – left – extending to abdomen – small of back FEMALE GENITALIA – PAIN – Ovaries – extending to – back
FEMALE GENITALIA – PAIN – aching – Ovaries
FEMALE GENITALIA – PAIN – aching – Ovaries – left
FEMALE GENITALIA – PAIN – cutting – Ovaries
FEMALE GENITALIA – PAIN – sore,tenderness – Ovaries
FEMALE GENITALIA – PAIN – stitching – Ovaries
KIDNEY-URINARY ORGANS – PAIN – extending – testes
CHEST – PAIN – burning – coughing, – during
CHEST – PAIN – cutting (sudden sharp pain) – Heart
CHEST – PAIN – sore,bruised
CHEST – PAIN – sore,bruised – coughing,from
CHEST – PAIN – sore,bruised – Mammae
BACK – HEAVINESS,weight – Lumbar region
BACK – PAIN – Cervical region – bending head – backward – amel.
BACK – PAIN – Dorsal region – scapulae – between
BACK – PAIN – Lumbar region
BACK – PAIN – Lumbar region – urinating, – during
BACK – PAIN – Lumbar region – urinating, – after – agg.
BACK – PAIN – Coccyx
BACK – PAIN – Coccyx – sitting,while
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – night
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Upper Limbs – raising arm
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Shoulder – raising the arm – agg.
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Upper Arm – raising arm
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Lower Limbs – morning – amel.
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Lower Limbs – menses, – before
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Lower Limbs – sciatica – motion – agg.
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Lower Limbs – sciatica – walking – amel.
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Lower Limbs – warmth – of bed
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Hip – night
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Thigh
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Thigh – standing, – while
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Thigh – anterior part
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Knee
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Ankle – rheumatic
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Foot – back of
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Foot – back of – rheumatic
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Foot – back of – extending to – toes
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – Foot – sole – standing, – while
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – aching – Knee
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – aching – Leg
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – dislocation,as if,feeling, – Toes
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – sore,bruised – Foot – sole
EXTREMITIES – PAIN – tearing – Thigh – walking, – amel.
COUGH AND EXPECTORATION
LARYNX-TRACHEA – SCRAPING,clearing larynx
LARYNX-TRACHEA – VOICE, – hoarseness – menses, – before
RESPIRATION – ASTHMATIC – thunderstorm,during
RESPIRATION – DIFFICULT – eating, – after
RESPIRATION – DIFFICULT – lying, – while
RESPIRATION – DIFFICULT – thunder storm,before
RESPIRATION – RATTLING
COUGH – MORNING – daybreak amel.
COUGH – CHOKING sensation,fauces from,to bifurcation of bronchi
COUGH – DINNER, – after
COUGH – DRY
COUGH – DRY – night
COUGH – DRY – sleep, – disturbing
COUGH – HARD
COUGH – HARD – night
COUGH – LYING – abdomen,on,amel.
COUGH – LYING – side – right
COUGH – RACKING
COUGH – SCRAPING – larynx,from
COUGH – SLEEP, – disturbing
COUGH – WHOOPING
CHEST – DRAWN feels, – toward back
CHEST – OPPRESSION
MISCELLANEOUS
VISION – DIPLOPIA
VISION – MYOPIA
NOSE – OBSTRUCTION
MOUTH – SALIVA, – sweet
MOUTH – TASTE, – putrid – epileptic fit,before
MOUTH – THICK,Tongue,sensation
TEETH – GRINDING
STOMACH – THIRST – extreme
RECTUM – FISSURE
RECTUM – PROLAPSUS
RECTUM – CONSTRICTION,contraction,closure,etc
BLADDER-URINARY ORGANS – URGING to urinate (morbid desire) – night BLADDER-URINARY ORGANS – URGING to urinate (morbid desire) – frequent BLADDER-URINARY ORGANS – URINATION, – feeble stream (slow)
EXTREMITIES – EMACIATION – Upper Limbs
EXTREMITIES – EMACIATION – Leg
EXTREMITIES – PERSPIRATION – Wrist SLEEP – DREAMS, – disease SLEEP – SLEEPLESSNESS – sleepiness,with
GENERALS – ASCENDING – high agg. – amel.
GENERALS – CONVULSIONS – menses, – after
GENERALS – STORM, – approach of a
GENERALS – STORM, – during storm
[1] An excellent article on the origins, history, and treatment of syphilis can be found online at Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/syphilis). See also the related article on the bacteria Treponema Pallidum
[2] Apollo, the god of light and the sun, truth and prophecy, was also noted for being the bringer of medicine and healing as well as the caretaker of music, art, and poetry. It is interesting that he is credited with sending this „mother of all diseases? to punish those in defiance. A general symptom of syphilis is loss of eyesight, and an intriguing specific symptom of neurosiphilis is Argyll Robertson pupil, a failure of the pupils to accommodate to light when they will accommodate to focus on a near object (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argyll-Robertson_pupil and http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/EHSL-Moran-Neuro-opth&CISOPTR=60).
[3] See Appendix B. There are a total of 388 rubrics in Kent?s for Syph, 272 (70%) of which are plain-type or first-degree rubrics.
[4] Loss of vitality Valerie
[5] Swelling of conjunctiva
