Syphilis
means “to make love”!
By Manuel Luciano da Silva, Medical Doctor
SYPHILIS
is
a paradoxical term! The word syphilis means “to make love together!” To
better understand how the word syphilis was developed we describe first how
Philadelphia was named.
In
1681, William Penn obtained a royal license to establish a village at the mouth
of the Delaware River. Searching for an appropriate name, Penn borrowed the
Greek word “phylos,” which means “love,” added to it another Greek word,
“Delphos,” which means “brother,” the City of Philadelphia, “Brotherly
Love,” was born!
One
hundred and fifty years before, in Veneza, Italy, the name Syphilis was created
by the famous physician, Girolamo Fracastoro, who was also an excellent poet. In
a poem in Latin rhyme, Fracastoro described the signs and symptoms of Syphilis.
His poem is the most famous in medicine having been used as a text on Syphilis
for many years!
At
that time (1530) this disease was known in Italy as the “French disease” and
in France, went by the name of the “Italian maladie.” Each nation named this
venereal disease after its enemy. In Portugal it was named the “Spanish
disease” while “Portuguese disease” was the term used in Spain.
In
this immortal poem, Fracastoro described the story of a shepherd who traveled to
the city to make love but the gods chose to punish him with venereal disease.
Fracastoro, instead of naming the shepherd Anthony, John or Joseph, preferred to
create a new name reflecting his protagonist’s story. Thus, using
poetic-medical liberty, he borrowed the Greek prefix “syn” which means
“together” and added to it “phylos” which means as we know, “love.”
In this manner, the shepherd was named “syn + phylos” which resulted in the
name Syphilis, which
means “to make love together!”
In
1563, Thomas Gale, an English surgeon used the word syphilis for the first time
in the English language. Later, in 1905, Drs. Schaudinn and Hoffmann (Germans)
discovered the microbe which causes syphilis. It was called Treponema Pallidum
and has the shape of a corkscrew. In 1929, Sir Alexander Fleming discovered
Penicillin, the cure for all cases of syphilis.
The other venereal diseases
Sexual
diseases are more commonly known as venereal diseases. Venereal is derived from
“Venus,” the Latin name for the goddess of love. V. D. is as old as mankind
because the organisms which cause Sexually Transmitted Diseases can only survive
in humans and cannot live long outside the body.
Today,
medicine can correctly diagnose V. D. 100 percent of the time. Almost all V. D.
can be cured with penicillin and other antibiotics.
( With exception of AIDS. See below).
We have the means to eliminate V. D. from the surface of the earth. This
goal was accomplished for small pox through vaccination. Despite means to
eradicate V. D., this objective has been impossible to attain. Sexually
Transmitted Diseases are caused by three different groups of infectious
organisms.
(1)
Viral
Infections
a) Herpes: Type I — Type II
b) Viral warts.
c)
Clamydia (‘‘Intermediate’’ Clamydia Trachomatis
e) AIDS
(2)
Bacterial Infections
a) Gonorrhea (“clap”) (gonococcus)
b) Syphilis (Treponema Pallidum)
c) Hemophilus Vaginalis (Corynebacterium)
d) Chancroid (Ducrey Hemophilus)
(3)
Parasitic Infections
a) Trichomoniasis (Trichomonas Vaginalis)
b) Candidiasis (Candida — yeast infection)
c) Crabs (Pubic lice)
d) Scabies (Sarcoptes scabei)
HERPES
comes in two types. Type I causes blisters above the waistline, appearing as
cold or fever blisters, affecting lips, mouth and nose. Type II or genital
herpes, causes blisters below the waistline: on the penis, urethra, and in the
vulva, vagina and cervix. Lately Type II has increased in reported frequency
because of more widespread practice of oral sex. Herpes II does not kill adults,
but some experts believe it can cause cancer of the cervix. If an infected
pregnant woman has a vaginal delivery, the baby will develop meningitis and die.
VENEREAL
WARTS are
not the same as those appearing on the hands or feet. They are spread sexually
by a different virus, are highly contagious and do not disappear by themselves.
Venereal warts must be removed by a physician.
GONORRHEA
or “clap” is the most common of all V. D. after Herpes II. Among infectious
diseases, it is third in incidence to the common cold! It occurs most frequently
in the younger population and is always contracted through intercourse. It has
an incubation period of 2-7 days, but a high percentage (up to 80 percent) of
infected individuals do not show severe symptons of this disease. Because of
this, extra precaution is mandatory!
The
following list describes many of the more alarming signs and symptoms of
venereal diseases. You should be alert to them and not hesitate or procrastinate
in seeking help at a clinic or with your family physician, if you encounter any
of these signs or symptoms.
V.D.
in Man:
(1) Burning sensation during urination.
(2) Discharge from the penis.
(3) Inflammation of the head of penis especially under foreskin.
(4) Blisters, sores or warts around penis and genital area.
(5) Bumps or lumps around penis and groin.
(6) Pain in the testicles and lower abdomen.
(7) Itching, especially in pubic and groin areas.
(8) Anal itch, pain with defecation.
(9) Body rash.
(10) Itchy and gummy eyes.
(11) Sores or ulcers on body, lips and mouth.
(12) Swollen glands (lymph nodes) with fever.
V.D.
in Woman:
(1) Vaginal discharge.
(2) Itching and inflammation of the vulva (external genitalia)
(3) Burning sensation during urination.
(4) Swollen vaginal lips.
(5) Blisters, sores or warts around the vulva.
(6) Painful intercourse.
(7) Bumps or lumps around vulva.
(8) Lower abdominal pain.
(9) Itching especially in pubic and groin areas.
(10) Anal itch, pain with defecation.
(11) Body rash.
(12) Itchy and gummy eyes.
(13) Sores or ulcers, on body, lips and mouth.
(14) Swollen glands (lymph nodes) with fever.
In
the U.S. there are 2.5 million individuals who suffer from gonorrhea and half a
million who have syphilis. They are all in need of treatment! They could all be
cured, but instead they continue to be carriers of this preventable epidemic
disease.
Prevention
The simplest and most practical way to prevent V. D. is have ONLY ONE uninfected
partner or the man or woman must insist on the use of the condom. Remember that
V. D. also means VERY DANGEROUS! Venereal Diseases can damage the vital
organs and even KILL YOU!!!
To
this list of Venereal diseases we have to add
AIDS. For the chapter on
AIDS on my book “The Electricity of Love!” just click here