What are its constitutional symptoms? One of the most common of these is the appearance of copper-colored ulcers in the throat, which often work very actively in destroying the parts where they are located. Ulceration sometimes attacks the roof of the mouth and eats away the osseous portion between the mouth and nostrils; it occasionally takes a person by the nose, and by destroying the bone that divides the nasal orifices, lets that prominent feature of the face down to a level with the cheeks. Whether in throat, mouth, or nose, it generally imparts to the breath an offensive odor, and unless arrested by proper medication, deforms the face, impairs the powers of speech and the senses of seeing, hearing, and smelling, if, indeed, it does not paralyze all the powers of the body by destroying life itself. In some cases the disease reveals itself with great shyness in a small ulcer in an obscure part of the throat, from which point it stealthily advances until it reaches the curtain of the palate, or "soft palate," as it is sometimes called. This organ affords an easy field for its operation and very soon disappears before its ravages, and through all the spongy tissues of the throat and mouth it spreads like a fire in a dry peat-bed.

Another symptom of syphilis is the appearance of copper-colored blotches on the skin, usually about the breast and arms, and not infrequently on the forehead. They become elevated by a thin fluid which evaporates, leaving a kind of dandruff which readily comes off by friction. In many cases months will pass with no more alarming indications of the presence of syphilis in the blood; but generally ulcers sooner or later succeed the blotches. Occasionally a case is encountered in which scales are piled one upon another an inch high, as if a horn was about being projected from the point where they are forming. All these external affections in time penetrate and decompose the flesh beneath them, causing very destruc tive suppurative sores.

Falling of the hair is still another symptom, although this may arise from other causes. When, however, the hair drops or badly after exposure to syphilitic infection, it is well to search out the cause, and see if it may not be reasonably presumed to result from the presence of the destructive taint in the system.

When syphilitic poison is contracted by a scrofulous person, or one who has been often salivated with mercury, it is like adding fire to powder, and the foregoing symptoms are not only more marked and

rapid in their development, but the bones are generally attacked: and where the bones are but thinly covered with flesh, as about the forehead, shins, and portions of the arms and shoulders, swellings appear which are called nodes. These tumors often have an apex almost as broad as their base, with the exception of a slight convex. ity caused by the swollen skin covering them. In some instances they are about the size and shape of half a walnut, supposing it to be placed on the bare bone and covered with the integument. If they reach the suppurating stage, that portion of the bone forming their base usually becomes carious and the invalid suffers great pain.

As a matter of course, rheumatism of a very cbstinate character is often produced by syphilitic infection. Some constitutions are affected only in this way. In others, excruciating pain proceeds from something more than what can be called rheumatism. The bones become actually honey-combed, and in some instances crumble away and discharge their syphilitic lava through openings made in the flesh. The shin-bones are generally the seat of this form of the disorder.

There are those who profess to think there should be no remedies devised or administered for the cure of syphilis. Supposing the Almighty was so unmerciful, what would become of every one of us? Furthermore, what disease is there in the whole catalogue of physical distempers which does not proceed from our ignorance or our mistakes? Christ healed the lepers, and what were they but the victims of syphilis? The physicians have at last discovered that salt-rheum is one form of scrofula, and they will yet find that leprosy is one of the external manifestations of constitutional syphilis. Indeed in the first year of our Lord, long centuries before, and many after, the disease we now call syphilis was rampaging about without a name. It is unmistakably described in the Old Testament; Hippocrates, the founder of Grecian medicine, who lived B. c. 460, delineated a disease which was unquestionably the same; Avicenna and Aretus the most celebrated of the early Arabian physicians, described the affection, attributed its origin to carnal con'nection with unclean females, and classed it with lepra. It was not till nearly the close of the fifteenth century that the disease was grappled by the European physicians, and held long enough to be labeled SYPHILIS.

The various schools of medicine do not agree as to the best means

of treating syphilis. The "allopaths," without apparently knowing it, have, since the days of their founder-Paracelsus-been treating it on homeopathic principles. Probably most of my readers are aware that the school of medicine called "homeopathy" teaches that "like cures like." In other words, the physicians of this school believe they are assisting nature when they give to the sick man, in small doses, what would produce a similar affection in a healthy man in extravagant doses. Well, now, mercury in the form of calomel, or otherwise, excessively administered, will produce a mercurial disease, the effects of which are very like those of syphilis. It will cause ulcers and sores, and rot the bones, and give pains to the muscles and bones, etc. This same mercury has been the great weapon of the allopaths in combag syphilis. Should they not be indicted for homeopathy-tried, convicted, and kicked from their school?

It is my deliberate opinion that the Syphilitic Era, as it was called, was precipitated by the prevalence of mercury as a remedy for disease. In the fourteenth century mercury was duly initiated into the family of medicine with pompous flourish by Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus Paracelsus. It forthwith became not only a panacea for every thing in the hands of the disciples of Paracelsus, but it actually became a domestic medicine. It became a family drug, and was dispensed on all occasions when anybody had headache, corn, or stone bruise! The fiesh and blood of all Christendom became poisoned with it, and during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries syphilis raged so like an epidemic throughout Europe that that period has since been known as the Syphilitic Era. It is true that the disease took the form of an epidemic in Naples only two years after the birth of Paracelsus, but this may be accounted for by the fact that that city was at the time occupied by the French army; and it is universally true that where large armies are stationed the disease is liable to become prevalent; but its subsequent abrupt outbreak all over Europe, and at a time when mercury was the panacea for every ill, in my opinion, may be traced to the wide-spread use and abuse of that mineral. During that era all the nations of the civilized world called each other hard names for having originated the disease; but the real fact is, by their injudicious use of mercury they "sowed the wind and reaped the whirlwind."

As an auxiliary remedy for the cure of syphilis, on homeopathic principles, it may be admitted that mercury possesses some merit.

a cure.

in my practice, however, I never administer it by the mouth and stomach. It may be applied locally to syphilitic sores; it may be externally administered in the form of fumes or vapors in baths; and it may be passed through the system in company with and controlled by galvanic currents. In no case is it indispensable. I have cured scores of cases with purely botanical remedies. As in the case of scrofula it is necessary to take into account the constitutional peculiarities of the patient and the complications which exist, and consequently the treatment must be varied to suit the emergencies of each individual case. Syphilitic invalids at a distance, when taken as patients by the author, are treated with the remedies adverted to on page 299; but in office practice, electrical and mercurial applications and baths are not infrequently prescribed in order to facilitate When taken in the stomach, mercury is accumulative, and the patient receives a new enemy to combat; after having vanquished syphilitic poison he is suddenly confronted with mercurial poison, which in many cases proves the more powerful foe. All the benefit that can be derived from this mineral, is available without recourse to its internal administration as medicines are usually given. A mercurial current of galvanism, or one possessing the disinfecting properties of the mineral, may be generated by the use of mercury in the preparation of the batteries; and in applying this peculiar agent the diseased system is simply visited by the mercurial current. Although the whole body is permeated with it for the space of thirty or forty minutes it is the spirit and not the body of the metal which is present; not one particle of the objectionable mineral is retained to corrupt the blood, but the aura which entered passes out in obedience to the law which governs galvanism in its transit from the positive to the negative pole, after having paid a telegraphic call to the various parts of the body.

When the primary disease is present, or when ulcers affect any external part in the constitutional form, mercurial fumigating baths are preferable to the electrical or galvanic. Just what is best to be done must be left to the judgment of the physician, but make a judicious choice, and do not employ one who has not had extensive experience in the treatment of the disease. Nearly all cases of syphilis are curable if wisely treated. Persons afflicted with this disorder, desiring to consult the author, are referred to page 583.

A Variety of Chronic Diseases,

Not yet mentioned, might, with profit to the reader, receive attention in Part II.; but this division of the work is already fully fifty pages larger than it was my original design to make it. A chapter on nervous disorders, and another on ordinary affections of the blood, would be read with interest by a very large class of sufferers; but the more prominent disorders proceeding from these physical disturbances have already received attention. Readers having nervous of blood derangements not specially alluded to in this work, such as Hypochondriasis, Hysteria, or Fits; Boils, Carbuncles, Scald Head, Tetter, Itch, or Pustular Affections; or those suffering from other chronic ills, such as Dropsy, Diabetes, Gout, General Debility, and infirmities of an uncertain nature, perhaps without name, are at liberty to consult the author by answering the questions on page 583, and by giving any additional information having a bearing on the While I am fully conscious that there is a time when every one must die, I believe, yea, know, that thousands are dying daily with old complaints, whose lives could be spared for years, to make relatives and friends happy, if they could but have the treatment of skillful physicians who devote their whole time, study, and practice to chronic diseases.

case.

It is, indeed, surprising to see how many are contented to be made "comfortable" by the "family doctor" year in and year out, when resorting to treatment capable of removing cause or causes as well as effects, would render the weekly, monthly, or semi-yearly visits of the family physician unnecessary, the mind and body of the patient vigorous instead of merely comfortable, and life a prize rather than a questionable blessing. So accustomed are doctors, in acute practice, to prescribe for merely the relief of those who call them, and, generally, so well satisfied are patients when they receive relief, however temporary, this system of "patching up" is carried into the treatment of chronic as well as acute diseases by a large majority of medical practitioners. There is, therefore, a fact which every invalid would do well to recognize and profit by, namely: causes must be removed as well as effects, or permanent relief cannot be obtained. The physician who merely seeks to modify or relieve any pain, debility, or discomfort in chronic cases, is as foolish as the gardener would be if he should go through his garden, pruning off the branches