General Treatment and Regime in Syphilis.
The consensus of opinion of the most reliable and competent of medical observers at the present time is that the best results in the treatment of Syphilis are obtained by combined use of mercury and salvarsan, beginning with a few injections of Salvarsan and following up with a thorough mercurial treatment. The great usefulness and striking healing properties of Salvarsan in Syphilis are particularly to be appreciated, because mercury is not tolerated by many patients beyond a certain limit. Push beyond this limit, mercury produces symptoms of mercurialism—chronic mercurial poisoning, manifested by swollen and painful gums, bad smell from the mouth, stomach disorders, diarrhea, etc., which may prove serious and even dangerous. One of the most important measures of prevention of mercurialism in a patient undergoing mercurial treatment is to keep the mouth and teeth in a clean and healthy condition.
One more drug should be mentioned, which, besides mercury and Salvarsan, is used more than any other drug in the treatment of Syphilis. This drug is Potassium Iodide, which is very useful and surpasses anything else in its remarkable quality to absorb deep-seated syphilitic tumors (gummata) of the tertiary period.
Besides these three drugs, which are called specific, because their action is almost infallible, there are very few drugs used in Syphilis, mostly tonics to build up and strengthen the system, weakened by syphilitic poison. The general regime in Syphilis is much more liberal than in Gonorrhea, both as to choice of food and drink and as to the permissible amount of physical exercise or pleasure. This is particularly true in the late tertiary period of Syphilis. In the acute secondary stage of the disease, moderation and a regular mode of life is absolutely essential for the favorable course of the disease. The use of alcoholic liquors at this stage is absolutely prohibited, but it is tolerated in moderation if no active symptoms are present. Smoking and chewing are also prohibited if any sores or patches are present in the mouth. As mentioned before, these mouth patches, as the sores of this period, are highly contagious, and the patient, for the sake of others, must have his own table utensils and all articles of personal use. He is also cautioned to avoid in every possible way a close physical touch with others.