Sex problems of man in health and disease

by Moses Scholtz

The first point of importance to remember in the treatment of Gonorrhea is that Gonorrhea is essentially a local disease, and that it penetrates into the blood in the whole system very seldom; in fact, only in one complication, Gonorrheal Rheumatism. This fact readily explains why the main treatment of Gonorrhea is local, and why the internal treatment with drugs is of secondary importance, and in many cases can be omitted altogether. Yet the public at large seems to believe as religiously as ever in the magic power of different potent drugs, such as “blue” capsules, cubeba, copaive balsams, santal oil, etc. This medical superstition unfortunately is encouraged and kept up by manufacturers and dispensers of these drugs for commercial reasons, as well as by many healers disqualified by the law or the lack of special training and equipment.

Treatment of Acute Gonorrhea.

The very first request a gonorrheal patient addresses to a physician is to stop the discharge as soon as he can. Should the physician comply with this request, he would show by doing so not only a complete ignorance of the subject, but he would also do a great deal of harm to the patient himself by driving the disease inside instead of outside. The popular fear of a discharge is based on the ignorance of the fact that the discharge in Gonorrhea, like many other symptoms, such as fever, cough, vomiting, etc., in other diseases, are not harmful by themselves, and that in a certain stage of the disease they serve a useful purpose of helping the human body to get rid of the different poisons and disease-producing germs. So in Gonorrhea the thick, greenish yellow discharge helps along the Nature to throw off and to eliminate Gonococci, and until this purpose is accomplished, to check a discharge is not only unnecessary, but absolutely harmful. Therefore, in the early stage of Gonorrhea intelligent treatment calls for injection with antiseptic drugs that kill Gonococci and rather stimulate a discharge than check it. Only later, in from three to four weeks, when the character of the discharge shows that all Gonococci are already eliminated, and that therefore the discharge has outlived its usefulness, only then the physician is justified in giving injections with the binding or astringent drugs, that check and gradually stop the discharge.

Ignorance or a deliberate violation of this rule in a foolhardy attempt to make a short cut to a cure has caused, in thousands and thousands of cases, a penetration of Gonorrhea into the deeper organs and has led to numberless complications and injurious aftereffects.

The injections can be started usually at once, with the exception of the few very acute cases, where the swelling and pains are so severe that it is necessary to wait a few days before starting the injections. It is in these cases particularly that the use of the internal drugs, usually mild antiseptics, is advisable until local treatment can be started. In making injections, one point should never be overlooked: this is, to urinate each time before making an injection; failure to do this has driven many gonorrheas into the deeper parts.

Diet and a General Regime in Gonorrhea.

The dietetic and general regime in an acute Gonorrhea is just as important as the medical treatment. In the first three to four weeks as much rest and quiet as a patient can possibly secure is a very important condition to prevent injurious complications. Too much or too fast walking, running, jumping, dancing, wrestling, etc., should be absolutely prohibited. A well-fitting suspensory bandage should be put on at once. That alcoholic liquors are tabooed is pretty well known to the public, except a very few tyros that still believe that beer can drive out the disease. All stimulating drinks, like coffee, chocolate, strong tea, and sharp seasoned food should be avoided until the acute stage is over. Drinking of plenty of plain water should be encouraged, as the resulting copious urine provides a natural and most efficient drainage and elimination of the dirt of the urethral canal. Less meat and more milk and cereals is the best diet for an acute stage of Gonorrhea. There is no objection to moderate smoking. It stands to reason that any sexual excitement or stimulation is extremely harmful and aggravates the condition immensely. Absolute cleanliness must be insisted upon, and the patient must be careful not to spread the disease by soiling with gonorrheal discharge different articles of personal use that may be used by others. He must be careful also not to carry over a gonorrheal poison with the soiled fingers into his own eyes, as gonorrhea of the eye is a most dangerous disease that often leads to complete blindness.

Treatment of Gonorrheal Complications.

The closing stage of acute Gonorrhea is the only time when a patient can be allowed to take a part in the treatment by making injections at home after careful and personal instruction by a physician. All the rest of the course of Gonorrhea and its various complications can be handled by a physician only, as it requires a special equipment and a special technic.

Deep gonorrheal inflammation forbids any instrumental treatment. With the first symptoms pointing to its development, all injections must stop until the acute stage is over. The patient is advised to rest, and is given some soothing internal medicine. After two or three weeks the local treatment may be resumed.