Every man with a history of a venereal disease should have his seminal secretion examined under microscope before his marriage, to test its vitality. The knowledge of these facts and the application of these principles in practical life by the average man could save thousands of happy homes and prevent as many divorces.
Sexual Neurasthenia.
The last complication to be developed in the course of Gonorrhea, but not by any means the last in importance, is sexual neurasthenia; i. e., a chronic state of nervous and mental weakness and irritability. Possibly no other condition illustrates so well how far and deep-reaching is the influence of Gonorrhea on the whole system, tho it is a local disease; how thoroughly it affects the entire mental and nervous system of a man; how much moral anguish and suffering it inflicts on its victims. The reason for such a powerful effect of Gonorrhea on the human mind and emotions has been explained before by the fact that the genito-urinary tract and different sexual glands which are usually affected by Gonorrhea are richly supplied with nerves and are most intimately and abundantly connected thru these nerves with the highest centers of the nervous system, controlling the mental and emotional activities.
It has been mentioned already that the nervous weakness can be brought about by various sexual abuses and irregularities, such as the masturbation habit, sexual excesses, or over-stimulated and ungratified desire, but the cases following in the wake of chronic Gonorrhea and its complications are so numerous, so persistent, and distressing as to deserve special prominence and consideration.
Sexual Neurasthenia develops as a rule slowly, and it comes either during the treatment or long after Gonorrhea has been cured. The predisposition to this condition is created by excessive worrying and brooding over the disease, and the basis of sexual Neurasthenia constitutes an idea slowly formed and fixed in the mind of the patient that he is “full of disease,” and that his condition is incurable. As a result of this self-suggestion and constant concentration of his mind on different parts of the body, he feels, or rather he thinks he feels, an endless variety of different painful and morbid sensations. There is not a single spot on his body, there is not a single kind of pain or discomfort that should not be complained of by this class of patients. It does not matter whether his case is improving or even cured and does not show a single positive symptom of the disease, the patient cannot be won over to the cheerful view of his condition. No amount of argument or persuasion on the part of the physician avails to shake off his gloom and despair. If the physician, after a careful examination, states to a sexual neurasthenic that he does not need any more treatment, the patient accuses the physician of being indifferent, and not taking sufficient interest in his case and goes elsewhere. If the physician yields to the pleadings of the patient and keeps up an active treatment, that makes matters only worse, and still more confirms the patient of the deep and dangerous character of his condition. The only way to break the eternal chain of fear and anxiety, which is the main basis of sexual neurasthenia, is to turn the mind of the patient away from his sickness by stopping treatment, sending him away, if possible, from old associations and surroundings, and by building up his general and nervous system. The treatment of this condition lasts several months, but they all recover in due course of time.
This class of patients, in their frantic search for a cure from the imaginary sickness, are naturally more exposed to the danger of drifting away into the hands of medical quacks, and are more exploited than any other class of venereal patients. A sympathetic attitude on the part of the physician and evidence of his sincere and earnest interest in the condition of the patient is the only thing that slowly gains the confidence of sexual neurasthenics, brings them back courage, ease of mind, and restores them to a healthy and happy life.
Chancroid
Now before going over the greatest of all venereal scourges, Syphilis, we shall briefly consider the third and the least dangerous of the venereal diseases—Chancroid.
Chancroid is also called a soft chancre, to differentiate it from hard chancre, which is the initial sore of Syphilis.
Chancroid usually appears from two to five days after exposure, seldom longer. It may develop on the skin of any part of the sexual organs. It starts as a small red spot or pimple, which rapidly breaks down and forms a round ulcer, painful on touch, with undermined borders and profusely secreting pus surface. Chancroid may start at once as a multiple ulcer or it may grow in numbers after it has started as a single sore. The number of Chancroids may reach five, ten, or even more. The peculiar characteristic of Chancroid is that its poison can be transferred from one place to another by contact, and it is a common clinical fact, particularly in uncleanly and careless people, that a single Chancroid or ulcer may duplicate itself on the skin surface that comes in contact with the Chancroid.