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Many ulcers assume a very indolent form, and remain quiescent for a long period. One patient I knew, who consulted me for rheumatism, and who disavowed ever having had syphilis. He took vapor baths, which assuaged the pain, but did not remove it. Accident discovered to me the existence of a sore on the penis, by observing the dressings of the same, carefully placed on the corner of the mantel-piece in the bath-room. The following was the appearance of the sores. He had endured them for nearly three months, nor had he perceived much alteration, either for better or worse. The disease was properly healed, and he soon got well.
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Another kind is one denominated the superficial, with raised edges. It is more frequently seated at the upper part of the prepuce, and creating a thickening of it, ending in phymosis, which lasts a long time after the cure of the ulcers. This kind of chancre is sometimes very obstinate, and continues many weeks. The following illustration portrays its presence near the edge of the corona glandis.
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There are two other kinds of sores called the phagedenic and sloughing ulcers and chancres.
The phagedenic is a corroding ulcer without granulations. It is also destitute of any surrounding induration, but frequently its circumference is of a livid red color. When the disease is injudiciously treated, the whole of the penis will be destroyed in a very short time. The absence of coloring detracts from a faithful representation of the kind of sore just alluded to. The drawing is sketched from Mr. Skey’s work on Syphilis.
| a—The ulcer. View larger image |