(The following is clipped from Dr. Strart close, trans. A.I.H., 1907, and shows the necessity of good homoeopathic treatment in old gonorrhoeas.)
We have strong endorsement of this position by a number of the highest authorities. Prof. Lydston, in his recent admirable treatise on venereal and Sexual Diseases, says, “the disease (gonorrhoea) is rarely treated upon rational principles. The patient expects more from the surgeon, and the later expects more from remedies, than in almost any disease. The fallacious notion of the simplicity of gonorrhoea and its congeners has proved disastrous. Physicians should embrace every opportunity to impress the patient with the fact that gonorrhoea is one of the most severe and, perhaps, the most far reaching in its results of all the infectous diseases. It is not only worse than a bad cold, contrary to the lay opinions upon the subject [and he might have added, some professional opinions], but it is far worse than its much dreaded rival for popularity – syphilis.”
Again, the same author, after a review of the subject, says, “gonorrhoea is the most dangerous of the venereal diseases, for, through the medium of its sequels and complications, it causes more deaths than syphilis. By comparison, chancroid is benign. Subtract the evil effects of gonorrhoea from human ills, and the resulting increase in human longevity and happiness would be surprising.”
In taking up the subject of the complications of gonorrhoea Lydston says: “Most complications are due, not to the intrinsic pathologic tendencies of the disease itself, but to irrational general management or over enthusiastic attempts to cure. The Frequency of complications is proportionate to the energy expended in the treatment.”
Noeggerath was the first in the old school to declare the truth in regard to suppressed gonorrhoea. His first statements startled the profession, but surprise soon gave way to incredulity and he became the victim of ridicle and vilification for a time. Latter his findings were confirmed by the discovery of the gonococcus and its presence in the disease which he had ascribed to gonorrhoeo. Noeggerath’s theory, as originally formulated, is substantially as follows:
- That nearly all men who have had gonorrhoea and apparently been cured, sooner or later infect their wives.
- That this infectiousness on the part of the man is usually latent, but may possibly become perceptible in the form of an urethritis, more or less severe, following sexual intercourse.
- That consequent upon this latent gonorrhoea in the man, there occurs a similar latent infection of the wife, which may in its turn become active as the etiologic factor of one or more forms of pelvic inflammation.
Record said that 800 men in 1,000 have had gonorrhoea. Noeggerath said that 90 percent. Of these cases remain uncured, and recent writers agree with him. Comment is unnecessary!
