the angle of the jaw and this quickly passes into
suppuration; later it opens first outside, then inside--into the mouth and
discharges pus containing little yellow masses. It will extend down even
into the bowels unless it is properly treated. Then there will be stomach
disturbances and diarrhea. It may ulcerate through the bowels and cause
peritonitis. The liver, spleen and ovaries may also become affected.

The Skin.--There may be chronic suppurating ulcers of the skin and the
"ray fungus" can be found in them.

Diagnosis.--The "ray fungus" can be found. There is a wooden hardness of
the tissues beyond the borders of the ulcers; there are the little yellow
granules in the pus. The course is chronic. Mild cases recover in six to
nine months or earlier, the mouth form being the most favorable.

[INFECTIOUS DISEASES 235]

Treatment.--Surgical. Remove the parts involved. Internally, iodide of
potash in large doses is recommended. The food should be plenty and
nourishing. In this case we must recommend you to a physician instead of
the home treatments.

GONORRHEA (Urethritis).--This can be called an infectious inflammation of
the urethra, caused by the gonococcus, a microbe or germ, causing a
specific inflammation of the mucous membrane of the urethra or vagina.

Incubation.--The time that elapses between the exposure and development of
the symptoms in the urethra is variable, extending from a few hours to
twelve or fourteen days. In the great majority of cases, however, the
disease appears during the first week. The patient notices a drop of
milk-like fluid at the opening of the urethra, which is slight, red and
puffed or turned out; a tickling sensation is often felt in this locality,
and the next time urine is passed it is attended with a feeling of warmth
at the end of the canal, or with actual scalding. After this the symptoms
increase rapidly in number and severity, so that within forty-eight hours,
or even sooner, the disease may be described as having passed its first or
increasing stage, the characteristic phenomena of which are as follows:

Changes in the meatus (opening). There are redness, eversion (turning
out), ulceration and eating away and often erosion of the lips of the
opening of urethra. Sometimes, but rarely, so much swelling that the
person can hardly pass the urine, which drops away. The other symptoms are
too well-known by those who have had this disease to need a description.

Prognosi