Long ago _Hensler_ endeavoured in the Graduation Theme of his
mentioned in the list of Historical Authorities to prove that
certain eruptions occurring on the genitals were communicated and
acquired as the result of coition. In particular did this apply
above all to _herpes_ (creeping eruption), under which name must be
understood, as is distinctly implied in a passage of _Galen_,[415] a
form of eruption accompanied by ulceration. It is true the passages
of _Hippocrates_[416] cited by Hensler in regard to the _herpes
esthiomenos_ (eating herpes) would appear to be open to some doubt
and obscurity, while the interpretations given by _Pollux_ (Onomast.
IV. 25. 191.) _φλυκτίς_, φλύκταινα ἐπιμήκες, μάλιστα περὶ βουβῶνας
καὶ μασχάλας. _φύγεθλον_, φῦμα περὶ βουβῶνα μετὰ πυρετοῦ, (φλυκτίς, a
long-shaped blister, particularly in the groin and armpits. φύγεθλον,
a tumour in the groin accompanied by fever) refer probably only to
bubonic swellings; still these objections hardly apply to the φύματα
(swellings) described in § 32,—the less so as _Celsus_ himself (VI.
18.) explains: “Tubercula etiam, quae φύματα Graeci vocant, _circa
glandem_ oriuntur, quae vel medicamentis vel ferro aduruntur; et cum
crustae exciderunt, squama aeris inspergitur, ne quid ibi rursus
increscat;” (Tuberculous swellings also, which the Greeks call φύματα,
arise _about the glans penis_, and are burned away either by caustic
drugs or by the actual cautery. Afterwards when the scabs have fallen
off, the sore is dusted with slag of bronze, to prevent any second
growth later on). Moreover it is possible the passage of _Galen_,[417]
πρὸς δὲ τὰ ἐν αἰδοίοις φυόμενα ἀπίου σπέρμα ἐπίπασσε καὶ τραγείᾳ χολῇ
περιχρῖε. (But for growths on the privates sprinkle pear-juice and rub
in goat’s gall) may refer to these cases, though no doubt it may also
be held to apply to the tubercles occurring in the female vagina (§
41,—3. B.).
Again _epinyctis_ (night-pustule),[418] which Hensler also mentions
but declares to be equally open to suspicion as to interpretation,
would seem hardly pertinent in this connection, for the violent pain
experienced at once tells against the likelihood of its being an
affection of this class. Its appearance _in eminentibus partibus_ (on
prominent parts, on the extremities) finds a clear explanation in the
words added by _Pollux_ (loco citato, 197.) περὶ κνήμας καὶ πόδας ἐν
νυκτὶ γενομένη (appearing on legs and feet during the night); while it
is proved that Celsus meant to indicate nothing else by it from his
words in describing φλυζάκιον (little blister), which he says occurs
_raro in medio corpore, saepe in eminentibus partibus_,—rarely on the
trunk, frequently on prominent parts, extremities. Still we do not for
a moment wish to dispute the fact that the male genitals were at any
rate among the Ancients counted as belonging to the _partes eminentes_,
and as chancrous blebs do usually appear suddenly and often during the
night, it is quite possible these may have been all along intended by
_epinyctis_,—especially as on Hippocrates’ authority[419] creeping
eruptions (ἕρπητες) arise from night-pustules (ἐκ τῶν ἐπινυκτίδων.)
However _Pollux_ (loco citato, 206.) likewise again mentions the legs
and feet (κνήμαις καὶ ποσίν), declaring these eruptions attack those
of elderly people. From this we may conclude the epinyctis of the
Ancient writers to have been very likely nothing else but that form of
_impetigo_ (scabby eruption) which is vulgarly known as the _salt-flux_.
_Aetius_[420] mentions _pustulae spontaneae in pudendis_ (pustules
spontaneously set up on the privates), provoking _phimosis_, and
describes[421] _scabies scroti_ (scab of the scrotum) with metathesis
into ulceration and scaliness, after the disappearance of which very
often acute _pruritus scroti_ (itch of the scrotum) is left behind.
_Galen_ (XIX. p. 449.) defines _psoriasis scroti_ (itching of the
scrotum) as a form of induration of the scrotum accompanied by itching,
as well as in some instances by ulcers.
Under exanthematic types come also the various _condylomata_. These
when they appeared on the genitals and in other localities of the body,
were called by the Greeks σῦκος, συκώσις, σύκωμα, συκώδης ὄγκος, (fig,
figlike excrescence, figlike swelling, figlike lump), by the Romans
_ficus_ (fig), whereas the same disease when it showed itself on the
fundament, received the name of condyloma[422] _par excellence_. At
the same time this distinction was by no means strictly observed;
in particular the larger forms of _thymus_ (warty excrescence) were
designated by the name σῦκος (fig), albeit it would seem that _thymus_
was used as specific name for all protuberances on the fundament and
genitals. Σῦκος or _ficus_ is according to _Galen_[423] an ulcerative
tubercle secreting moisture,—the _varus_ (blotchy eruption) on
the contrary being dry, according to _Oribasius_[424] of circular
shape and reddish colour, hardish and rather painful. It is found
above all on the hairy parts of the body, the head, chin, fundament
and genitals,[425] as the passages quoted above in § 13 from Martial
show. They occurred, as it would seem, most frequently on the female
genitals, in which situation they are described so long ago as by
_Hippocrates_[426] under the name of κιων (pillar, pillar-like
excrescence) and said to be evil-smelling. _Aspasia_[427]
says, “condyloma est rugosa eminentia. Rugae enim circa os uteri
existentes dum inflammantur, attolluntur et indurantur, tumoremque ac
crassitudinem quandam in locis efficiunt.” (a condyloma is a wrinkled
protuberance. For when the wrinkles surrounding the orifice of the
uterus grow inflamed, they become prominent and indurated, occasioning
a swelling and thickening in the parts). _Paulus Aegineta_ (III. 75.,
VI. 71.) describes them under the name of _hemorrhoids_ as painful,
reddish, excrescences suffused with blood, which break (διαλείμμασι),
and give off a pale discharge in drops. Much more common was the
appearance of _condylomata on the fundament_,[428][429] particularly
in male subjects; in which case they were specially ascribed to
pederastia, as we have already seen. This makes it impossible to decide
definitely which condylomata were of primary and which of secondary
character; but the fact in no way authorizes us to deny altogether the
occurrence of the latter in Ancient times.