If these local, or primary symptoms, be not speedily removed, a general disease is induced, as we see in the case already mentioned, and as is proved by numberless other instances. These general affections are marked by ulcerations of different parts; and the ulcers have a different appearance, according to the nature of the morbid agent. In some cases they are better and worse at intervals. Mercury has, in almost all these cases, been used; but, although some are ameliorated by it, yet others resist its action. At first, indeed, they generally appear to heal; for the mercurial action, when forming, interrupts the progress of the former diseased action; but, whenever the mercurial action is fully induced, we sometimes find that the appearances change, and the progress generally becomes quicker than formerly[79]. [79] Some actions cannot be induced during the continuance of others. Other actions can, in these circumstances, be formed, and displace completely the former action. A third set seem to give a modification to the original disease: They change it to a certain degree; but the change is not salutary, and they never displace it. The mercurial action, when induced during the existence of some of the diseases which I am describing, comes under the last, or third class. At first, during the formation of the mercurial action, the former diseased action is interrupted, in the same way as the natural action is injured during the period of formation of other actions, when no peculiar disease previously existed. On this account, the sore assumes a better appearance; and, if the action be nearly terminating naturally (as some actions do, and as the primary action in these diseases more readily does than the secondary), it quickly heals up; but, if this be not the case, the appearances soon change, and the disease becomes much worse. There is a disease which is not unfrequently confounded with syphilis, but which is distinct from it; I mean small ulcers about the mouths of children, which are more like aphthæ than any thing else; but, soon after their appearance, small blotches appear in the body, which become first raised into a little flat vesicle, and then ulcerate superficially. These ulcers have a watery appearance, not much unlike tetters; but the appearance of the vesication, and dark colour of the preceding blotches, prevent any confusion. Nurses who suckle these children have generally small calyciform ulcers on the nipples, of a pale colour, and discharging a thin watery matter. I have had no opportunity of ascertaining what constitutional symptoms would be produced by the continuance of the disease in the nurse, as I have generally found that the application of diluted citrine ointment to the nipple produced a cure, without any internal medicine. The constitutional symptoms in the children were cured by the same local applications, with small doses of calomel internally[80].