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Westin Talbert
PROF. Bevill
ENGl. 1302 -02
1 November 2015
The Frightening Effects of Syphilis
During the 1940s, a substantial phenomenon occurred regarding the effects of syphilis.
People did not know how to react if they thought they had syphilis. Many people died from this
disease, because they didnt know there was a cure; all they had to do was go to a doctor and
receive proper medical treatment. Syphilis resembles a cold sore and can be transmitted from one
person to another through sexual intercourse. The causes to be explored are a proximate cause
and reciprocal cause. The arguments that will be examined are clear and straightforward. In one
example, a man has syphilis and transmits it to his pregnant wife resulting in the death of their
baby; one cause leads to another cause that leads to an effect. Another example is that a football
player wins a game, goes out to have drinks with his buddies has sexual intercourse with a girl
that has syphilis, thus infecting the man. The last argument is that syphilis creates a cycle
affecting many people around world. If not cured, it continues to spread between sexual partners.
Syphilis can be cured if found early enough, and if you receive proper medical treatment. In the
video Know for Sure these claims made are valid making the causal arguments easily
identifiable to interpret the causes and effects of each claim.
In the video a man learns that his baby died because he infected his wife with syphilis.
The disease, Syphilis is transmitted from person to person by direct contact with a syphilitic
sore, known as a chancre. Chancres occur mainly on the external genitals, vagina, anus, or in the
rectum. Chancres can also occur on the lips and in the mouth. Transmission of syphilis occurs

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during vaginal, anal, or oral sex (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The gentleman
learned he had given the disease to his wife, and she then transmitted it to the unborn child. This
is an example of a proximate cause; a proximate cause is defined as an immediately present or
visible cause of action. One cause leads to another cause, which then lead to an effect. In this
case it was proven that if untreated, syphilis could be transmitted from mother to unborn child
and cause death. The first cause was that the husband contracted syphilis from an unknown
source; the second cause was that he gave it to his wife; the effect was that their child died in the
womb from being exposed to the syphilis disease. All facts in this causal argument are valid
making the listeners more interested knowing this is a real life example. Medical facts prove that
syphilis can kill a baby. Syphilis infection can be passed from a pregnant mother to her unborn
baby (fetus), via the placenta. This can result in serious pregnancy complications such as:
Miscarriage. This means death of the fetus before 24 weeks of gestation. Stillbirth. This means
death of the fetus after 24 weeks of gestation. Hydrops. This is a condition of severe swelling due
to fluid (oedema) in the fetus. It is a serious condition that can result in death of the fetus
(Knott, and Kenny). All this information provided gives people the resources they need to trust
that this argument is valid.
An example of a precipitating cause in the film Know for Sure; is the story of the football
player. After having sexual intercourse with a syphilitic woman, he noticed a change occurring
on in his body that resulted in a chancre. He went to the doctor to get checked and he learned he
had syphilis. This is a example of a precipitating cause, because the cause brought on a change.
The football player noticed a sore on his penis, so he went to the doctor to see if he had syphilis.
Turned out he did. Back in the 1940s, no one knew that Syphilis is a highly contagious disease
spread primarily by sexual activity, including oral and anal sex. Occasionally, the disease can be

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passed to another person through prolonged kissing or close bodily contact. Although this disease
is spread from sores, the vast majority of those sores go unrecognized. The infected person is
often unaware of the disease and unknowingly passes it on to his or her sexual partner
(WebMD). This quote goes on to support the fact that many people were unaware the syphilis
disease. The facts from this quote support the fact that this argument is valid because it backed
because evidence can be documented.
Syphilis is easily transferred from person to another; Syphilis can continue to infect more and
more people if they are unaware of the symptoms that cause the disease. This causal argument
describes as reciprocal cause; one factor leads to another reinforcing the first creating a series of
problems. A man has syphilis and does not know it, then has sex with a woman, and infects her
with the disease. She has sex with another partner and then infects him with the disease. But
thankfully there is a cure for this, People with primary syphilis can usually be cured with a
single injection of a long-acting penicillin. People in later stages require longer treatment with
penicillin. Other antibiotics, including doxycycline, azithromycin or ceftriaxone may be effective
for people who are allergic to penicillin. All sex partners of people with syphilis should be
treated as well (Drugs.com). Syphilis is supported with factual evidence which, in turn makes
this causal argument valid.
Evidences through this essay one can see the harmful effects of syphilis, fortunately with early
detection it can be cured and prevent the suffering described by the persons in this essay. Such
as, the proximate example where a man has syphilis who then gives it to his pregnant wife which
ends up killing their baby. An precipitating cause is another causal argument identified when a
football player finds out he received syphilis from a woman who then goes on to sleep with more
men creating a disease filled population. Another example, which is identified where a one factor

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leads to another factor that reinforces the first that creating a cycle is defined as a reciprocal
cause. This video portrays these different type of causal arguments that can said can be valid
because they are all backed by documented information available in the quotes. Furthermore,
syphilis is a disease that if caught it time can be cured with proper medical treatment.

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Works Cited
Syphilis - CDC Fact Sheet (Detailed) from Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 24 Sep.
2015. Web. 18 Oct. 2015.
Knott, Laurence, and Tim Kenny. Syphilis. Patient Trusted medical
information and support. BASHH British Association for Sexual Health
and HIV, 23 Jan. 2014. Web. 18 Oct. 2015.
Syphilis Symptoms, Causes, and Diagnosis. WebMD. WebMD. 16 Jan. 2015. Web. 28 Oct.
2015.
Syphilis. Drugs.com Know more. Be sure. Drugs.com, 1 Sep. 2015. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.

women with Syphilis are more likely to have low birth

weight babies, babies

that are born too early (premature or preterm delivery), or

are even born dead (stillborn).
Untreated Syphilis in a pregnant woman can infect and kill her
developing baby.

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