Virulists
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Virulists were a group of physicians in the pre-bacteriological era who recognized the existence of a specific virus causing gonorrhea. Their views were ultimately validated by Neisser's discovery of the gonococcus in 1879.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
VIRULISTS, a group of physicians who, even in the pre-bacteriological period, recognized the existence of a special "virus" specific to gonorrhea (see Avirulists). The virulists cited as evidence of the contagiousness of gonorrhea the fact that "sexual excesses, irritation of the urethra by instruments, and the introduction of pus from abscesses of other organs into it do not cause the clinical picture of gonorrhea." The doctrine of the virulists triumphed only with Neisser's discovery of the gonococcus in 1879 (see).
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Cite this page
“Virulists.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/virulists/