What happens when you die of syphilis?

[Cadugan]

Hello all,
I'm just writing to ask how exactly one dies of syphilis? Like how does it work, in what stages. This is because I am writing a story in which the main character has some debilitating deisease, and syphilis fits the story. I would like him to be almost wasting away, able to walk around but very weak, and preferably with some gruesome side effects like coughing up blood. Does anything like this happen with syphilis? If not, could you suggest diseases that do? (prefereably STD/STI, as it fits the character/context).

[firewatch]

one for squad!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syphilis

[penelope2]

Certainly won't buy your book, are you a weirdo or something?

[ladybirder]

Would AIDS do?

[Cadugan]

Reading it, that is kinda suggested, but it fits him, and he's a villain and scumbag type character, so there you go, I probably am a weirdo though...

[DTCwordfan]

the crabs eat you.

[pdust]

lol at weirdo! why is that weird?

[penelope2]

Agree.

[DTCwordfan]

pray what on earth are you writing? (the general theme)

who is your publisher?

[Cadugan]

As for aids, not really, it's set in the Victorian era, should've said really.

[firewatch]

look up other vanerial diseases they leave some horror stories of supurating sores!

[EDDIE51]

Tuberculosis?

[penelope2]

Syphilis, Leprosy,Scrofula: I still think you're a weirdo.

[Cadugan]

It's a short story I don't plan on publishing in which a murderer of prostitutes (based loosely on Jack the Ripper) is dying from something (here's my dilemma). Which is wasting away his body, not helped by the fact he's clinically insane.

[Graham-W]

Intrestlingly, Henry VIII is alleged to have died of syphilis.
Plenty of it about in Victoria's time, and no antibiotics to cure it. Mercury inserted down the penile tube was one supposed cure if I remember correctly. (No. I'm not that old.)

[penelope2]

The tertiary stage of syphilis was once called "General Paralysis of the Insane" Fits your story quit well. But I still think your a ......

[firewatch]

and mercury would have made you more insane lol

[Cadugan]

Thanks all for the help, I've got enough to go on now :D.
Your weirdo friend,
Cadugan

[pdust]

i bet it would have hurt too :s

[Sqad]

penelope is spot on.....primary and secondary syphilis are not particularly debilitating, but tertiary syphilis is........
Two really disabling conditions of syphilis are:

1) GPI....General Paralysis of the Insane
2) Tabes Dorsales.

Google them and if you need more help then "call out"

As mentioned Pulmonary Tuberculosis would be another one.

VD sores more be gruesome to see, but are not generally bodily debilitating (your c.ck just drops off)

[rowanwitch]

End stage syphylis patients can get sores that stink to high heaven

Why not go for something like lung cancer or better still a fungating oral or facial tumour... google images and have a vomit bowl ready