Syphilis (the great pox) Flashcards
How did it spread?
in 1495
new disease arose during a war between Italy & France (led by Charles the 8th)
armies were filled with men all over who were dirty & unhygienic so the spread of diseases was common
it spread around the world in the next few years by European sailers
the spread of disease waves of syphilis were blamed on foreign enemies & countries
Where did it come from?
Columbian interpretation
- Christopher Columbus brought back a new pathogen
from the Americas in 1493
spread by the kiss of peace (direct contact greeting)
Multi-regional Theory
- Columbus’s crew was reported all healthy
- historians think that the disease was a mutation of treponema bacteria that circulated around Europe
- there is evidence that the bacteria was found in European/Asian and African populations too
What is the Bacteria that caused Syphilis?
Treponema Pallidum
other treponemal diseases: yaws, pinta and bejel
historians used markings on historical skeletons to figure out symptoms
treponema evidence was found from all over the world
What were some symptoms and social responses to Syphilis?
the symptoms of genital and mouth sores, rashes, muscle pain, destroyed organs, bone inflammation, hard pustules
lead people to believe that Syphilis was an STD
and the disease was associated with sex, prostitutes and morality
what was some medical approaches to Syphilis?
People believed that an imbalance of phlegm caused it, so sweating and spitting were encouraged to balance the body.
Using mercury for ointments and to drink causes saliva production. (galenic theory showed that the medicine was working)
Guaiacum - trees from the West Indies and the American
people cut up and ground guaiacum trees which then they drank. the patient was put in a hot room to sweat out the disease.
Who was the main physician associated with Syphilis?
Girolamo Fracastro
made the name and encouraged treatment with mercury and guaiacum
Evolution of Syphilis
It was common between the 14th century and the 19th century but changed a lot over time.
What was the English sweats?
appeared around 1485 and was a disease only in the summer. Fully disappeared by 1551
it was a very acute and lethal disease that killed mostly men
mostly appeared in England
historians best guess: arbovirus came from small mammals and carried to people by insects
Who was Paracelcus?
a German Swiss physician who was against Galen’s and Hippocrates ideas
he thought healing could come from natural remedies and treatments
mercury, sulphur and salt.
present-day syphilis
STD
spread through sexual contact, blood contact, pregnancy and childbirth
stages of modern siphilis
primary - 3-6 weeks of infectious sores
secondary- highly infectious & contagious, symptoms go away
hidden stage: can last many years without showing symptoms
tertiary: no longer infectious but can affect organ systems leading to death after 5 years
19th century syphilis
far less acute but more widespread
10% of the European population was infected
doctors traced syphilis to a psychiatric disease affecting the brain
