Syphilis is a venereal disease that plagued Europe at the end of the fifteenth century. There is much debate over its origins and its sudden appearance in Europe. Many believe it returned from the new world along with Columbus, though there are some contradictions to this theory. When the disease hit Europe it spread with epidemic proportions. Syphilis caused many social and political ramifications, along with anguish and misery for its victims. Syphilis was much more serious five hundred years ago then it is today. Now it can be cured with a short trip to the doctor. In the past it guaranteed a painful death with little hope of recovery.
One of the more popular theories on the origins of syphilis is the Columbian Exchange theory. Columbus was sponsored by Spain to make a voyage across the ocean. Though he didn’t find a west route to India, he did land on the island of Espanola. Upon his return to Europe is thought that his ship brought back syphilis. There is much evidence supporting this theory. First of all, when a new virus comes in contact with a population it spreads very rapidly due to the body’s lack of tolerance to the virus.
Medical records of the time show an extreme number of people with symptoms suggesting syphilis. New illnesses also have a more adverse effect on the infected. This explains why syphilis was more deadly in the past. No records show any sign of a similar illness before the Columbian Exchange, nor have any human remains been found with evidence of syphilis damage before this time. However, bones have been discovered in the Americas showing syphilis lesions before European contact. Records also show that syphilis was less hazards to the American natives. This may suggest that the natives already had a tolerance to the virus when they met the Europeans.
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Another commonly accepted theory (though not as popular as the first) is the Unitarian theory. This theory suggests that syphilis is a mutated syndrome of the disease Treponematosis that originated in Africa many thousands of years ago. This particular organism needs heat and moisture to survive. In the hot African climate The organism could live on the skin. This virus was called Yaws. As man began to move north to colder, dryer climates the organism entered the body for survival. The virus now had complications finding a new host, especially as good hygiene became increasingly popular with the advances of mankind. The only way the virus could transmit it self to a new host was through intercourse. This gave birth to the venereal strain of the virus: Syphilis.
The first syphilis out break occurred in Italy in the mid 1490s. At this time Charles VIII sent an army to Naples so he could claim his throne. The army engaged in the common practice of raping and pillaging the towns they defeated. Spain also sent an army to stop the French, who engaged in the same common practice. Voltaire described this practice with these words “When 30,000 men engaged in pitched battle against an equal number of the enemy, about 20,000 on each side have the pox.” When the armies returned home they brought the virus to their hometowns. When they went to fight their next battle they brought it to that town as well. This was the perfect situation for a venereal disease to spread very rapidly. By 1499 the virus had spread to all of Europe and shortly after the turn of the century India, Asia and Africa were also infected with venereal Syphilis.
Syphilis caused much turmoil in Europe. Most nations referred to it as the disease of other nations and blamed it on everyone but themselves. The Holy Roman Empire called Syphilis the “evil pocks” and claimed it was punishment for the sin of blasphemy. Many radical attempts for remedies were made. Mercury was used to cure the sick causing loss of hair and teeth and mercury poisoning almost always killed the patient. The use of the Guaiacum tree was a very successful cure. The West Indies produced an ointment from the tree and it was applied to the sores. This gave much wealth to the manufacturers of medicines and to the doctors who treated the ill. Many kings had to change the way they ruled, because they were ashamed of how syphilis changed their appearance. Syphilis caused complications in producing children. Perhaps this is why the Tudor and Valois dynasties were unable to produce heirs. The virus created mistrust between men and women. Public baths went out of style along with common drinking cups and the gesture of kissing. This also gave birth to the idea of “clean sex.”
