Syphilis is a complex disease, leading to unusual and alternative treatments in history. A sexually transmitted disease, syphilis is caused by bacterium Treponema pallidum. It first appears in Europe in the late 15th century.
Scholars can't agree on how syphilis arrives, but the devastation it causes is fearsome. During the Renaissance it spreads through Europe, called the pox to differentiate from another Renaissance plague, smallpox.
When syphilis is first recorded in Europe in 1495, its pustules cover the body from the head to the knees, cause flesh to fall from people's faces, and lead to death within a few months. The pall of this disease hangs over rich and poor alike, regardless of gender.
1. Mercury: The Alluring Poison
One of the most infamous treatments for syphilis is mercury or quicksilver (Hg). Ingested, in baths or applied topically, mercury is given to purge the body of the syphilitic poison.
For centuries, patients subject themselves to mercury therapies, often leading to painful side effects. Mercury's toxic properties are largely ignored, with patients enduring painful, protracted treatments and the effects of severe mercury poisoning.
Mercury is used in medicine in Europe since the ancient Greeks. It becomes one of the main metals of alchemy after the first century AD. Renaissance physician Paracelsus, based on the concept a lot of poison kills but a little bit of poison heals, prescribes mercury for syphilis.
However he doesn't prescribe full baths in the stuff. This comes from the odd human concept that if a little can heal, maybe a lot can cure. While some patients have temporary respite, mercury's effects include tremors, madness, nerve damage and death.
Do not take mercury in any amount.
2. Guaiacum Officinale: The New World’s Gift
Emerging from the healing traditions of the indigenous peoples of South America, guaiacum officinale (roughbark lignum-vitae or tree of life) gets the attention of European physicians in the 16th century.
The wood, brought to Europe from the New World, is commonly prepared as a decoction and consumed in hopes of relieving syphilis symptoms. While it doesn't provide a definitive cure, guaiacum becomes a popular tonic for various ailments due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
3. Malaria Exposure: A Feverish Solution
Perhaps one of the most counterintuitive treatments for syphilis is exposure to malaria. The high fevers induced by malaria are thought to purge the body of the disease or its symptoms. This practice peaks in the early 20th century, before the discovery of antibiotics.
In some cases, patients are deliberately exposed to malaria conditions (swamps) in hopes they would catch the disease to induce high fever. Doctors approve of this controversial treatment, having observed patients who develop fevers get over the symptoms more quickly.
While there are reports of symptomatic relief, this method is risky and ultimately doesn't address the disease's underlying cause. For health in general many people take medications, some containing poison, to break a sweat.
It's thought purging the body with fevers, laxatives, vomit-inducing concoctions and diuretics can flush out unwanted impurities or elements conducive to sickness. This approach becomes a major trend during the Renaissance.
4. Sarsaparilla: The Root of China
Sarsaparilla (Smilax) is used in treatment of various ailments, including syphilis, in the 18th and 19th centuries. Considered a "blood purifier," this herbal remedy has widespread use among patients seeking relief from the disease.
It's consumed in various forms, including teas and tinctures. Although modern medicinal science recognizes its anti-inflammatory properties, the effectiveness of sarsaparilla in treating syphilis specifically remains unclear. Some remedies mask the illness.
5. Prosthetic Noses: The Cosmetic Approach
Syphilis is notorious for its more severe symptoms, which include disfigurement of the face and nasal decay in advanced stages. As the disease progresses, tissue necrosis sets in and the nose collapses.
In response, the 18th century spawns emergence of prosthetic noses made from leather, wax or metal. An earlier false nose is worn by Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, though his disfigurement is believed to be from a duel.
His everyday nose is found to be made of brass. Silver and gold false noses are popular among rhino-prosthetics-wearers for special occasions. These prosthetics become a practical solution for those affected with the more visible consequences of syphilis.
One way or another, syphilis is nothing to sneeze at. This formidable bacterium brings with it the true meaning of social disease, as it's a continual stigma through the centuries. During the Renaissance it's estimated one in 7 people have it. In Victorian times, it's one in five.
Penicillin finally provides a syphilis cure in 1928. In London, 20% of today's youth have been treated for syphilis. This ravaging disease still here. It's just hiding.
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