January/February 2012 • Volume 10 • Issue 1 - SKINmed Journal

January/February 2012 Volume 10 • Issue 1
COMMENTARY
Origin and Evolution of Syphilis: Drifting Myth
Virendra N. Sehgal, MD; Prashant Verma, MD; Kingshuk Chatterjee, MBBS; Anita Chaudhuri, MD;
Gautam Chatterjee, MS; Farhan Rasool, MBBS
The venereal form of treponematosis, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum, plagued every major city in the preantibiotic era.
“Civilization means syphilization,” was an idea touted by Richard von Krafft-Ebing in the late 19th, and early 20th centuries that the
effects of modern life make men more susceptible to syphilis and other diseases. Christopher Columbus was thought of as an importer of
syphilis to Europe. Because his serendipitous voyages to the New World initiated the process of Spanish colonization, which foreshadowed
general European colonization of the New World, it is difficult to rule out the cultural and political animosity created by Columbus and
his men. These recent revelations are intriguing and may create dialogue that may subsequently challenge the age-old theory of “East to
West” spread of venereal syphilis. This contribution warrants the continuation of study in this direction, taking into account skeletal studies
that utilized radiocarbon dating technique and the phylogenetic analysis of the bacterial strains, offering a possible consensus on the origin
and evolution of syphilis.
Syphilis, a treponemal disease, has undergone discernible
metamorphosis in its natural history. The diverse clinical
manifestations of syphilis are known to masquerade as
a spectrum of clinical entities, earning itself the reputation of
being the great imitator. 1 Syphilis was even mentioned in Act 3
of Timon of Athens 2 by William Shakespeare:
Live loathed and long,
Most smiling, smooth, detested parasites,
Courteous destroyers, affable wolves, meek bears,
You fools of fortune, trencher-friends, time’s flies,
Cap and knee slaves, vapours, and minute-jacks!
Of man and beast the infinite malady
Crust you quite o’er! What, dost thou go?
Soft! take thy physic first—thou too—and thou;—
Stay, I will lend thee money, borrow none.
The name for syphilis is derived from Fracastorius’ 1530 epic
poem in three parts, Syphilis sive morbus gallicus (“Syphilis or
The French Disease”), about a shepherd boy named Syphilus
who insulted the sun god of Haiti and was punished by that
god with a horrible disease. The poem suggests using mercury
and “guaiaco” as a cure. 3,4 Oil of guaiac is a fragrance used in
soap, originating from the Palo Santo, sacred tree in Ecuador,
which provides an essential oil that heals both body and spirit. 5
Syphilis, with its antiquity, has carried social stigma. In order
to avoid the cultural embarrassment, countries attempted “to
pass the buck to others.” 6 Accordingly, variations in its nomenclature
were likely; the English and the Germans called it the
“French disease”; the French called it the “Neapolitan sickness”;
the Russians, the “Polish sicknes”; the Poles, the “German
sickness”; Flemish, Dutch, Portuguese, and North Americans
called it the “Spanish sickness” or “Castilian sickness”; and
the Japanese, the “Canton rash” or “Chinese ulcer.” The term
Great pox was used for 2 centuries to differentiate syphilis from
Smallpox. 7
Christopher Columbus, the great Italian voyager, whose precise
date of birth is only speculated, 8 left on his first voyage
at the age of 41 years (1492–1493). His journey initiated the
process of Spanish colonization, which foreshadowed the general
European colonization of the “New World.” 9 The idea that
“Civilization is Syphilization” has historically stamped Columbus
as the importer of syphilis to Europe. 10 The current contribution
attempts to review the more recent archeological reports,
dendrochronologic findings, and radiocarbon dating studies in
order to clarify the development of the disease. The origin and
evolution of syphilis is currently unknown 11 and may continue
to puzzle researchers until a plausible consensus is developed.
From the Dermato-Venereology (Skin/VD) Center, Sehgal Nursing Home, Panchwati, Delhi; Department of Dermatology and STD, University
College of Medical Sciences, and Associated Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Shahdara, Delhi; Department of Dermatology, Burdwan Medical
College and Associated Hospital, Burdwan; Apollo Nursing Home, Burdwan; Skin Institute and School of Dermatology, Greater Kailash New
Delhi, India
Address for Correspondence: Virendra N. Sehgal MD, Dermato-Venerology (Skin/VD) Center, Sehgal Nursing Home, A/6 Panchwati,
Delhi 110 033 India • E-mail: drsehgal@ndf.vsnl.net.in
SKINmed. 2012;10:8–12 8
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