Syphilis – Its origins and records from Ireland
Today is the final day of Sexual Health Awareness Week being
hosted here in RCPI. The aim of the week is to promote sexual health awareness
at a national level and it has been a great week full of information and open
communication about sexual health matters. Sexually transmitted diseases are
not a new or modern concern, they have been affecting people’s health for
generations. One disease in particular, syphilis, is seen by many as an
historical sexually transmitted disease but it still affects many people to
this day. This post will examine the origins of syphilis and items from our
collections that may be of interest to those researching the disease in Ireland.
In the last years of the 15th century infections
of syphilis reached epidemic proportions. Many believe that the disease
originated in the Americas and was transferred to Europe by Columbus’ crew;
however, this is often disputed. Syphilis was feared and stigmatised; there was
a desire to associate it with ‘the other’ and therefore responsibility was
attributed elsewhere. For this reason in many countries it was known as ‘The
French Disease’; in France it was known as ‘The Italian Disease,’ and by
various other names depending on what country you were in. By the early 1500s
it had spread into Central Europe and was known as ‘The Great Pox.’ In an
article Hieronimo Fracastorio and the
Origin of Syphilis, published in 1904, John Knott writes that Fracastoro
was the first person to use the word ‘syphilis.’
Fracastoro was an Italian physician, poet and scholar. In 1530 he published
Syphilis, Sive Morbis Gallicus, an
epic poem. The poem detailed the story of Syphilis, a shepherd, who angered the
Greek god Apollo and was struck down by a terrible disease. This turned out to
be a very influential text and we have quite a few different editions of this
poem in our library.
The relationship between sex and syphilis was quickly
established and physicians and others began to counsel caution and abstinence.
Despite an awareness of the disease, it remained hard to diagnose as the
lesions that appeared on those infected were similar to leprosy. In fact, mercury,
which was the treatment for leprosy and scabies, began to be used for cases of
syphilis. Another difficultly with the disease was that it was often
accompanied by other sexually transmitted infections and this led to varied
physical symptoms.
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| Thomas Percy Claude Kirkpatrick |
Syphilis was often associated with prostitution. In an
article examining syphilis in Ireland, Syphilis
and the State, Thomas Percy Claude Kirkpatrick wrote about the links
between prostitution and syphilis. Writing in 1918, Kirkpatrick outlined the
various methods being undertaken in England and Ireland to halt the spread of
infection. He speaks about the laws which made procuration illegal, as well as
owning, occupying or running a brothel. He also details the law which regulated
provision of treatment and allowed for the provision of free diagnosis and
treatment by local government. Kirkpatrick felt that women had been viewed as
blameworthy while “the man was considered to be without stain.” He believed
that were men to be held accountable, the levels of prostitution would diminish
as would the levels of infections.
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| Appointment card |
In 1919, Kirkpatrick along with his colleague Dr Chance established a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases (known as venereal diseases in the early 20th century) in Dr Steevens’ Hospital, Dublin. Initially three clinics were held a week at Dr Steevens’ Hospital, but this was soon found insufficient, and the number was increased to six per week. Male and females attended different clinics, and four of the clinics were held early in the mornings, so patients could attend with some chance of anonymity. The clinic was provided with fifteen beds for men and ten for women, and its own part of the dispensary. The entire cost was born by Dublin Corporation and the Government.
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| Notice of free treatment available |
Syphilis and the State
is available through our library and our collections also include reports
from hospitals, directions for treatment of syphilis, as well as other articles
and essays on the subject. Also, as previously mentioned, we have records of
the Westmoreland Lock Hospital and information from both Westmoreland Lock and
Dr Steeven’s Hospitals, including statistics and case records of venereal
disease patients.
By Sarah Kennedy
Library Intern