19th century doctors knew that mercury – the syphilis treatment par excellence – could be absorbed through the skin. They had also learned from accidentally poisoning their patients that its administration needed to be carefully controlled.
The idea behind the mercury treatment was to get the patient to excessively salivate, which was thought to help get rid of the impurities causing the disease. The initial administration of the mercury often occurred in a hospital, where patients typically stayed for a minimum of five weeks.
There were originally no effective treatments for syphilis, although a number of remedies were tried. In the infant stages of this disease in Europe, many ineffective and dangerous treatments were used.
In only 10 years, from 1900 to 1910, the Treponema pallidum was discovered as the cause of syphilis. Animal models were developed for research. The Wassermann test was "invented" for serologic diagnosis, and Paul Ehrlich proved that salvarsan, or 606, was effective for the treatment of syphilis.
One hundred years ago, before antibiotics, there was no effective treatment for either gonorrhea or syphilis. Treatment for gonorrhea was largely symptomatic, and for syphilis was use of toxic metals, such as arsenic. The armies of The First World War dealt with venereal disease in quite different ways.
In the early 16th century, the main treatments for syphilis were guaiacum, or holy wood, and mercury skin inunctions or ointments, and treatment was by and large the province of barber and wound surgeons. Sweat baths were also used as it was thought induced salivation and sweating eliminated the syphilitic poisons.
However, multiple therapies might be effective for nonpregnant persons with penicillin allergy who have primary or secondary syphilis. Doxycycline (100 mg orally 2 times/day for 14 days) (600,601) and tetracycline (500 mg orally 4 times/day for 14 days) have been used for years and can be effective.
Famous painters Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Gaugin and Edouard Manet are known to have died from syphilis as well as classic authors Oscar Wilde and Guy de Maupassant Charles Baudelaire. Infamous gangster Al Capone eventually succumbed to syphilis as well.
Syphilis also came to humans from cattle or sheep many centuries ago, possibly sexually”. The most recent and deadliest STI to have crossed the barrier separating humans and animals has been HIV, which humans got from the simian version of the virus in chimpanzees.
In addition to rashes and ulcers, secondary syphilis could produce disfiguring pustules, swollen glands and foul-smelling discharge. Again, these symptoms would eventually disappear and the person might believe themselves cured.
The most well-supported hypothesis, the Columbian Hypothesis, states that Columbus' seamen, who first arrived in the Americas in 1492, brought the disease back to Europe following exploration of the Americas.
It is also presumed that famous painters as Eduard Manet, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh and Goya, as well as composers like Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Schumann and Franz Schubert suffered for syphilis [26].
Sores are usually (but not always) firm, round, and painless. Because the sore is painless, you may not notice it. The sore usually lasts 3 to 6 weeks and heals regardless of whether you receive treatment. Even after the sore goes away, you must still receive treatment.
Historically, syphilis was extremely difficult to cure. Often patients would think that their disease had disappeared or been cured, only to have their bodies betray them with a resurgence of symptoms.
Mercury is a potent diuretic and in toxic doses it induces salivation. It was thought by inducing diuresis and salivation that the syphilitic 'virus' would be excreted, aborting the illness. Treponema pallidum, the causative spirochaete.
Treatment over the centuries
In the 18th and 19th centuries, mercury, arsenic and sulphur were commonly used to treat venereal disease, which often resulted in serious side effects and many people died of mercury poisoning.
Leprosy Infection and Nose Damage
The infection attacks the mucous membranes in the nose and can eventually cause structural damage, resulting in a saddle nose deformity. While both leprosy and syphilis can be treated and usually cured, the damage that is caused to the nose before treatment is often permanent.
“pox”, “bad blood”
A sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacterium known as Treponema pallidum that may be transmitted sexually or from mother to child before or at the time of birth (congenital syphilis).
People of the 15th century called syphilis “the great pox” in light of its painful, repulsive symptoms. At the time, treatments were few and ineffective. Physicians tried remedies such as mercury ointments, some of which caused patients great pain and even killed them.
Syphilis existed in medieval Europe, and it caused the death of England's King Edward IV.
Without treatment, syphilis can severely damage the heart, brain or other organs, and can be life-threatening.
Many believe that syphilis was brought to Europe by Columbus and his sailors, and, thereafter, many famous persons, such as political figures (King Charles VIII, Queen Mary I, Catherine the Great, Paul I, Vladimir Lenin), musicians and literary greats suffered from syphilis.
A person with primary syphilis generally has a sore or sores at the original site of infection. These sores usually occur on or around the genitals, around the anus or in the rectum, or in or around the mouth. These sores are usually (but not always) firm, round, and painless.
A single chancre marks the onset of the primary (first) stage of syphilis, but there may be multiple sores. The chancre is usually (but not always) firm, round, and painless. It appears at the location where syphilis enters the body.
Stage 3, Latent syphilis
Without treatment you will still have syphilis for 20 years or more even though you will not have any signs or symptoms. People with latent syphilis may sometimes have symptoms (flare-ups) like skin rash, fever, a sore throat, swollen glands or feeling weak and tired.