The Myth of Syphilis: The Natural History of Treponematosis in North America (Florida Museum of Natural History: Ripley P. Bullen Series)

Exploring the long-standing question of the origins of syphilis, this book proposes a new understanding of the dynamic interactions of disease and culture in the New World. It brings together a complete picture of the diverse pathological evidence of a bacterial disease--treponematosis--manifest in the North American archaeological record at the time of Christopher Columbus's first journey, and it presents a strong argument against the earlier identification of modern venereal syphilis with indigenous North American treponemal disease. For almost 500 years, native North Americans have been blamed for "giving the world syphilis" and by implication accused of sexual immorality. Contributors to this volume identify and investigate the origins and various manifestations of all ranges of treponemal diseases across the continent and show that the true picture of disease evolution is both different and far more interesting than past scholarship suggests. They summarize current archaeological and historical information from a variety of regions and times, both before and after 1492, and consider closely the specific question of whether evidence exists for the presence of the venereal form of treponemal disease that would be equivalent to the venereal syphilis that ravaged 16th-century Europe. Their investigation challenges the unequivocal identification of all pre-Columbian treponemal disease as venereal syphilis and shows that endemic treponemal disease was present at varying levels throughout North America for at least two millennia before the late 15th-century trans-Atlantic voyages of discovery. Exploring The Long Standing Question Of The Origins Of Syphilis, This Book Proposes A New Understanding Of The Dynamic Interactions Of Disease And Culture In The New World. It Brings Together A Complete Picture Of The Diverse Pathological Evidence Of Treponematosis, A Bacterial Disease Manifest In The North American Archaeological Record At The Time Of Christopher Columbus's First Journey, Presenting A Strong Argument Against The Earlier Identification Of Modern Venereal Syphilis With Indigenous North American Treponemal Disease.--jacket. Introduction / Mary Lucas Powell And Della Collins Cook -- Treponematosis: Inquiries Into The Nature Of A Protean Disease / Mary Lucas Powell And Della Collins Cook -- Patterns Of Pre- And Post-columbian Treponematosis In The Northeastern United States / Brenda J. Baker -- Prehistoric Treponematosis On The North Carolina Coast / David S. Weaver, Mary K. Sandford, Georgieann Bogdan, Grace E. Kissling, And Mary Lucas Powell -- Temporal And Spatial Variation In The Patterns Of Treponematosis In Georgia And Florida / Dale L. Hutchinson, Clark S. Larsen, Matthew A. Williamson, Victoria D. Green-clow, And Mary Lucas Powell -- Syphilis In Mound Builders' Bones: Treponematosis In The Central Southern United States / Mary Lucas Powell, Keith Jacobi, Marie E. Danforth, And Leslie E. Eisenberg -- Treponematosis In The East Texas Gulf Coastal Plain / Diane E. Wilson -- Syphilis? Not Quite: Paleoepidemiology In An Evolutionary Context In The Midwest / Della Collins Cook --^ Treponematosis In The Northern And Central Great Plains: Its Nature And Distribution / Denise C. Hodges And Shirley J. Schermer -- Treponemal Infection In The Prehistoric Southwest / Ann L.w. Stodder -- The Evolution Of Treponemal Disease In The Santa Barbara Channel Area Of Southern California / Phillip L. Walker, Patricia M. Lambert, Michael Schultz, And Jon M. Erlandson -- Prehistoric Treponematosis In The Pacific Northwest: A Review Of The Skeletal Evidence / A. Joanne Curtin -- Northern Extremes: From Port Au Choix, Newfoundland, To Chirkof Island, Alaska / Della Collins Cook -- Endemic Syphilis In Colonial Canada / Patrick Horne -- Endemic Treponematosis In Pre- And Post-contact Pericue Of The Cape Region Of Baja California Sur / J.e. Molto -- Treponematosis In Ancient Mexico / Josefina Mansilla And Carmen Pijoan -- Evidence Of Pre-columbian Treponematosis From Paso Del Indio: An Archaeological Site On The Island Of Puerto Rico / Edwin F. Crespo-torres --^ Prehistoric Treponematosis At The Tutu Site: The U.s. Virgin Islands / Mary Kaye Sandford, Georgieann Bodgan, David S. Weaver, Grace E. Kissling, And Mary Lucas Powell -- Treponematosis Before 1000 B.c.? The Skeletal Evidence / Mary Lucas Powell, Georgieann Bodgan, Della Collins Cook, Mary Kaye Sandford, Maria O. Smith, And David S. Weaver -- Piecing The Puzzle Together: North American Treponematosis In Overview / Della Collins Cook And Mary Lucas Powell -- North American Treponematosis Against The Bigger World Picture / Don R. Brothwell. Edited By Mary Lucas Powell And Della Collins Cook. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Exploring the long-standing question of the origins of syphilis, this book proposes a new understanding of the dynamic interactions of disease and culture in the New World. It brings together a complete picture of the diverse pathological evidence of treponematosis, a bacterial disease manifest in the North American archaeological record at the time of Christopher Columbus's first journey, presenting a strong argument against the earlier identification of modern venereal syphilis with indigenous North American treponemal disease.For almost 500 years, native North Americans have been blamed for "giving the world syphilis" and by implication accused of sexual immorality. Contributors to this volume identify and investigate the origins and various manifestations of all ranges of treponemal diseases across the continent and show that the true picture of their evolution is both different and far more interesting than past scholarship suggests. They summarize current archaeological and historical information from a variety of regions and times, both before and after 1492, and consider closely the specific question of whether evidence exists for the presence of the venereal form of treponemal disease that would be equivalent to the venereal syphilis that ravaged sixteenth-century Europe. Their investigation challenges the unequivocal identification of all pre-Columbian treponemal disease as venereal syphilis and shows that endemic treponemal disease was present at varying levels throughout North America for at least two millennia before the late-fifteenth-century trans-Atlantic voyages of discovery.