History of Syphilis

From its appearance in Europe at the end of the 15th century until its cure with the discovery of penicillin, syphilis has inspired wildly varying -- & culturally revealing -- theories about its origin, nature, & treatment. Here, Quetel chronicles five centuries of medical detective work & official management of a virulent disease that quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Drawing parallels with the medical & social campaigns against AIDS, Quetel notes that the history of syphilis has a surprisingly contemporary resonance. In addition to tracing the history of the medical conceptualizations of syphilis & the attendant therapies for the disease, Quetel also charts the cultural representations of syphilis over a period of 500 years. Illustrations.