Syphilis in the Civil War

[Warpy]

13. Here is an interesting documentary on it

mostly covering the skeletons they found in England but with the other information, as well, such as how and why it mutated into a killer.

The reason it was ignored for so long in Europe is that most people died before the really awful part of the disease could manifest. You diddled a prostitute, you got a big sore on or near your willie, then you got over it. The long suffering wife might miscarry in the beginning, but that was usually the end of it. The latent period is a long one. Physicians (such as they were) could recognize it in the early stage, but it wasn't until people started to live longer that the whole disease course was better described.