Scientists say that Christopher Columbus brought syphilis to Europe
Author: Qwerty
Skeletons found in Britain show that the disease existed in Europe before Columbus’s voyage, indicating that the conquerors did not import the disease.
Skeletons discovered in England show that syphilis existed in Europe before the voyage of Christopher Columbus to the New World, indicating that the conquerors did not import the disease.
A widespread theory so far from tropical disease experts was that the epidemics of syphilis, which erupted in the last decade of the fifteenth century, shortly after Columbus’ first voyage to America (1492 / 3), were due to contagion from men who accompanied him on this adventure.
However, further excavation of skeletons held so far in Britain and the subsequent examination by experts suggests that the disease was known in this country two centuries before Columbus trip, according to The Times today.
Samples including the skull of a child of indeterminate sex, inherited from the mother that venereal disease, which produced such bad injuries to his scalp that left deep marks on the left side of his forehead.
Brian Connell, osteologist the Museum of London who has studied the skeletons with the help of radiocarbon 14, said he had no doubt dating from before Columbus’s voyage.
“We are confident that Christopher Columbus had nothing to do with the emergence of syphilis in Europe,” said Connell, who relies entirely on the dating of these remains.
According to Connell, earlier findings in Europe syphilitic bones with traces apparently had failed to reach as firm conclusion.
“Either the analysis with the help of radiocarbon was not sufficiently accurate or diagnosis (syphilis) was not so clear. But this discovery puts an end to the theory that Columbus was the one who imported syphilis,” says researcher sharp.
The seven syphilitic skeletons come from a hospital on the outskirts of London, St Mary Spital, two of the bodies were buried there between 1200 and 1250 and the remaining five, between 1250 and 1400.
All are not only better preserved than those discussed above but with them have found other skeletons and objects, including coins, which have allowed scientists to confirm the results of radiocarbon dating.
The bones indicate that the victims, who were probably patients in this hospital, suffered great pain.
The child whose skull has been able to rebuild was probably blind, bald and suffered terrible pain because of his irregular teeth.
His teeth form an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the jaw, facial disfigurement have been very painful for the small, which was about ten years old when he died.
“The skull should be smooth, seems instead a lunar landscape. Symptoms (for syphilis) are evident,” said the expert.
According to Don Walker, another osteologist the Museum of London, traces displayed on the bones indicate that the victims were suffering from venereal disease is different from other variants that are not sexually transmitted and endemic treponemal disease or sickness called Pinto or yaws.
According to Connell, the fact that the first well documented epidemic they occur after the return of Columbus from his first trip was probably a coincidence.
“People were looking for someone to blame. The English called the Dutch and French pox, smallpox, Spanish. Each blamed the other,” says osteologist.
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