Searching for Syphilis - for iPad/Mac/PC
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At the end of the 15th century a terrifying new epidemic spread across Europe, but was this disease, known as the Great Pox, really Syphilis? Did Christopher Columbus actually bring the disease back from the New World? Join us as we look at whether the discovery of a 600 year old skeleton can shed new light on the origins of one of mankind's most enduring diseases, which still affects 12 million people every year. This material forms part of The Open University course S320 Infectious disease.
What was the Great Pox?
Discussions to whether the symptoms described by medieval medical records really were the signs of syphilis. Could Columbus and his crew really have s...
The bones of Rivenhall women
Dr Simon Mays discovers a 600 year old diseased skeleton from a church yard in Essex. Will the bones of Rivenhall women show signs that treponemal dis...
Extracting DNA from ancient bone
Dr Piers Mitchell an orthopaedic surgeon and medical historian looks at which types of diseases Rivenhall women was likely to be carrying. Meanwhile M...
Treatment for syphilis
Dr Sheila Lukehart talks about how syphilis has shown little resistance to the basic antibiotics we use to fight it, mainly penicillin.
The results of Rivenhall women's test
Ms Abi Bouwman reports on the results of the Rivenhall women's DNA tests.
The future for syphilis
A surprised Dr Simon Mays discovers the true origins of the Rivenhall women and talks about the future for syphilis