"How Syphilitic “Zombies” Wandered During The Renaissance" Topic

… In Europe

"Syphilis is a very serious disease. The origins of this disease it's still unknown, but currently there are two theories, which can potentially tell us where this shocking disease comes from.

The images are pretty serious from the symptoms caused by this disease and will not be displayed.

The first theory is the Columbian theory, which indicates that this sickness was brought back by the great explorer Christopher Columbus. Because people were not being immune to this sickness and haven't developed a defense mechanism yet, they could easily surrender to this deadly disease. It's the reverse with Native Americans; they could easily catch a disease that was new to them and brought by the Europeans…"
Main page
link

Amicalement
Armand

This article seems either behind the times or a litle biased; It was shown conclusively in 2017 that the skin disease that is found in South America as a childhood disease, and easily cured by sunlight, is only one mutational step different from the baseline Syphillis, and so the Columbian Theory plus prudery in Europe at the time allowing the spirocheate to become a neurological threat seems more solid.
Of course, we still don't know what the Ancient Greek malady was, though theories abound involving similar diseases in horses jumping to humans.

The "zombie" like situation is interesting though. Imagine trhowing a mob of them on a Rennaisance era battlefield . . .

Those with end-stage syphilis have a distinct style of walking that is zombie-like. Kurt Vonnegut mentioned several times in his writing seeing these old men on the streets in the U.S. Horrible disease – someone in my family tree died from syphilis, but it was covered up.

Didn't Charles II of England treat it somewhat successfully with mercury?

"…can potentially tell us where this shocking disease comes from."
Ummmmmmm… I think I can tell you where it comes from.

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand