2016/06/06 by Gabriella Eva Cristina Gall, Stephan Lautenschlager, Gall, Gabriella Eva Cristina +3
Arts and Humanities · Immunology and Microbiology · Medicine · #610 Medical sciences #Blatternhaus #Historical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal Changes #Medicine #Quarantäne #Renaissance epidemiology #Renaissance policies #Reproductive tract infections research #Richtlinien der Renaissance #Seuchenlehre der Renaissance #Syphilis #Syphilis Diagnosis and Treatment #early syphilis #quarantaine
paper · doi:10.3205/dgkh000273
openalex publication_date 2016/06/06 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/19
Syphilis is considered as one of the most devastating sexually transmitted diseases in human history. Based on historical records, the "Böse Blattern" (German for "Evil Pocks") spread through Europe after 1495 and shared symptoms with what we know today as syphilis. Many cities took measures to protect their population. Here, transliterations of archival documents from the 15(th) and 16(th) century (provided in the appendix) are used to trace the steps taken by the governing authorities in Zurich to deal with this emerging infectious disease. One of the central measures taken by the city was to establish a quarantine facility referred to as the "Blatternhaus". The city doctors, including the well-known physician and naturalist Conrad Gessner, oversaw the obligatory quarantine and treatment of patients with symptoms. Treatment could range from better nutrition, herbal remedies and skin ointments to aggressive heat therapy and "smoking". Furthermore, the affliction was suspected as a sexually acquired disease, hence prostitutes and infected foreigners were extradited from the city. Meanwhile, the church used its social influence to promote a more "Christian" behavior. In several respects, the public health measures taken in the 16(th) century against a new and menacing epidemic do not diverge in their basic rationale from approaches used during the 20(th) century and today.