TV program update

We watched another episode of PBS's "Secrets of the Dead" series. This one was on the origin of syphilis. It's long been thought this was one of the few diseases that originated in the Americas and was transmitted back to Europe. The program's premise is that there is now evidence that this disease was, in fact, present in Europe before Columbus discovered the New World.

We thought it was, like the last one on the shroud of Turin, fairly one-sided and more sensational than anything. For example, at one point, the evidence for New World syphilis (skeletal remains) was discounted, thus making the argument that there is little evidence for preColumbian syphilis in the Americas. However, the basis for the entire show is a skeleton in England that shows similar skeletal features and is therefore assumed to be evidence of syphilis. Apparently, such evidence is good enough to demonstrate Old World syphilis, but not New World.

But, make up your own minds. More information can be found here and here.