The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 16.0085 Monday, 17 January 2005
[1] From: William Sutton <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Friday, 14 Jan 2005 06:20:13 -0800 (PST)
Subj: Re: SHK 16.0073 Did the Bard Have Syphilis?
[2] From: M Yawney <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Friday, 14 Jan 2005 07:44:45 -0800 (PST)
Subj: Re: SHK 16.0073 Did the Bard Have Syphilis?
[3] From: Colin Cox <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Friday, 14 Jan 2005 11:48:28 -0800
Subj: Re: SHK 16.0073 Did the Bard Have Syphilis?
[4] From: D Bloom <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Saturday, 15 Jan 2005 11:08:53 -0600
Subj: RE: SHK 16.0073 Did the Bard Have Syphilis?
[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From: William Sutton <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Friday, 14 Jan 2005 06:20:13 -0800 (PST)
Subject: 16.0073 Did the Bard Have Syphilis?
Comment: Re: SHK 16.0073 Did the Bard Have Syphilis?
Funny this topic seems to be doing the rounds at the moment. Here's
another link,
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-01/idso-swi011005.php
I can't say I'm fired up by this topic,
Yours,
William S.
[2]-------------------------------------------------------------
From: M Yawney <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Friday, 14 Jan 2005 07:44:45 -0800 (PST)
Subject: 16.0073 Did the Bard Have Syphilis?
Comment: Re: SHK 16.0073 Did the Bard Have Syphilis?
He wrote less as he grew old, signed his will with a shaky hand, was
bald, and supposedly withdrew socially (i.e. moved to the country)--this
suggests that Shakespeare had syphilis? These same "symptoms" fit a
large number of men in late-middle age whom I know, none of them have
syphilis.
We are so frustrated by the lack of information on Shakespeare's life
that even theories build on non-existent evidence get their brief moment
of attention.
[3]-------------------------------------------------------------
From: Colin Cox <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Friday, 14 Jan 2005 11:48:28 -0800
Subject: 16.0073 Did the Bard Have Syphilis?
Comment: Re: SHK 16.0073 Did the Bard Have Syphilis?
>Did the Bard Have Syphilis?
There was a theory floated that Shakespeare had caught a mild case of
the plague in late 1599-1600. This was partly based on the cluster
mention of boils and bubuckles in plays such as Henry and Troilus. Also
Shakespeare being born in a particularly virulent plague year, he may
have had some resistance to the disease. More food for medical thought.
Colin Cox
[4]-------------------------------------------------------------
From: D Bloom <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Saturday, 15 Jan 2005 11:08:53 -0600
Subject: 16.0073 Did the Bard Have Syphilis?
Comment: RE: SHK 16.0073 Did the Bard Have Syphilis?
>This may be of interest to some. From the abstract of an article by
>John J. Ross in the current issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases:
>
>"This article examines the possibility that Shakespeare received
>successful treatment for syphilis and advances the following new
>hypothesis: Shakespeare's late-life decrease in artistic production,
>tremor, social withdrawal, and alopecia were due to mercury poisoning
>from syphilis treatment. He may also have had anasarca due to
>mercury-related membranous nephropathy. This medical misadventure may
>have prematurely ended the career of the greatest writer in the English
>language.
This is enlightening I must say. Baldness. Retirement. Spending time
with family. Now I know what's wrong with so many of my friends- they've
contracted syphilis and undergone mercury treatment. I'll rush right out
and offer them my sympathy.
Or maybe not.
Cheers,
don
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