The death of a Nathan Kaminsky - some questions

[PaulB]

I can now see why you look on him then as the cool calculated killer who eldued capture during the autumn of terror the police out on the streets probaly checked him in the vicintyof each murder and thought no this man cant be a killer he is a deluded lunatic frothing at the mouth

Do you know a lot about insanity, then, Trevor? I hope so.

[curious4]

Not being an expert on the subject (!) of syphilis, there are a few questions to which I would be very grateful for answers. As I understand it, the causative agent of syphilis was only definitively identified in 1913. In the light of this:
1) How certain were diagnoses of syphilis in the 1880s?
2) How advanced would syphilis have to be in the 1880s for it to be diagnosed reliably?
3) What would be the likely survival period for someone diagnosed with syphilis in 1888?

I ask all of the above because I have found a death record for a Nathan Kaminsky of approximately the right age (within 3 years) who died in Hackney in 1923, but if Kaminsky was accurately diagnosed with syphilis in 1888 and there is not a hope in hell that he could have survived another 35 years, it may not be worth ordering the certificate to get further details
Here is the record:
Death of Nathan Kaminsky

1923 Quarter 2 (Apr-Jun)
Hackney
Kaminsky, Nathan
Aged 61 (born circa 1862)
Vol 1b Page 389

Many thanks
Chris S

Hello,

Canīt answer all your questions about syphilis, but referring to my little book on the history of STDs (I do have some weird books) a norwegian doctor called Caesar Boeck did a twenty year study (1890 - 1910) of some two thousand patients who were given no treatment at all, apart from a healthy diet. Sixty per cent of the patients had no further symptoms for the rest of their lives. It seems that syphilis could heal on its own without treatment and people could recover spontaneously.

I also remember seeing a history programme (have tried to find it again with no success) which referred to a woman who had (I think) syphilis twice, I think she was born with it and then was reinfected by her husband. She lived well into her 90īs. (This was in the Victorian era)


Best regards,
C4

P.S. I think the symptoms of syphilis would be very obvious, as well as unpleasant!

[Steven Russell]

She deserves a clap.

[curious4]

death of...

As do you, Stephen my dear.

C4