Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
Episode Summary: "The Horrible History of Gonorrhoea"
Release Date: April 1, 2025
Host: Kate Lister
Guest: Kat Irving, Human Remains Conservator at Edinburgh's Surgeon Hall Museum

Introduction

In this gripping episode of Betwixt The Sheets, host Kate Lister delves into the unsettling history of gonorrhea, one of humanity's oldest and most persistent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Joined by returning guest Kat Irving, a human remains conservator, the discussion navigates through the disease's origins, societal impacts, historical treatments, and the looming threat of antibiotic resistance.

Understanding Gonorrhea

Kate Lister opens the conversation by framing gonorrhea not just as a modern health concern but as a longstanding affliction with deep historical roots. She introduces Kat Irving, who explains her role at the Surgeons Hall Museums in Edinburgh:

Kat Irving [06:19]: "I work at Surgeons Hall Museums in Edinburgh, where I look after a collection of about 10,000 human remains, which range from full skeletons down to teeny tiny ear ossicles and literally everything in between."

What is Gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease that has plagued humans for centuries. Kat provides a historical context:

Kat Irving [07:10]: "Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease. It's been around for a long time. There's a mention of gonorrhea in the Bible, where it’s suggested that a running issue out of the flesh indicates uncleanness, possibly referencing gonorrhea’s symptom of pus discharge in men."

She further clarifies that gonorrhea is caused by bacteria, distinguishing it from syphilis, which is caused by a spirochete.

Historical Perspectives

Early Mentions and Legal Responses

Gonorrhea's historical presence is documented as far back as 1161 in England, where laws were enacted to curb its spread:

Kat Irving [12:12]: "In 1161 in England, laws were passed to stop the spread of the perilous infirmity of burning," referencing gonorrhea.

These laws primarily targeted women, reflecting a longstanding societal tendency to blame women for the spread of STIs.

Misogyny and Disease Blame

Kate and Kat discuss the pervasive misogyny intertwined with the history of gonorrhea:

Kat Irving [12:28]: "They blame the women for it."

Kate Lister [13:04]: "You can see this throughout the entire history of sexually transmitted infections that they are blaming badly behaved women."

This blame was partly due to the less obvious symptoms in women, making it easier to stigmatize female carriers.

Treatments Through the Ages

Mercury and Silver: Early Remedies

Before the advent of antibiotics, treatments for gonorrhea were both harsh and ineffective. Kat details the use of mercury and silver in historical treatments:

Kat Irving [15:35]: "Early treatments were mercury, as we talked about with syphilis. Another treatment was silver, particularly silver nitrate, used in solutions or solid forms like lunar caustic."

These treatments often involved painful procedures, such as introducing silver compounds into the urethra or applying calomel (a mercury-containing substance) to affected areas.

The Clap: Origin of the Term

The colloquial term "the clap" has several proposed origins. Kat outlines the most plausible theories:

Kat Irving [14:08]: "Some people think it's from the medieval red light district in Paris, which was called Le Clapier... Others believe it refers to the clapping sensation during painful urination."

Dr. Charles Bell and Urethral Strictures

In Edinburgh’s collection, numerous specimens exhibit urethral strictures caused by gonorrhea. Kat explains:

Kat Irving [28:13]: "We have shelves of penises with strictures, which are narrowings of the urethra due to scar tissue from infection."

Dr. Charles Bell's pioneering work involved treating these strictures using instruments like the bougie, a device designed to widen the urethra, often accompanied by the application of caustic substances to remove obstructions.

Impact on Society and the Military

Gonorrhea in Wartime

During both World Wars, gonorrhea significantly impacted military effectiveness. Kat reveals:

Kat Irving [16:01]: "Sexually transmitted diseases were a major problem with soldiers. Hundreds of thousands of man-hours were lost because people had to be discharged due to infections like gonorrhea and syphilis."

Punitive Treatments

Treatments were not only medically invasive but also punitive, aiming to humiliate and deter soldiers from contracting STIs:

Kat Irving [21:13]: "During the Second World War, soldiers were subjected to treatments where their penises and testicles were covered in calomel lotion and wrapped in wax paper."

These methods were brutal and often did little to effectively treat the infections, instead serving as a form of punishment and deterrent.

Modern Day Issues: Antibiotic Resistance

Rising Cases and Resistance

In recent years, gonorrhea cases have surged, with Europe experiencing a more than 300% increase since 2014. The critical issue now is antibiotic resistance:

Kat Irving [10:53]: "Gonorrhea is getting worse. Cases are on the rise, and it's becoming very, very antibiotic-resistant."

With only one effective antibiotic remaining, the threat of untreatable gonorrhea looms large.

Contributing Factors to Resistance

Several factors contribute to this resistance, including the transfer of resistant genes from throat bacteria to gonorrhea bacteria:

Kat Irving [11:20]: "Gonorrhea has had a relationship with other bacteria in the throat, so they've passed some of their resistant genes over. We're getting more and more antibiotic resistance."

Demographics Affected

Interestingly, the largest spike in gonorrhea cases is now among individuals over 60:

Kat Irving [27:19]: "The over 60s are seeing the largest spike. They don't have to worry about pregnancy, so they might be more relaxed about infection prevention."

Future Prospects and Research

Potential for a Vaccine

Despite the grim outlook, there is hope in the development of a gonorrhea vaccine:

Kat Irving [32:26]: "There's hope now that we can maybe find a vaccine. You give it to everyone at a certain age in school, and we'll all be okay."

Research on Antibiotic Resistance

Ongoing research aims to combat antibiotic resistance, but the path forward remains uncertain. Without effective treatments, society may face a resurgence of gonorrhea's historical horrors, including severe health complications and societal stigma.

Conclusion

Kate Lister and Kat Irving conclude by reflecting on the lessons learned from gonorrhea's history:

Kat Irving [32:59]: "Don't blame women for everything. There’s also the cautionary tale of John Hunter, who may have inadvertently infected himself with both gonorrhea and syphilis through flawed experiments."

The episode underscores the importance of responsible scientific research, gender equality in health discourse, and the urgent need for advancements in medical treatments to prevent gonorrhea from reverting to its historically devastating state.

Final Thoughts

This episode of Betwixt The Sheets serves as a stark reminder of the enduring challenges posed by sexually transmitted infections. Through riveting discussions and historical insights, Kate Lister and Kat Irving illuminate the dark past and precarious present of gonorrhea, urging listeners to recognize the importance of medical innovation and societal responsibility in combating this age-old disease.

Notable Quotes:

• Kat Irving [06:19]: “I look after a collection of about 10,000 human remains... a lot of these show various types of diseases.”

• Kate Lister [24:05]: “What have you done now in theaters the Chosen Last Supper get your tickets now.”

• Kate Lister [32:59]: “Don't blame women for everything.”

For More Information:

• Kat Irving: Follow her on Bluesky Instagram as @anatomical_Katie and visit Surgeons Hall Museums to explore their extensive human remains collection.

• Subscribe to History Hit: Access hundreds of original documentaries and ad-free podcasts at historyhit.com/subscribe.

Produced by:
Tom Delaghi (Editor)
Sophie G. (Producer)
Charlotte Long (Senior Producer)

Music by: Epidemic Sound