Outlander: Did Geillis Suffer from Syphilis? Part 1

Geillis’ madness has often been attributed to syphilis. Based on the physical evidence detailed in Voyager, there is a possibility that she did not suffer from it. Apparently, she is not healthy and mentally stable.

She wasn’t healthy; a glance at her mottled complexion and the dark circles beneath her eyes was enough to show that. But was she actually ill? (Voyager, ch. 60)

The current consensus in the field of Palaeopathology is that syphilis is a New World disease. It was present in the aboriginal populations of the American continent before the arrival of the Europeans. The people who traveled with Columbus brought it to Europe. However, the following excerpt from Drums of Autumn is puzzling.

“But the Indians haven’t much resistance to European plagues like smallpox and syphilis, no.” (Ch. 26)

Attentive readers with a knowledge of treponemal infections might find this comment made by Claire to Lord John confusing. Why is the author doing this, especially when she so far has been very accurate regarding history and forensics? Of course, there are some minor exceptions: for example, the last recorded witch trial in Scotland took place before 1730. The use of forensic anthropology techniques on the skeletal remains of Geillis Duncan is not something made up; it is something used in real life.

I guess that back in the late 60s, the last time that Claire was in the 20th century, the consensus was that syphilis’ origins were in the Old World.

If Geillis had syphilis, how did she acquire it and from whom? It is evident that Geillis likes European men, especially Scottish ones, and by the 18th century, the disease was already present in Europe. Aboriginals from the Caribbean, the most likely population to carry the disease, are not her type; they also became extinct by the mid-16th century due to European disease.

And in the lost hills, there are caves still more lost, whose existence no one knows save perhaps the aboriginal inhabitants of this place – and they are long gone, Mrs. Fraser. (Voyager, ch. 50).

She also has unique preferences: inexperienced, virginal teenage boys. She did not acquire syphilis from Arthur Duncan or Dougal MacKenzie. It is also unlikely that she acquired it from the virgin Scottish boys. At the same time, the reader does not know much about her husbands, except for one, Mr. Abernathy.

“My husband Barnabas was that sort – couldna keep his hands off any kind of machine. Or off the slave girls, either,” she added. (Voyager, ch. 60)

For some reason, it appears that Geillis is trying to annoy Claire by comparing Jamie to her husband. However, it seems that Barnabas was promiscuous as opposed to faithful Jamie. At the same time, the reader is still unable to determine whether Geillis had any sexual contact with Barnabas or her other husbands. Of course, she did not have sex with Arthur Duncan, so it is possible that she refused to consummate her marriage to them or some of them. However, Drums of Autumn reveals that Geillis was, in fact, mad even before going through the stones.

“A nutcase for sure.” Roger murmured. (Ch. 32)

“Even in what was plainly raving madness, she had method and organization – a queer admixture of cool observation and poetic flight.” (Ch. 32)

Of course, the acquisition of syphilis in the 18th century would make it possible for the disease to reach the advanced phase in which madness is most likely a symptom. However, there are other symptoms of advanced syphilis that Geillis does not exhibit, and that would be the topic of my next post.

Outlander: Did Geillis Suffer from Syphilis? Part 1

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