Quote Originally Posted by Scott Gilmore
Oh, and incidentally, by all accounts, syphilis originated in the near east, not in the new world. It apparently was the gift of domesticated animals to their shepherds for being, how shall we say ... a bit too "intimate" with the animals in their charge.
After posting this last night I did some more reading and indeed there is a well presented theory that syphilis did in fact originate in the New World. As with much, if not all of what's been discussed in this thread it is certainly an unsettled issue, but I stand corrected. Sorry.

Regards,
Scott Gilmore