(Sanchez, Antonio Nunhez Ribeiro. “Dissertation on the Origin of the Venereal Disease, to prove: that the Malady did not come from America, but that it began in Europe by an Epidemic.” Paris, published by Durand and Pissot. 1752. pp. 110. 8vo. Reprinted 1765. 12mo.)
The first issue of this Work published without the name of the Author, must have been ready, as early as the year 1750, for not only is the “Privilegium” (licence to print) subscribed in that year (August and October), but also Sanchez says himself in the Preface to the second Part that this First Part had appeared in Paris in 1750, published by Durand. It runs thus: “M. Castro, Médecin de Londres, ayant traduit en Anglais une dissertation avec ce titre: Sur l’origine de la Maladie Vénérienne; imprimée à Paris, chez Durand 1750, envoya un Exemplaire de la traduction à M. le Baron de Van-Swieten”,—M. Castro, Physician in London, having translated into English a Dissertation entitled: On the Origin of the Venereal Disease; printed at Paris 1750, and published by Durand, sent a Copy of the Translation to the Baron Van-Swieten). The Title of this English Translation is: “A Dissertation on the Origin of Venereal Disease; proving that it was not brought from America, but began in Europe by an Epidemical Distemper. Translated from the original MS. by an Eminent Physician”. London 1751. 8vo. According to this the Translation must have appeared very nearly at the same time as the original.—A German Translation came out under the Title: “Treatise on the Origin of the Venereal Disease, in which is proved: that this Evil did not come from America, but took its beginning in Europe by an Epidemic,” translated from the French; edited by Georg Heinrich Weber. Bremen 1775. pp. 94. 8vo.—An Abstract from the Original may be found in: “Commentaria de rebus in scientia naturali et medicina gestis”—(Records of Achievements in Natural Science and Medicine): Supplement. Leipzig 1772. pp. 156-159.—Allgem. deutsche Bibliothek, Vol. 28. p. 461.—Tode, Med. Chir. Bibliothek. Vol. IV. Pt. I. p. 49.—Haller’s Tagebuch. Vol. III. p. 331.—The Work itself is divided into 7 Sections.—The First Section contains: Arguments proving that in most parts of Europe the Venereal Disease became known and disseminated since 1493, and last of all in the month of June 1495. pp. 1-10.—Second Section: When did Christopher Columbus discover the Island of Hispaniola and when did he return to Spain from his first and second voyages? pp. 11-20.—Third Section: Did the Venereal Disease come from America at the time of Columbus’ return from his second voyage? pp. 21-39.—Fourth Section: Did the Troops of Fernandez Cordova communicate the Disease to the French? pp. 40-47.—Fifth Section: Answer to some objections that may be raised to prove that Venereal Disease took its origin from America, pp. 47-79.—Sixth Section: Reasons which caused Writers on Venereal Disease since the year 1517 to believe this Malady came from America, pp. 79-87.—Seventh Section: Venereal Disease is an Epidemic Complaint, which began in Italy and almost at the same time spread over France and the rest of Europe, pp. 88-108.—Recapitulation: The Disease existed in Italy and France before Columbus returned from his second Voyage; the Troops of Cordova could not have communicated it to the French, for the two never came into contact; the Disease displayed all the appearance of an Epidemic; the discovery of the drug “Guajac” gave occasion to the assumption of the American origin of the Disease.—Van Swieten, who had received the English Translation sent to him by Castro, only ought to weaken the proofs brought forward in this book in his “Commentar. in Boerhavi Aphorismos” (Commentary on Boerhaave’s Aphorisms), Leyden 1772., Vol. V. pp. 373 sqq., which occasioned Sanchez to issue the following Work, also published anonymously.
5) Examen historique sur l’apparition de la maladie vénérienne en Europe, et sur la nature de cette epidémie. A Lisbonne MDCCLXXIV. pp. VIII. and 83. 8vo.
(“Historical Inquiry concerning the First Appearance of the Venereal Disease in Europe, and the Nature of that Epidemic.” Lisbon 1774. pp. VIII, and 83. 8vo.).
H. Dav. Gaubius had this Work again re-printed together with the preceding (Leyden 1777. 8vo.) and a Preface. An English Translation was edited by Jos. Skinner. London 1792. 8vo.—The Work falls into 8 Divisions. Div. 1. Extracts from Pet. Pintor, Sebast. Aquitanus, Pet. Delphinus, Petr. Martyr, pp. 1-24.—Div. 2. Symptoms of the so called Venereal Disease, as they were observed in Italy in the month of March 1793 and 1794. pp. 24-31.—Div. 3. In the history of Medicine there is no Description of an epidemic Disease resembling in all its consequences that which invaded Italy, Spain and France in the years 1493 and 1494. pp. 31-42.—Div. 4. The Venereal attacks, which have been observed since the time of Hippocrates, were not the consequence of the inflammatory or chronic Venereal Disease, such as it has been observed since the years 1493 and 1494. pp. 42-45.—Div. 5. On certain passages in Astruc’s book “On the Venereal Disease”. pp. 45-54.—Div. 6. Conclusions from the passages of Pet. Pintor and Pet. Delphinus concerning the Venereal Epidemic in Italy, France and Spain in the years 1493, 1494. pp. 54-61.—Div. 7. Did the early Voyages who discovered the Harbours and Peoples of North and South America observe the Venereal Disease, and was their Manhood infected with it? pp. 62-72.—Div. 8. On the Spread of infectious Diseases by sea, and the Quarantine observed during the Plague on the different coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. pp. 73-81.—Recapitulation: The Venereal Disease prevailed as a “Febris Pestilentialis” (pestilential fever) in March 1493, and after the arrival of Charles VIII in Italy (1494) took the name of “Morbus Gallicus” (French Complaint); the Venereal affections observed in Antiquity are distinct from the Venereal Disease as known since 1494; the Spaniards imported it into the Antilles, and the French were already infected when they came into Italy, where the Disease had been prevalent before their arrival. The early Voyages mention not a word of having found the Disease among the Savages. America, Africa and the East Indies have never communicated their epidemic and endemic Diseases to Europe; therefore the Venereal Disease cannot have been brought by the Spaniards from America to Europe.—Both Works of Sanchez are now rare. Comp. Girtanner, vol. III. pp. 460-471.—Richter, Chirurg. Bibliothek. vol. III. p. 381.
6) Berdoe, Mermaduke: An essay on the Pudendagra. Bath 1771. 8vo.
Girtanner, vol. III. p. 577., says: the Author has collected everything that is found in the older Writers on the subject of the “Pudendagra”, and shows wherein it is distinct from the Venereal Disease.
7) Ph. Gabr. Hensler, Geschichte der Lustseuche, die zu Ende des XV. Jahrhunderts ausbrach. Erster Band. Altona 1783. 335. 134 S. 8. Neuer Abdruck oder Titel? 1794.
(Ph. Gabr. Hensler, “History of the Venereal Disease, which broke out at the End of the XVth. Century.” First Volume. Altona 1783. pp. 335 and 134. 8vo. New Impression or new Title? 1794.)
The Work is divided into two Books. First Book: Notices of contemporary Works on Venereal Disease, pp. 1-140. Section I., Works before Leonicenus, pp. 5-26. Sect. II., Works from Leonicenus to Almenar, pp. 27-68. Sec. III., Works of contemporary Writers directed towards diminishing the Disease, pp. 69-140.—Second Book: Description of the Disease. Sec. I., Local Affections. 1. Infection of the private parts, pp. 144-150. 2. Scalding and Urine-Scalding before and at the time of the Attack, pp. 151-168. 3. Discharge from the Penis in Men, pp. 169-203. 4. Discharge in Women, pp. 204-217. 5. Foul Ulcer, pp. 228-244. 6. Abscesses of the groin, pp. 245-264. 7. Local Sequelae of foul Discharge and Ulcer, pp. 265-275. (Swellings of the Testicles, Ulcers of the Urethra, Scalding Urine, Sharp Urine, Ulcers and Fistulae of the Perinaeum, Phimosis and Paraphimosis, Wasting of the Genitals). 8. Other Local Affections of the secret parts, pp. 277-302. (Eruptions, Morbid Growths, Ulcers of the Anus, Piles). 9. Traces of the earlier Taint in non-medical Writers, pp. 307-328.—Forming an Appendix, pp. 1-134, are excerpts from Schellig, Wimpheling, Cumanus, Brant, Grunpeck, Widmann, Steber, Pinctor, Grünbeck, Benedictus, different Historians of the XVth. and XVIth. Centuries, St. Job, and Christ. Columbus’ “Epistola de insulis nuper in mari Indico repertis,” (Letter on the Islands lately discovered in the Indian Sea).