Syphilis and the use of mercury

Journal article

Marriage a-la-Mode No. 3 (The Inspection) belongs to a six part series of paintings by English painter, printmaker and society critic, William Hogarth. The print in the possession of the RPS Museum depicts Viscount Squanderfield and his child mistress visiting a quack. Viscount Squanderfield, who is seated and holding up a pill box to the quack doctor, is depicted with a large black spot on his neck. This spot is often interpreted as a syphilis sore and the pills are likely to be mercury pills. His child mistress holds another pill box whilst dabbing the edge of her mouth which may indicate she could be suffering from excessive salivation as a result of mercury poisoning or she could be dabbing an oozing sore.

Hogarth’s Marriage a-la-Mode can be interpreted as 18th Century syphilis awareness campaign posters. Viewers are made aware of the early symptoms of the disease and the side effects of its ineffective treatments. Hogarth also hints at the mode of transmission and that it is contagious. The necrosis of the bone on the skull of a previous patient with tertiary syphilis can also be seen on the table situated next to the quack doctor in the print.

Authors: Wong, SS; Deviese, T; Draycott, J; Betts, J; Johnston, M

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Royal Pharmaceutical Society
• Journal: Pharmaceutical Journal
• Volume: 297
• Issue: 7893
• Pages: 159
• Publication date: 2016-09-01
• Acceptance date: 2016-09-05
• ISSN: 0031-6873
• Keywords: Journal; Note