Abstract
Objective: During the 1860s, gold rushes in Otago, New Zealand, led to substantial demographic shifts, accompanied by various maladies. The prevalence and health effects of these maladies, particularly the infections syphilis and gonorrhoea, remain poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of these infections, understand who was affected, and outline social and medical treatments.
Methods: Patient records from Dunedin and Dunstan hospitals pertaining to syphilis and gonorrhoea cases from 1864–1869 were aggregated and analysed to explore prevalence, medical treatments, and demographic data. Additionally, thematic analysis of archival newspaper excerpts from the Otago region was undertaken to determine how affected individuals were perceived.
Results: There were rises and falls in cases of syphilis and gonorrhoea, with syphilis cases more frequently recorded. Hospital stays were longer for gonorrhoea patients than for syphilis, and treatments were provided to males more frequently than females. Demographically, most individuals were between 16–44 years old, were predominantly from Great Britain; males worked in maritime industries in Dunedin and mining in Dunstan, while females were more involved in prostitution. Thematic analysis revealed three themes and 12 subthemes: rascals and reprobates (males and females), contributors to society (males), and characters of disrepute (female), showing that males were seen despite their infections, while females were stigmatised because of them.
Conclusion: These insights into the social and biological contexts of the gold rush contribute to a richer understanding of public health responses and societal perceptions towards individuals with syphilis and gonorrhoea in colonial New Zealand.