Gold for Cash and an Inflamed Rash: An Archival Study of Syphilis and Gonorrhoea in the Gold Mining Era of Otago, New Zealand

The demographic and socioeconomic shifts associated with various gold rushes throughout the Otago region of New Zealand have been well documented in historical records. However, the varying medical conditions that accompanied the influx of individuals to the goldfields and the city of Dunedin are not, particularly sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis and gonorrhoea. Due to the stigma associated with these infections, their prevalence and the effects on the population have not been well documented. By exploring archival hospital records and newspaper excerpts from the Otago region, we reveal how the prevalence of these infections changed over time, along with demographic commonalities and variations in those affected. Differences in medical treatments and societal attitudes during the gold mining period from 1864 to 1869 are also explored. These findings provide new insights into biocultural aspects of the gold rush era, particularly surrounding public health responses and societal treatment towards individuals affected with syphilis and/or gonorrhoea in colonial New Zealand.