Boris Johnson’s mummified ancestor did not die of syphilis as thought, expert argues

According to Dr Hotz, Bischoff probably did not contract syphilis sexually. The scrutiny of the church-going community would have made it difficult for either her or her husband to conceal an affair — and letters from her husband detailing his own illnesses do not reveal symptoms consistent with a syphilis infection.

He said: “We don’t think it was an affair, either from her husband or from herself.

“There’s another explanation. Because she was the wife of a priest, she had to visit sick people, to console them.

“In Strasbourg, near where she lived, there was a hospital for syphilis, so we think she was going there to visit sick people.

“And if somebody was newly infected ,you can easily be infected.”

Additional reporting by Michael Havis.

Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1739394/boris-johnson-anna-catharina-bischoff-mummy-may-not-died-syphilis