Abstract
To the Editor.— I was fascinated by Hoenig's article1on the arthritis of Columbus. I have always found it extremely difficult to extrapolate from the nuances of early descriptions suggestive of articular disorders. I agree that Reiter's syndrome (reactive arthritis) and Behcet's syndrome are considerations. Rheumatoid arthritis can be excluded, not simply on the basis of description, but actually based on the archeologic record. Rheumatoid arthritis actually appears to have originated in the New World.2Rheumatoid arthritis has not been documented in the Old World prior to 1785,3-7contrasting with documentation in multiple pre-Columbian New World populations.8-13It has been identified in 6500 to 450 years before present Indian groups, from west central Kentucky and Tennessee and northwest Alabama and Tennessee.8-13This original catchment area expanded into Ohio only in the past 1000 years.10,13Initially localized to the area immediately surrounding the west branch
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