Seventy years have passed since the demise of Al Capone, a notorious figure in American history, known as “Scarface Al” or “Public Enemy No.
1.”
Celebrated for his criminal empire and feared by many, Capone’s reign came to an end not through legal battles or brute force, but due to an unexpected culprit – Treponema pallidum, a tiny microbe.
Capone’s legacy is steeped in tales of running illicit operations like gambling dens, brothels, extortion schemes, and violent sprees, inspiring numerous movies and TV series.
Born in Brooklyn to Italian immigrant parents, he was expelled from school at a young age for assaulting a teacher, setting the stage for his entry into a life of crime.
His pivotal moment arrived around 1920 when he gained prominence under the tutelage of Johnny Torrio in Chicago.
Together, they orchestrated the downfall of their boss, “Big Jim” Colosimo, propelling Capone into a prominent role within the criminal underworld.
The narrative takes a twist when Capone, working as a club bouncer in Chicago, contracts syphilis after engaging in risky behavior with the establishment’s workers.
Ashamed, he avoids seeking medical help, allowing the disease to progress unchecked.
In an era where treatment options were limited, syphilis posed a significant health threat until the advent of penicillin post-World War II.
Syphilis unfolds in stages, starting with painless sores followed by a rash, eventually leading to severe organ damage if left untreated.
Capone’s escalating criminal activities culminated in his arrest for tax evasion in 1931, resulting in an 11-year prison sentence at Alcatraz, considered inescapable at the time.
During his incarceration, Capone’s untreated syphilis ravaged his brain, manifesting as neurosyphilis and driving him to madness.
His deteriorating mental state prompted his release from Alcatraz in 1939 on medical grounds, marking a stark contrast to his once-feared persona.
Despite his freedom, Capone’s health continued to decline, succumbing to heart failure in 1947 at the age of 48.
The man who instilled fear in many met his end due to a disease he had long neglected, underscoring the irony of his downfall.
