Phoenix, from what I remember from reading a medical book illicitly in the medical library at the UCH (I was a temp), syphilis hides in the spinal column for many years (secondary stage) before manifesting itself (tertiary stage) in bizarre behaviours and increasing disability caused by gradual paralysis. So yes, a clumsiness resulting in a fall could have been caused by it.
(I was caught reading the forbidden book by one of the consultants, who punished me by showing me illustrations of the devastation caused by untreated syphilis. I nearly took the veil, believe me.)
OC
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