" The first descriptions
of syphilis are given under the name of morbus gallicus, while
the French in return called it morbus neapolitanus or mal
d'Italie. The name of syphilis was said to have been first given
to it by a physician of Verona, in a poem describing the disease.
Inspired by heroic epics Fracastor places before us the
divinities of paganism, and supposes that a shepherd, whom he
called Syphilus, had addressed words offensive to Apollo, and had
deserted his altars. To punish him the God sent him a disease of
the genitals, which the inhabitants of the country called the
disease of Syphilus.
"Syphilidemque ab eo labem dixere coloni."
Buret traces the origin of the word syphilis from sun, with, and
filia, love, the companion of love; which means in plain language
that the pox is a disease transmitted more especially by venereal
relations. The first great epidemic of syphilis occurred between
1493 and 1496, and attacked all ranks, neither the Church nor the
Crown being spared. The ravages of this disease were increased by
the treatment with mercury which soon afterward was found in
proper doses to be a specific in this disease. It is possible
that the terrible manifestations of syphilis of which we read in
the older writers were in a great measure due to the enormous
doses of mercury.
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