et, have stated that there is distinct evidence of the
existence of syphilis in prehistoric times. Buret finds evidence of
traces of syphilis among the Chinese five thousand years ago, among the
Egyptians at the time of the Pharaohs, among the Hebrews and Hindoos in
biblic times, and among the Greeks and Romans after Christ. Some
American writers claim to have found evidences of syphilitic disease in
the skulls and other bones of the prehistoric Indian mounds, thus
giving further evidence to the advocates of the American origin of
syphilis. The Spaniards claimed that, returning from America in 1493,
Columbus brought with him syphilis. Friend says: "One thing is
remarkable; the Spaniards, upon their first expedition to America,
brought home from thence this contagious disorder, and soon after
carried another affection thither, the small-pox, of which the Indian
Prince Montezuma died." 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. At the present day syphilis is universally
prevalent. In his excellent monograph Sturgis estimated in New York, in
1873, that one out of 18 suffered from it; and White of Philadelphia
pronounces the opinion that "not less than 50,000 people in that c