Variations on a single theme: syphilis

Abstract

The section "Varia" was published in the first volume (1925) of the recently created "Brazilian Annals of Dermatology and Syphilography" (Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia e Sifilografia). The first section, titled "Did syphilis exist in Brazil when the country was discovered?", was written by Eduardo Rabelo. The second, a variation on the same theme titled "About a term in Medicine", portrayed the relevant and judicious considerations of Dr. João Ribeiro about the origin of the word syphilis. The word was created by the imagination of the doctor, naturalist, cosmographer, astronomer, mathematician and poet from Verona named Hieronymus Fracastorius or Girolamo Fracastoro (1478-1553), who in his (epic) Latin poem in three cantos titled "Syphilus sive morbi gallici libri três" explored the French disease. The main character and hero, carrier of the disease, was fictitiously named Syphilus. Dr. João Ribeiro concluded that after this poem was written, the term syphilis appeared in several different languages, contrary to the ill-constructed logic supported by some lexicographers about the origin of the word. He concluded by adding that the name of the poet, as well as his creation, remains tied to a simple etymologic memory in the anecdotal history of Medicine.