AN INQUIRY. 
221 
(Hieronymus, Fracastorius and Anton—Musa Brassavolus, 
amongst otliers) expressing the opinion that the disease would 
continue to grow milder, and finally become extinct. To be sure, 
this hope has not yet been realized, but the fact of there having 
been indications which appeared to justify it then leave us to con¬ 
clude that the diseases in the first half of the sixteenth century 
manifested much the same forms and course as at the present day. 
But even now we see a repetition upon a small scale of this early 
epidemic outbreak, with the virulency of the disease at the com¬ 
mencement and its subsequent gradual modification in instances 
where syphilis has suddenly invaded localities previously exempt. 
Such instances have been occasionally observed in late years, in 
consequence of the sudden invasion of certain regions by troops 
and seamen. Where the conditions are peculiarly unfavorable 
and the locality retired, the first outbreak of syphilis is apt to 
show a remarkable intensity, but after the more virulent forms of 
the disease have become extinct, a certain hereditary taint is often 
« 
left behind which manifests itself amongst the later generations 
in the form of manifold chronic affections, these latter receiving 
the name generally of the locality where they made their first 
appearance.” (Ibid. p. 17). 
If now it be clearly shown that syphilis is the lineal descend¬ 
ant of yonder famous epidemic, we will at once turn our attention 
to the more important portion of our subject, viz.: To the con¬ 
sideration of the cause or causes—for there must have been at 
least a specific one, giving rise to the epidemic itself, and hence to 
syphilis. 
Etiology. 
“ Nature is much poorer than I take her to he if she cannot afford a solution for 
this difficulty.”— Edison. 
We cannot better commence this portion of our subject than 
by taking as a clue, for future investigation and study, that 
“ curious idea” promulgated by Leonardo Fioravinti, an Italian 
alchemist, which is as follows: “ The length of the siege of 
Naples having caused a famine among the French and Spanish 
troops, the merchants who brought food to the soldiers sold them 
various articles prepared from human flesh, and all those who 
made use of the horrible aliment were soon affected with syphilis. 
