Black's Law Dictionary (2nd edition)dictionaries

Syphilis

In medical jurisprudence. A loathsome venereal disease (vulgarly called “the pox”) of pecullar virulence, infectious by dlrect contact, capable of hereditary trans-mission, and the fruitful source of various other diseases and, directly or indirectly, of Insanity

Source: Black’s Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)