Italy’s Renaissance period has a major, though little-known, dark side. Sailors returning from the New World brought with them a massive outbreak of syphilis, which spread through an entire French army. The troops then brought what would become known as “the great pox” to the rest of Europe. With no such thing as antibiotics back then, the disease was able to spread unchecked—and its effects were nasty.
Meghan Jones
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/historical-facts-you-ll-wish-weren-t-really-true/ss-AATdROS?ocid=msedgntp#image=1
Mws R Writings 