Syphilis has almost been eradicated by medicine in modern times. However, before there was an effective cure for the disease, syphilis was the scourge of the world. It recognized no boundaries, infecting both rich and poor.
在现代，梅毒几乎已经完全被药物根除了。然而，在人们可以有效治疗梅毒之前，梅毒是这个世界上可怕的灾难。梅毒毫不"偏心"，不管是富人还是穷人都可能感染上它。
Syphilis may have caused some of the most important figures in history to either create some of the world's greatest works or make decisions that altered the course of history.
历史上重要的人物——不论是有着伟大作品的巨匠还是改写历史进程的人--都可能曾患过梅毒。
10.Adolf Hitler May Have Ruled Germany While Suffering From Syphilis
10.阿道夫·希特勒可能在罹患梅毒期间统治德国
One theory may plausibly explain Hitler's behavior and decisions while ruling Nazi Germany. Some historians believe that Hitler was suffering from an advanced form of syphilis toward the end of his regime.
有一种推测似乎可以解释希特勒的行为，以及他在统治纳粹德国时期所做的决策。一些历史学家认为希特勒在他政权结束之前罹患晚期梅毒。
Dr. Theodor Morell, Adolf Hitler's personal physician, kept extensive records about his most famous patient.
希特勒的私人医生——西奥多·莫雷尔医生，对他这位最知名的病人保留了大量的记录。
Most of these records still survive, providing modern historians with a portrait of Hitler's private life.
大部分记录的现存，给现代历史学家描绘了一幅希特勒私人生活的画像。
Many medical researchers who have read the documents have stated that many of his symptoms match those of tertiary syphilis.
很多阅读了这些文件的医学研究员表示，希特勒的许多症状符合三期梅毒的表现。
Dr. Morell also speculated that Hitler may have had the illness. In Mein Kampf, Hitler devoted several pages to syphilis, even calling it "the Jewish disease."
莫雷尔医生推测希特勒可能罹患梅毒。在《我的奋斗》中，希特勒用了几页纸描述梅毒，甚至称之为"犹太病"。
Dr. Morell noted symptoms such as severe gastric crises, skin lesions, and violent mood swings as evidence that Hitler had contracted syphilis and "sudden criminal behavior, paranoia, grandiosity and mania, all of which changes show in cases of neuro-syphilis."
莫雷尔医生记录了一些症状，例如严重的胃病、皮肤病变、暴力情节，作为希特勒感染梅毒以及"突然的犯罪行为、妄想症、自大狂和狂躁症"的佐证。
Toward the end of his life, Hitler became increasingly erratic and detached from reality.
在希特勒生命的最后时期，他的情绪越来越不稳定并且本人开始脱离现实。
Dr. Morell prescribed iodide salts for Hitler, although they're also used for angina and chest pain, another of Hitler's complaints.
莫雷尔医生为希特勒开了碘化盐，即使这也用于希特勒心绞痛和胸痛的治疗。
The syphilis theory is somewhat discounted because most of the evidence is circumstantial. Still, it can't be entirely discredited, even if it was just a contributing factor to Hitler's behavior.
梅毒推测多少有点不可信，因为大部分证据是偶然的。但它也不能完全被推翻感染梅毒，即使它仅仅只是希特勒行为的影响因素之一。
If he did have syphilis, another question arises: How did he catch it? Ironically, some say he caught it from a Jewish prostitute.
如果他确实罹患梅毒，那么问题来了：他如何患的梅毒？讽刺的是，有流传说他的梅毒来自于一位犹太妓女。
9.Christopher Columbus Introduced Syphilis To Europe
9.克里斯托弗·哥伦布把梅毒引进欧洲
Although Christopher Columbus is generally credited with discovering America, at least one of his other discoveries was less than noble.
我们普遍认为克里斯托弗·哥伦布发现了美洲新大陆，而他还有一项不那么光彩的发现。
In fact, it would prove to be one of the most aggressive diseases of all time.
事实上，后来证明这一"发现"有史以来最具侵袭性的疾病。
Before Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World, syphilis was a disease indigenous only to the western hemisphere.
克里斯托弗·哥伦布到达新大陆之前感染梅毒，梅毒是一种仅存在于西半球的地域性疾病。
As we all know, syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease, but Columbus and his crew were unaware of it. As they began to have sexual relations with the natives, some of the crew caught the dreaded sickness.
我们都知道，梅毒是一种性病，但是哥伦布和他的船员并没有意识到这一点。当他们开始与土著人发生性关系时，一些船员染上了这个可怕的疾病。
When Columbus returned to Europe, he presented many interesting gifts and other curiosities. But people didn't expect him to bring back a new disease.
待哥伦布回到欧洲，他带回了很多有趣的礼物和珍品。但是人们并没有预料到他同时也带回了一种新的疾病。
Syphilis began to spread rapidly after Columbus returned. Soon, it became a full-blown epidemic affecting many European countries.
哥伦布荣归后，梅毒很快开始传播。不久后，梅毒在很多欧洲国家盛行起来。
Although there were many different treatments, the Europeans of those times had no real cure. Despite physicians' best efforts, nothing could stop the deadly spread of syphilis throughout the continent.
即使当时有很多不同的疗法，欧洲人也无法痊愈。除了医生最大的努力，没有什么能阻止致命的梅毒在这片大陆上传播。
As a result of Columbus's voyage, he had unwittingly released in Europe one of the worst diseases in history.
哥伦布的航行不知不觉地把历史上最可怕的疾病带到了欧洲。
8.Beethoven Wrote His Compositions While Suffering From Syphilis
8.贝多芬在忍受梅毒煎熬时写下不朽之作
Throughout his life, Beethoven composed some of the greatest symphonies of all time, but he also had to deal with several handicaps.
纵观贝多芬的一生，他创作出了许多伟大的交响曲，但是他也不得不克服许多的障碍。
It's well-known that Beethoven was almost completely deaf in his later years, but he may also have had syphilis.
大众人尽皆知的是，贝多芬晚年时，耳朵完完全全地聋了。但是，他有可能也沾染上了梅毒。
Beethoven suffered from chronic illnesses, but many of them remain undiagnosed. He also had a tragic personal life because of his romantic view of love.
贝多芬长期经受慢性疾病的侵扰，但是很多都未得到明确的诊断。由于他对爱情的看法过于罗曼蒂克，他的私人生活也相当悲惨。
His personal relationships were often unfulfilling because his idea of romance didn't fit reality. As such, he often had sexual relations with prostitutes and may have caught syphilis because of this.
而由于他对浪漫的看法与现实脱轨，他的感情关系往往不尽如人意。因此，他经常与妓女发生性关系，并有可能因此而染上梅毒。
It's also possible that Beethoven had congenital syphilis (syphilis at birth).
也有可能贝多芬患上的是先天性梅毒症（一出生即患有梅毒）。
There's evidence to discount the theory that Beethoven had the disease, such as the fact that no mercury was found in his hair when mercury was a common syphilis treatment.
当然，也有证据证明这一论断不足以完全信以为真。比如说，在那个把水银作为梅毒主要治疗方法的年代，贝多芬的头发里却检测不出汞元素的存在。
However, many of his physical and psychological symptoms match those of syphilis.
然而，他的许多生理和心理症状却与梅毒的症状相称。
Some believe that Beethoven's deafness may have been caused by syphilis. Other symptoms include chronic pain, which was a common complaint for Beethoven.
也有人认为贝多芬的耳聋就有可能是由梅毒导致的。其他的症状包括慢性疼痛，也是贝多芬时常挂在嘴边的怨忿。
Many of his psychological and physical symptoms, such as frequent migraines, could also be attributed to syphilis.
他的很多生理与心理症状，例如频繁的偏头痛，或许也可归咎于梅毒症。
Could Beethoven have written his greatest works while suffering from the worst of diseases? It's interesting to believe so.
贝多芬有可能是在忍受着最痛苦的疾病煎熬下书写出最伟大的作品吗？倘若果真如此，倒是令人瞠目结舌。
