Until that time … syphilis had been called the “French disease” in Italy and Germany, and the “Italian disease” in France. In addition, the Dutch called it the “Spanish disease”, the Russians called it the “Polish disease”, the Turks called it the “Christian disease” or “Frank disease” (frengi) and the Tahitians called it the “British disease”.
From this Wikipedia article while doing research for a press release. I guess we just name it after the people we don’t like? (My internship is teaching me the most fascinating things.)
