Syphilis (historically called lues) is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum.Syphilis had many altate names,such as the great pox in order to distinguish it from smallpox,and was given many national attributions,such as the French pox,the English pox,and the Italian pox,due to the disease often being spread by foreign sailors and soldiers during their frequent,unprotected sexual contact with local prostitutes.1 The French pox was widely used before it was named syphilis by the Italian physician and poet Girolamo Fracastoro in 1530.2 Syphilis first reached Canton (Guangzhou) of China through the sea in 1505 and was called Canton sores or Canton rash (kuang chuang).However,plum-blossom sores (yangmei chuang) was more widely used in medical records in China because they had a shape resembling plum-blossoms.Syphilis is almost transmitted through unprotected sexual contact with an infected person although it is possible to contract the infection by coming into contact with the broken skin of an infected person.Syphilis can also be passed from an infected mother to her unb child.