Black Lion

[xmanfe1999]

Hi! I've just finished Bernard Cornwell's "Sharpe's Sword" in which one of the characters (Lord Spears) confesses having "the worst kind of pox" (syphilllis). Cornwell explains later that it was nicknamed the Black Lion by the army; does anyone know why? 

[Quizmonster]

The black lion was a syphilitic ulcer, so called probably because soldiers saw it as "eating them up", as ulcers do and as a lion would. And black perhaps because it blackened the skin.

[xmanfe1999]

Thank you very much, Quizmonster, as efficient and quick as ever;;; Gee, you are an early bird, aren't you? In front of your pc before 7 am! Have a nice day!

[Quizmonster]

Thanks, X. Us oldies don't need as much sleep as we formerly did, so I'm always up early, though generally not on the computer before 7.30. Cheers