SOURCE: “The Treatment of morbus gallicus in Rabelais,” in Etudes Rabelaisiennes, Vol. XXV, 1991, pp. 61-75.

In the essay that follows, Dixon examines Rabelais's views on morbus gallicus, or syphilis, arguing that Rabelais consistently criticized those in authority who had the power to influence behavior and thought regarding the disease.

The period 1532-1534 marks a date in the history of western culture, for these years saw the appearance of Pantagruel and Gargantua respectively. From the first line on the first page, the contemporary reader entered a hitherto unknown world: “Beuveurs très illustres, et vous, véroléz très précieux (car à vous, non à aultres, sont dédiéz mes escriptz).”¹ This apostrophe is repeated nearly 20 years and half a life-time later: “Beuveurs infatigables, et vous vérolléz horrifiques.”² What does Rabelais mean? What is the significance of the beuveurs and the véroléz? What, if...