05/02/2026
SYPHILIS AND LAWYERS
Ever wondered why our learned friends in court look like they’re auditioning for a Shakespeare play with those curly white wigs? Well, here’s the medical twist:
Back in the 1600s, syphilis was rampant in Europe. One of its symptoms? Hair loss. To cover up bald patches and still look “respectable,” lawyers and judges started wearing wigs, formally called perukes. What began as a medical disguise slowly turned into a symbol of authority and tradition.
Now, centuries later, even though syphilis has a cure, the wigs stayed. Why? Because lawyers love tradition more than they love innovation.
So next time you see a lawyer in a wig, remember: it’s not just fashion, it’s medical history walking into court. You have heard.