Philippe Ricord is an outstanding fi gure in the fi eld of scientifi c syphilology. His work has expanded the knowledge of clinical manifestations, staging, diagnosis and treatment of syphilis. Ricord's critical approach to existing knowledge and careful study of the outstanding issues of sexually transmitted diseases made him a prominent fi gure in 19th-century European venereology. His contribution to science, despite some mistakes, and his preeminence in the study of syphilis was recognized by his contemporaries. Ricord's work was continued by his students J.A. Fournier, C.-P. Diday and L. Bassereau (among others).