Rank talked to Nora about syphilis and how her father gave her the disease. Dr. Rank is currently dying of the disease. He told her how much his spine was hurting from his father's actions. However, contrary to what some people believe, the syphilis that killed Dr. Rank is not a gender issue. Indeed, Dr. Rank did not inherit the disease because he was a man. He suffered from it because his father did not take care of himself. As for Dr. Rank's father, the need to be overtly masculine and prove his prowess with women may have contributed to his infection with the disease. However, his father's ignorance and lack of concern for his health or the well-being of those with whom he had sexual relations caused Dr. Rank's illness. Dr. Rank is surprised that Nora knows about truffles and oysters because they are an aphrodisiac. Women are not supposed to know gender. In fact, it was believed at that time that decent women didn't like sex. Any woman who did so was labeled as having loose morals. Sex was supposed to give pleasure to the man and