Quote Originally Posted by the_foz_4
As there were no good ways to treat or diagnose syphilis until the 20th century, those infected would often fall prey to the insanity so common in the later stages of the disease.
Well, malaria was an effective cure for syphillis. It just had the minor side effect of possible death. But hey... that beats eventual death by syphillis right?

But I still maintain that madness in the game is random. I don't think repeated assassination attempts will cause madness, though it will cause a number of other negative personality traits such paranoia.