Our fear of specific diseases has led us to coin a lexicon of euphemisms for sanity and retardation epilepsy, venereal disease. cancer. heart disease and strokeOur fear of specific diseases has led us to c oi n a le x ic o n of e u p h e m i s m s f o r insanity and retardation, ep ileps y, ve ner ea l disease, cancer, heart disease and stroke