They aren't the only one, I've got a book that "proves" Henry was
suffering from neurosyphilis* by the time he decided to, er, "break up"
with Anne. It's pretty flimsy evidence (supposedly Elizabeth's line
about being a "barren stock" after James was born meant she didn't
menstruate, so obviously she was suffering from inherited syphilis), only
remotely plausible because Henry wasn't exactly faithful to his spouses
at a time when there wasn't any way to prevent STDs.
Leah
*Or tertiary syphilis, I've seen both terms -- what happens when the
syphilis spirochete starts damaging your brain.
Have you also read the theory that one reason for the development of the
codpiece was to help serve as a pouch to disguise (or prevent staining
on clothing by) external treatments for the rashes caused by syphilis?
What's the name of your book - I'd like to keep an eye out for it. I do
love the genre of diagnosing past medical mysteries.
--
Elinor Salter
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