Actually I saw that codpiece info also, and it was written , I believe, by a doctor, not a costume historian. If I can find it, I will post a link. Dame Catriona MacDuff
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Elinor Salter Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 1:42 AM To: Historical Costume Subject: Re: [h-cost] Another period program on tv > > >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 _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
