The 'horns' of a medical dilemma: Alexander the Great

Journal of the History of the Neurosciences
Gül A Russell

Abstract

Retrospective 'diagnosis' of clinical disorders of famous historical figures has been of medical interest. In the absence of a patient's 'body', the validity of 'physical symptoms' and their interpretation by contemporary diagnostic criteria are questionable. When the symptoms have been gleaned from the patients's effigy which, as in the case of Alexander the Great, is submerged in legend, the enterprise becomes inherently hazardous. In the present paper, some of the conceptual problems underlying retrospective diagnoses will be identified. Then the use of iconographic records, such as numismatics and sculpture, to provide evidence of clinical symptoms will be shown to be highly misleading.

Citations

Dec 27, 2013·Clinical Toxicology : the Official Journal of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology and European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists·Leo J SchepPat Wheatley
Aug 1, 2009·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience·Melanie PalomaresAnthony Norcia

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