Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 04:28:34 -0600 (CST)
From: "John C. Merritt" <beowulf-AT-bga.com>
Subject: Nietzsche's illness [Was: RE: ehh?]


On Wed, 18 Mar 1998, Steven E. Callihan wrote:

> >If we're playing diagnose Nietzsche today then I'll throw my guess into the
> >hat as well. Actually, it's a bit more than a guess--call it an educated,
> >been there, done that guess. I think Nietzche was manic-depressive (bipolar
> >affective disorder today). He doesn't fit the schizophrenic profile, but he
> >fits the bipolar one perfectly. The tantrums, rages, creativity and delight
> >in wordplay, multiple aches and pains of unknown origin, the quick mind,
> >egoistic attitude...well, you get the picture I guess. Even the catatonia
> >(not uncommon during a depressive episode in manic-depressive illness) and
> >his eratic academic career; all fit the bipolar to a tee. Maybe it's because
> >I'm so familiar with the illness that I think this...I don't know, but I
> >think the pure catatonic schizophrenic is out.
> >
> >Frac
> 
> Bipolar is a bit of a grab bag, I think. I personally am of the rather
> unconsidered, I admit, opinion, that he was a victim of that 19th Century
> gentlemen's disease, the big S, tertiary that is. Someone quite a while ago
> mentioned that his mother had uneven pupils, which is a pretty classic
> symptom of syphillis infection. Add to that his father dying young from a
> rather mysterious brain disease. My favorite pet suspicion is that Freddy
> got it in the womb, from his father via his mother. Two bad we can't exhume
> the bodies, test for spyrochetes.
>>>>>>>>>>

The problem I have with the *congenital* syphillis theory is the longevity
of Ns mother [71 yrs] and sister [81 yrs], and that Elizabeth, at least,
never showed any of the symptoms that her brother had. I think that if N
had syphillis, he contracted the disease post partum. 

An autopsy might be more to the point in re their father, since if
Elizabeth's story about his being thrown by a horse is correct, the skull
fracture that would have occured would still be apparent.

          ----------| John Merritt | beowulf-AT-bga.com |--------- 



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