Henry viii

[sammmo]

What exactly was the matter with henry's leg..I wa always led to believe it was something to do with syphalis..is this right? if so how did they treat it in those days?

[sqad617]

Well he did have syphilis, but I think that the ulcer was due to a fall in the jousting yard, which priduced this traumatic ulcer which failed to heal.

[jno]

Doctors doubt that he had syphilis: none of his various wives, mistresses or children had it. Also, there's no record of him being treated with mercury, which was the usual cure in those days. An ulcer is more likely, perhaps a bone infection from a jousting accident. It produced so much infection that his coffin exploded at his funeral, I believe.

[shomer42]

not many people know but he actually had a false leg...........riding accident involving a maiden, a mace and a bucket of wet fish.

Still he kept his sense of humour.

[carolegif]

Isn't it William the Conqueror who exploded at his funeral?

Henry had several leg ulcers by the end of his life, I think his diet and weight didn't help. Wasn't the frail health of Edward VI due to his father having syphillis?

[daniela31]

It was on The Tudors on Friday night.

A jousting accident, and his leg never really healed after that.
Nothing to do with Syphalis at all.

[jno]

yes, William the Conqueror went pop as well. Edward VI seems to have had some sort of TB judging by contemporary descriptions, but he was healthy enough till he was five or so. His sisters Mary and Elizabeth were healthy too.

Incidentally, I'm quoting from this rather specialised book - available for only a penny! (Note the doubtful reviews readers give it, though):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Death-Kings-Medical-Hi story-England/dp/0902920995/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8 &s=books&qid=1222180816&sr=1-2

[Parsfan]

I thought the usual form of treatment was Dettol and a wire brush.

[juliacornwal]

I've read the book Death of Kings and I found it most entertaining. Let's face it, today's doctors can only make medical judgements from what was actually written about the deaths at the time, and I thought it thoroughly enlightening.