The Medical Lives of History`s Famous People

In 1886 Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) first appeared in the medical literature. An individual with HGPS exhibits many physical characteristics and ailments which are usually associated with the elderly.

F. Scott Fitzgerald published, in 1921, a short story entitled ʻThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button.ʼ The central character of this story is born as an elderly man. It is postulated that Fitzgerald based his character on a real-life individual with HGPS. More importantly, it is theorized that medicine and society has viewed, in the past, these individuals incorrectly. These individuals might actually be experiencing true physical aging in a very accelerated manner.

Diabetes is a disorder which affects millions of individuals worldwide. Diabetes refers to a group of metabolic disorders in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or the body does not respond to the insulin that is being produced.

H.G. Wells was well-known throughout the world for his writing in the science fiction genre. He also adhered to strict Darwinian principles. However, upon developing diabetes he became a staunch advocate for the access to insulin for all without regard for their ability to pay for it. Wells performed many noble and altruistic deeds on behalf of his fellow diabetics. This certainly did not correspond with his beliefs and attitudes in other areas of life.

George Herman “Babe” Ruth is remembered today as the greatest baseball player ever. Fans recall fondly his prodigious home runs and his many titles, records, and accolades earned on the playing field. In 1946 Ruth developed various symptoms in the head and neck region. He subsequently sought medical treatment and received a multitude of misdiagnoses.

Ruth had a relatively rare form of cancer known as nasopharyngeal carcinoma. To the present day, many misconceptions still persist surrounding his cancer. Today, we can truly view Ruth as a hero off the athletic fields for his humanitarian efforts in volunteering for experimental cancer treatments in order to help medical researchers gather very valuable information while fully knowing that such treatments would never cure his own cancer.

Oral cancer is the largest group of the subset of cancers which fall into the head and neck cancer category. It has multiple etiologies including tobacco and alcohol use. Alcohol seems to increase the odds for a malignancy to form in tobacco users. Sigmund Freud displayed a fervent addiction to tobacco. By Freudʼs own admission he was addicted to nicotine and was known to smoke twenty cigars per day. Freud documented in letters his desire to smoke cigars throughout his ordeal with oral cancer. A brief review of oral cancer will be discussed and details of Freudʼs struggle with the disease will be analyzed in this chapter.

John F. Kennedy was elected the first Roman Catholic president of the United States. His presidency lasted only approximately 1,000 days as he was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. During his lifetime, Kennedy suffered many ailments which baffled his physicians and led to numerous hospitalizations. Most prominent on the list of Kennedyʼs ailments were chronic back problems and gastrointestinal disorders. Kennedy was never diagnosed with celiac disease during his lifetime but such a diagnosis would explain his lifelong medical issues for which his physicians could not come up with a suitable diagnosis.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease in which there are many gastrointestinal manifestations such as diarrhea, weight loss, irritability, and abdominal pain.

King George III was the reigning monarch of Great Britain who had his troops vanquished by the colonial forces during the American War for Independence. At age 50, George III began experiencing various symptoms including insomnia, stupor, restlessness, and headaches. His systems disappeared and he mysteriously recovered. Symptoms returned over a decade later and eventually led to King George III losing the royal throne. Modern research shows that the cause of King George IIIʼs illness was porphyria. Porphyrias are a group of rare diseases. This group of diseases is characterized by an enzyme deficiency in the heme biosynthesis pathway.

William Taft was the 27^th president of the United States. Much of the story of his medical travails centers upon one thing-his weight. Taft moved up the political ladder relatively quickly but, was never happy in politics. He was pushed by his father and his wife to reach great heights in politics. He would have rather simply practiced law. Taftʼs weight caused him to develop sleep apnea. After his term as president ended, he almost immediately lost approximately 70 pounds permanently. His sleep apnea disappeared as he lost the weight.

Charles Dickens is known throughout the world as perhaps the greatest novelist of all time. Dickens was highly interested in many social causes during his lifetime. One such cause was access to quality medical care for children. 20^th century renovations at a London church revealed a tomb containing the body of an individual who served as the inspiration for his most beloved character, Timothy Cratchit or, more famously, ʻTiny Tim.’

Cratchitʼs skeletal remains were not that of a young boy but, rather, that of an adult. By virtue of this information, Dickensʼ ʻA Christmas Carolʼ must be viewed as a social commentary. The hidden message of ʻA Christmas Carolʼ is that children have the ability to overcome devastating physical ailments and handicaps if the proper medical care is provided.

This chapter analyzes the oral squamous cell carcinoma of American Civil War hero Ulysses Grant. Today, the deleterious effects of the use of alcohol and tobacco are well documented and many forms of oral cancer can now be treated very successfully if diagnosed at an early stage. Such was not the case in the nineteenth century. Grantʼs case illustrates both the need for early detection of head and neck cancers and the importance of the public understanding the harmful effects of tobacco and alcohol.

Queen Victoria reigned over Great Britain from 1840 to 1901. Her marriage to Albert resulted in nine offspring. These children later married into various royal families of Europe bringing with them the genetic trait for hemophilia. Hemophilia is a hereditary blood disorder in which the blood does not clot in the usual manner. The fact that Victoria was a carrier for hemophilia raises the logical question of why there were no signs of hemophilia in any of her male ancestors.

Franklin Roosevelt was born into an aristocratic American family. His childhood was one of wealth and privilege. He had very little in common with the trials and tribulations of the average American youth. He later became America’s only fourterm president and served in that capacity during a particularly tumultuous period of American history. President Roosevelt suffered from hypertension. His blood pressure rose steadily as he led the nation through the Great Depression and World War II. The medical professionals of Roosevelt’s era did not have a very thorough understanding of hypertension. Fortunately, there are many effective medications available today for those who are hypertensive. There has been considerable research performed since the 1940’s which has greatly expanded the medical community’s knowledge of hypertension and its effects.

The dramatic works of William Shakespeare have left readers and audience members spellbound for centuries. Shakespeare explores many topics of the human experience in a manner which can, at times, be all too realistic as he starkly demonstrates the many aspects of the dark side of human nature. In the play, ʻThe Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Veniceʼ, Shakespeare explores the effects of morbid jealousy.

The actions of the fictional character, Othello, has inspired modern psychological experts to refer to morbid jealousy as ʻThe Othello Syndrome’.

In 1981 ten martyrs for the Irish Republican cause sacrificed themselves by participating in a hunger strike at Her Majestyʼs Prison Maze better known as The Maze, Long Kesh, or, simply, H Blocks in County Down, Ireland. The 1981 Hunger Strike was a direct confrontation between the Irish political prisoners and the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Margaret Thatcher. The 1981 Hunger Strike began on March 1 when The Irish Republican Armyʼs Bobby Sands refused food. He would be joined by other brave men at staggered intervals. The Strike was called off when it became apparent that the families of these men would permit medical intervention, against the will of the strikers, when they would eventually slip into unconsciousness.

American humorist and author Samuel Clemens was afflicted with periodontal disease. While living in Hartford, Connecticut his dentist was Dr. John Riggs who is considered to be the father of periodontics. Dr. Riggs studied under another Hartford dentist, Dr. Horace Wells. Dr. Wells is a pioneer in the field of anesthesia. In one of Clemensʼ posthumously published short stories, ‘Happy Memories of the Dental Chair’, Clemens gives insights into the origins of periodontics and anesthesia.

The smile of ‘The Mona Lisa’ has enchanted researchers, art enthusiasts, and historians for centuries. The smile can best be described as being enigmatic. Academicians have presented numerous theories in an attempt to explain the nature of the smile through the use of both modern technology and various documented facts concerning the portrait. The true origin of the smile can finally be revealed. I theorize that the smile is the direct result of the masterful representation of a woman who had recently given birth and was affected by Bell’s palsy. Bell’s palsy is a condition which is more commonly found in individuals who are either pregnant or have recently given birth.

Grover Cleveland was the first, and only, president of the United States to serve two non-consecutive terms. During Cleveland’s second term the United States was experiencing a serious crisis which threatened the financial well-being of the nation. The magnitude of the crisis was not revealed to the public. Cleveland planned to ask Congress to repeal the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890. He thought that a powerful speech before Congress could help avoid financial disaster. Shortly before scheduling his speech, a life-threatening growth was discovered in the President’s mouth. A biopsy returned a diagnosis of cancer for the rough spot on the President’s palate and surgical intervention would be required. A clandestine surgical team was assembled and successful surgeries were performed aboard a boat belonging to Cleveland’s friend. Later, a prosthesis was constructed for the President to hide the physical effects of the surgery. Cleveland was able to make an eloquent speech before Congress, the Act was repealed and financial ruin for the nation was averted.

Calvin Coolidge was an active, outdoor-type boy until he received his childhood diagnosis of asthma. This diagnosis had a very deep effect on the development of his personality. He grew up trying to avoid stressful or strenuous circumstances in order to not bring on the symptoms of his asthma. Asthma is a respiratory condition which many individuals throughout the world suffer with on a daily basis. Fortunately, individuals with asthma can lead very active and full lives today. The path chosen by ‘Silent Cal’ was reflected in his actions, or lack thereof, during his years as president of the United States.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 2B is an autosomal dominant hamartoneoplastic syndrome which is caused by a heterozygous mutation in the RET gene located on chromosome 10g11. It is characterized by the development of multiple mucosal neuromas. Bumps which are glistening in appearance form along the tongue, lips, and lining of the mouth. An analysis of the physical characteristics of Abraham Lincoln has led researchers to recently theorize that he had multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 2B.

The Lazarus Syndrome is a very real medical occurrence. It is known in medical terminology as delayed return of spontaneous circulation after cessation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It was first reported in the medical literature in 1982. One plausible mechanism for this event is dynamic hyperinflation of the lung causing positive end expiratory pressure. Some other medical investigators have suggested that a return of spontaneous circulation might be due to a delayed action of drugs which were administered during efforts to resuscitate the patient.

John Keats was an English Romantic poet born in the late 1700ʼs. Among his better known works are ʻOde on a Grecian Urnʼ and ʻOde to a Nightingaleʼ. Keats suffered a series of hemorrhages in 1820 and died at the age of 25 from tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a potentially fatal disease caused by a bacterium known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body such as the brain, kidneys, and spine.

Woody Guthrie was born on July 14, 1912 in Okemah, Oklahoma. Guthrie grew into a popular musician helping to usher in a generation of folk music. Guthrie exhibited various physical symptoms and was misdiagnosed on multiple occasions. Among these misdiagnoses were alcoholism and schizophrenia. The proper diagnosis of Huntingtonʼs Disease was eventually made. Huntingtonʼs Disease is an inherited degenerative disease which affects the nerve cells in the brain. It results in cognitive, movement, and psychiatric disorders.

Rudyard Kipling was an English author who was born in Bombay in 1865. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 1907. Kiplingʼs ʻThe Jungle Bookʼ is a collection of stories. The most popular character in these stories is Mowgli, a ʻman cubʼ, who is raised by wolves in the Indian jungle. The Mowgli syndrome refers to feral children who, during their developmental years, have lacked proper care or human contact.

St. Paul was an early Christian follower of Jesus. Paul was converted to Christianity in what has become known as the Damascus Road experience. Prior to his conversion Paul persecuted Christians. Seizures of temporal lobe epilepsy occur in individuals of any age. Hallucinations of voice, people, smell, taste and music may occur during a seizure. Some individuals experience temporal lobe epilepsy after meningitis or a head injury. There is speculation that St. Paulʼs conversion was a result of a temporal lobe epileptic seizure.

The Habsburg jaw refers to the dominantly inherited trait which was present and clearly evident in the Habsburg family. This condition manifests itself as mandibular prognathism, jutting of the jaw and drooping of the lower lip. Charles II was the last Habsburg ruler of Spain. Charles II was physically and mentally disabled and died having produced no offspring. His death was followed by a chaotic period in which various factions struggled for political power.

The Rapunzel syndrome is known in medical terminology as trichobezoar. It is a very rare disorder in which hair is swallowed by an individual. The hair is indigestable and becomes entrapped within the stomach resulting in a hair ball. After years of this condition the hairs start to extend beyond the stomach into the small bowel. This is known as the Rapunzel syndrome. It is primarily found in children who are emotionally disturbed. The syndrome takes its name from a Brothers Grimmʼs fairy tale character, Rapunzel. The fictional Rapunzel is known for her long, flowing, beautiful hair.

As a child, James M. Barrie was deeply affected by the death of his thirteen year-old older brother. Barrie developed into a very successful and celebrated author. In 1904, Peter Pan first appeared as a play and, subsequently, as a novel seven years later. Barrie celebrated the freedom and joys of childhood in his masterpiece. Peter Pan Syndrome refers to individuals, mainly males, who have experienced an abnormal psychological halt to the maturation process of their personality traits. These individuals lack self-confidence, avoid long-term relationships, cannot make commitments, and usually do not honor their promises.

Pope Benedict XVI canonized Father Damien de Veuster on October 11, 2009. Dr. Damien commenced his ministry, in 1873, in which he would serve those individuals who were afflicted with leprosy and quarantined in Molokai on the Hawaiian Islands. He eventually contracted the disease and died of it in 1889. Leprosy is a disease which is caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It has a long incubation period and is not very contagious. Presently the disease is treated with antibiotics and the patient can live a normal life if the disease is diagnosed at an early stage.

Louis Braille was born in France in the early 1800ʼs. Braille suffered an accident in his fatherʼs workshop which severely damaged one of his eyes. An infection ensued and spread to the other eye causing the child to become completely blind by the age of five. As a young man, Braille developed a system of reading and writing for the blind and visually impaired. He based his system on a highly imperfect system of night reading developed by the French military. Today Brailleʼs system is accepted and implemented worldwide.

The brilliant British detective, Sherlock Holmes, has fascinated millions worldwide with his uncanny ability to solve crimes by using the most miniscule of clues. The reader learns much about this character- a creation of the mind of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. One of the darker characteristics of Sherlock Holmes is his cocaine addiction. The personality and thought processes of the fictional character are very similar to those of many real-life ordinary individuals. They think that they can use cocaine when life is not very exciting and avoid it during other more stimulating periods. This erroneous thought process can lead to many horrible complications and manifestations of cocaine use. Not least among these complications is addiction.

King Tutankhamun was an Egyptian pharaoh who ruled from 1332 B.C. to 1332 B.C. His nearly intact tomb was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter. Tutankhamun was probably the product of an incestuous relationship. This has led to much speculation concerning an inheritable genetic disorder being the cause of the young kingʼs death. However, evidence points to malaria as being a more likely cause. Malaria is a potentially fatal mosquito-borne disease which is caused by a parasite. Illness and death from malaria can usually be prevented by the intervention of modern medicine.

Myths and legends surround every aspect of the life of George Washington. Prominent among the Washingtonian myths is that he had wooden teeth. Washington never had teeth made of wood. They were the most modern dentures of the time. They were also very uncomfortable and painful. Millions of individuals worldwide, like Washington, have lost some or all of their natural teeth. There are various causes for tooth loss. There are also multiple treatment options to replace the missing teeth. Such options include dentures, dental implants, and cemented dental bridges.

Washington Irving was an American author who wrote a short story about a man who fell asleep for twenty years and then suddenly awoke to find that the world had changed dramatically during his odd slumber. This eponymous literary character has given his name to a condition known in the medical literature as Kleine-Levin Syndrome. Rip Van Winkle Syndrome refers to this disorder which is found mainly in adolescent boys and is characterized by hypersomnolence. There is no cure for this syndrome. However, like Rip van Winkleʼs slumber, the disorder suddenly disappears after a period of years.

Ludwig van Beethoven was the greatest musical composer that the world has ever known. In a tragic twist of irony, the creator of the most beloved musical compositions became deaf in the prime of his life and career. Many historians have attempted to determine the cause of this deafness. The most logical diagnosis is Pagetʼs disease. Pagetʼs disease is a chronic metabolic disorder that is characterized by the abnormal formation and resorption of bone. The disease most likely caused Beethovenʼs deafness by compressing his eighth cranial nerve.