In this week’s cover story, contributor Jay Cost ably recounts the health scares and illnesses that have befallen a number of presidents, going back as far as George Washington himself. The health of a national executive is a matter of great import, and outside of four presidential assassinations, it’s fair to say that the United States has been relatively lucky in this regard. Presidents have survived bouts of violent illness, gunshot wounds, and chronic pain. And that’s just Andrew Jackson.
Others throughout history have not been as lucky. The Book of Daniel describes the descent of Nebuchadnezzar II, the ruler of the Babylonian Empire heralded as “King of the Universe,” into a psychological madness where he “was driven from men and did eat grass as oxen.” The Bible records that Nebuchadnezzar was humbled by God for his hubris and lived like an animal for seven years. Psychology calls such a disorder “boanthropy,” in which a person believes themselves to be a cow or ox. Other modern explanations for what may have afflicted Nebuchadnezzar include general nerve damage (paresis), paralytic dementia caused by syphilis, or porphyria, which the Pharmaceutical Journal explains to be “a group of enzyme disorders that manifest with neurological symptoms.”
It is believed that Mad King George III of England suffered from porphyria, or possibly bipolar disorder, or possibly both. Along with neurological decline, other symptoms of porphyria include chronic aches and pains and blue urine. George was recorded as having periodic manic episodes that eventually became permanent, a mental condition that the king’s own doctors might have worsened by “treating” him with regular doses of poisonous arsenic. In addition to aiding the loss of the American colonies, George’s condition resulted in some truly erratic behavior. According to historian Amanda Foreman, he once reportedly planted a steak in the ground, “fully believing it would grow into a beef tree.” On another occasion, he ordered his royal carriage to stop in the park grounds of Windsor Castle so that he could have a discussion with an oak tree, apparently under the impression it was the King of Prussia.
The United States is benefited by our relatively short national existence and advancements in modern health science not afforded to earlier nations. But we are also benefited by a governmental system that vests power in the people rather than in a single individual. When Alexander the Great died due to sudden illness, the greatest empire on Earth was lost almost as quickly. Charles VI of France lost his mind after a suffering seizure while on campaign in Le Mans and was forced by Henry V to cede claim of the French throne to England, only for the English to lose control of France once again after Henry’s sudden death (possibly from dysentery or heatstroke).
2020 is bad, but it could always be worse. — J. Grant Addison
