Henry 6Th

[kathie24]

Does anyone know what the illness was that the King was suffering from? Can anyone tell what it would be in modern day terms. He seems to have been either asleep or asleep while appearing to be awake. Sometimes he would come back and could hold a conversation but mostly he seems not to know what is happening around him. And could he be cured these days?

[sandyRoe]

This maybe?
http://www.webmd.boots.com/a-to-z-guides/absence-seizure-symptoms

[jourdain2]

No, I don't know - but I'll try to research. Sounds like narcolepsy from your description. That or 'shut-in' syndrome - trying to remember the proper name. Possibly curable today, again, need to check.

[MargoTester]

According to the wonder that is Google (other web browsers are available) it was a form of schizophrenia. So I guess the treatment today would be appropriate drugs.

[jno]

there was a long histoy of mental illness in his (French) family. His grandfather thought he was made of glass.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_VI_of_France#Mental_illness

[boxtops]

The programme on TV about the Platagenets last week described his state as "catatonic". https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=catatonic+definition

[kathie24]

Thank you very much, very helpful.

[sandyRoe]

jno, did his courtiers not see through that?

[Peter Pedant]

agree jno

He got it from King John - crazy fellow as she said thought he was made of glass - Katherine the daughter was OK and Henry VI was a few pence short of a shilling ....seems to have died out. There is not much of a market for mad monarchs

I have to say after centuries of too-ing and fro-ing about George III illness, they dug up one of his very many descendants and found it WAS porphyria. His own mutation. Still present in the Royal fambly. It therefore shows something called a Founder Effect

[Peter Pedant]

// jno, did his courtiers not see through that?//

no they werent allowed to touch him ....

[jno]

sandyRoe, I imagine they reflected on it a good deal.

[jourdain2]

fASCINATING STUFF, THANKS ALL.

[Elina]

sandy, that did make me giggle! ;0)

[askyourgran]

Me too....lol

[Elina]

Ha ha!