The concept of a Roman Empire was resurrected in the 17th century after the ancient Roman Empire had fallen centuries before.
The Roman Empire finally fell when the Turks took Constantinople in 1453.
Posted on 08/03/2006 3:33:43 PM PDT by blam
Gout forced Charles V abdication, study finds
By Gene Emery
BOSTON (Reuters) - Tests of a 500-year-old pinky finger confirm that Holy Roman Emperor Charles V was debilitated by gout and the painful joints it produces, Spanish researchers reported on Wednesday.
Jaume Ordi of the University of Barcelona and colleagues used a microscope to examine the tip of one of Charles' pinkie fingers, which was preserved separately from his body in a small red velvet box.
After rehydrating and slicing the mummified fingertip, the Ordi team found telltale signs of gout, including the buildup of uric acid crystals.
At the height of his 40-year reign from 1516 to 1556, Charles V controlled lands in Europe, Africa and Asia and even conquered parts of the Inca Kingdom of Peru and the Aztec Empire of Mexico.
"Despite this power, Charles V had to live within the limitations of very intense arthritic pain for most of his adult life and needed, for example, a special chair for transportation," the researchers wrote.
"His physical suffering influenced decisions that affected the future of many countries," they added.
"His physicians recommended that he follow a strict diet, but the emperor had a voracious appetite, especially for meat. He also liked to drink large quantities of beer and wine, and he even ordered a specially designed four-handled drinking mug."
The condition became so severe and distracting, it probably prompted him to put off military action against the French city of Metz, which prevented him from conquering it in 1552, according to historians. That failure, and possibly his illness, led him to abdicate to his brother, Ferdinand I, four years later.
"Charles V was only 58 years of age at his death, probably from malaria, in 1558, but he seemed an old and crippled man who could barely walk or use his hands," the researchers wrote.
Historically, gout has been regarded as a disease of the rich because the foods that increase the risk have usually only been available in quantity to the wealthy.
The concept of a Roman Empire was resurrected in the 17th century after the ancient Roman Empire had fallen centuries before.
Nope. I've suffered periodically from gout for over 35 years, starting when I had to struggle to pay my rent. Gout is hereditary and not many people get it. It comes from the inability of some metabolisms to eliminate uric acid from the blood as quickly as it forms. The excess is deposited as crystals in the joints, usually starting with the joint of the big toe. Gout attacks are INCREDIBLY painful!
If you're prone to gout you have to avoid purines in your diet. Purines come from certain meats, shellfish and some cereals. One of the worst attacks I've had was caused by eating too many cornflakes! Dieting can also elevate uric acid levels in the blood, so weight control is tricky. Medications like allopurinol help most people. The recommendation to eat cherries is a good one.
When I had my first painful attack the doctor put me on colchicine -- a deadly poison -- that has to be taken in very careful doses. It helps relieve the pain but if you take too much (as I did) you suffer from diarrhea or dry-heaving nausea -- or both. No more colchicine for me; I'll take the gout pain. Gout is something of a medical mystery and not all doctors know how to treat it.
I didn't know that, but considering I have occasiona gout, as well, and love cherries -- especially Ranier cherries -- that's excellent.
Just thinking of that makes me want to say, "Eck!"
hell, go ahead and threaten france, you can never tell, they might surrender
Also stay away from Tuna-loaded with Purine. I take indomethacin when I get a flare up-knocks it right out. Agree with you on colchicine-rough stuff. Also drinking a lot of water helps-I only get flare ups when I let my self get dehydrated. Losing weight (about 50 lbs) helped me manage my attacks.
Are you familiar with gout complications and diet?
LOL!
>Are you familiar with gout complications and diet?<
I only know that if I drink any Port wine, my left leg deals me fits.
"Speaking as an occasional sufferer from gout, just eat LOTS of cherries...plain old generic ibuprofen"
Ibuprofin didn't help my gout. Stuff I got from the doc cleared it right up, though. If it comes back, I'll try the cherries.
Do canned cherries work, or do they have to be fresh?
Fresh are undoubtedly more effective, though, in my experience. None of that blasted corn syrup, either (g!).
Yah, I know ibuprofen doesn't help everyone. The stuff your doc gave you is killer, though (can't recall the name); supposed to work well for everybody. My **former** doc lectured me about it one day (that was his style -- bloody thought he was G-d, everything was a lecture).
I think the drug most commonly prescribed to stop gout attacks these days is indomethicin. It's called "super aspirin." Ibuprofen is often prescribed for joint inflammation too but it's bad for the liver.
Hmm. I should have thought about frozen (mutters at self). Good tip!
There are cherries all over Idaho just now. Maybe I'll freeze some just in case.
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Just updating the GGG info, not sending a general distribution. |
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The concept of a Roman Empire was resurrected in the 17th century after the ancient Roman Empire had fallen centuries before.
The Roman Empire finally fell when the Turks took Constantinople in 1453.
Gout. Damn gout. Same thing that nearly laid Bobby Hill low.
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