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Folklore/Mythology

Nobles Used to Suffer from “The Glass Delusion” and Were Terrified of Breaking

D.G. Hewitt November 25, 2019 21 min
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor - 16th century

22. Court physicians across Europe used their knowledge and influence to document cases of the glass delusion

Royal court physicians tried a range of methods to treat cases of glass delusion. Wikimedia Commons.

At the start of the 16th century, two of Europe’s foremost physicians took a keen interest in the glass delusion. Andre du Laurens was the personal physician to Henry IV of France, while his friend and colleague Alfonso Ponce de Santa Cruz served in the court of Philip II of Spain. Together, they researched the phenomenon, listening out for cases and comparing notes. Most notably, they recorded the example of an unnamed royal who had a particularly bad case of glass delusion. His story became the stuff of a psychiatric legend.

Written by
D.G. Hewitt

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