The "Madness" of Friedrich Hölderlin: an iatrogenic intoxication.
The German poet Hölderlin, assumed to have suffered from schizophrenia, in fact has been the victim of a combined calomel and cantharidine intoxication administered by his physician Autenrieth. This new theory explains much better his behavioural changes and also his neurological and other concomitant symptoms; it can be tested by analysing a very few of his hairs for the presence of these compounds.
Aramon Pharma, Königin-Luise-Str. 27, 14195, Berlin, Germany. r.horowski@aramon.de.
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D002193:Cantharidin / Q000506:poisoning*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000266:history; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005197:Famous Persons; D005858:Germany; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D017669:Mercury Compounds / Q000506:poisoning*; D011037:Poetry as Topic / Q000266:history*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000266:history
D017669:Mercury Compounds; D002193:Cantharidin; C015728:calomel
Aortic valvular stenosis; Behavioural alteration; Calomel intoxication; Cantharidine; Hölderlin