Famous and Infamous Patients Trivia Quiz

Answer: Porphyria

There are at least four references (over forty years of historical documents) to George's bluish urine. This is a classic symptom of porphyria, a condition in which porphyrins (naturally occurring purple pigmented chemicals) are excreted in the urine.

The significance of this symptom was not recognised at the time. George also had the other classic symptoms of porphyria-- mental disturbance, neuritis of the limbs and abdominal symptoms.

Answer: Syphilis

When reviewing the historical evidence, it is extremely unlikely that Henry suffered from syphilis. There is evidence, however, that he suffered from a number of serious illnesses in his lifetime, including smallpox, malaria and osteomyelitis.

Answer: Beethoven

Beethoven's grave has been opened twice in an attempt to ascertain the cause of his deafness, however, nine pieces of his skull, including the bones of the ear, are missing, most likely removed by the person who performed the original autopsy, so we may never know the true diagnosis. By a strange coincidence, a man named Wagner performed Beethoven's autopsy.

Answer: War wound (metal splinters in the eye)

Despite popular belief, he never wore an eye patch and the eye looked quite normal, however, he did occasionally wear a green shade over his forehead to protect his good eye from strong light.

Answer: Prolapsed piles (haemorrhoids)

The fact that Napoleon's haemorrhoids were extruding and strangulated was only known to three other people and they kept the secret for fifty years. However, he did suffer from the other three afflictions (recurrent bladder infections, malaria and epilepsy) at other times in his life.

Answer: Hernia

When the hernia was diagnosed, a truss was purchased, but his condition slowly worsened. The following year Sir Thomas Dunhill operated. When he recovered, Churchill is said to have told Dunhill 'Thank you for your support. I stand corrected'. Incidentally, Churchill suffered from the other three ailments listed too.

Answer: Addison's disease

Addison's disease is due to inadequate secretion of corticosteroid hormones by the adrenal glands. In 1960, Kennedy was running for president. Just before polling day, Congressman Walter Judd demanded that Kennedy confirm or deny he had Addison's disease.

The reply was a denial that he had the classical symptomatology but a concession that he did have 'partial adrenal insufficiency' for which he had been receiving hormone replacement therapy. The effects of Addison's disease, if untreated, include mental confusion and lethargy.

Answer: Poliomyelitis

Roosevelt contracted polio in 1921 when he was 39 years old. Polio was also known as infantile paralysis in the mistaken belief that it only attacked children. It didn't stop Roosevelt from becoming the longest serving president.

Answer: Haemophilia

Haemophilia is an inherited disease in which females carry the gene but males exhibit the disease. Queen Victoria was known to be a carrier and because of the marriages of her children, many of the royal families of Europe were affected. Alexis' mother, Alexandra, was Queen Victoria's granddaughter. Britain's present royal family was one line which escaped the gene.

Answer: Amphetamines

Hitler's addiction to amphetamines and the large amounts he consumed (by mouth and intravenously) are well documented. Amphetamine abuse can produce the psychiatric symptoms exhibited by Hitler such as outrageous behaviour, sleep disturbance and depression. Hitler was quite a pill-popper.

He also took excessive quantities of antiflatulents, barbiturates for his insomnia, vitamins and hormones. (This is not meant to be a defence or an excuse for a man who was a monster.)