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The Sickly Stuarts: The Medical Downfall of a Dynasty

by Frederick Holmes
Hardcover |English |0750932961 | 9780750932967

The Sickly Stuarts: The Medical Downfall of a Dynasty

by Frederick Holmes
Hardcover |English |0750932961 | 9780750932967
Overview
Frederick Holmes, physician and professor emeritus of medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center, took a sabbatical leave in 1991 to study British history and became enamored with the Stuart family of 17th-century kings and queens (Figure). The result is this generously illustrated, well-written book, which ought to interest medical professionals who want to know more about how prominent people of the past -- in this case, a ruling family of Scotland and England -- were treated for disease. Focusing on the dynasty's health, Holmes concludes that "disease and disability brought down the Stuart dynasty," because "Parliament gained power each time Stuart rule faltered because of sickness and infirmity." Using original diagnostic measurements that he labels certain, possible, doubtful, or of uncertain meaning, along with an eclectic mix of primary and secondary sources, Holmes considers the lives and deaths of these royal patients. His diagnoses provide the strongest and most entertaining part of the narrative, sometimes agreeing with traditional assumptions and at other times decrying historical judgments that, in his view, need revision -- notions such as that James II's nosebleeds might have cost him the throne or that George III and his ancestors suffered from porphyria. Holmes bravely attributes Charles II's death to poisoning by mercury inhaled from the toxic experiments in which the king engaged with the Royal Society, and he argues that Queen Anne succumbed to systemic lupus erythematosus. However, he is less successful in analyzing the Stuarts' philosophies of ruling, attributing their political missteps to mental defect or delusion, rather than to principled if unpopular policy. Although Holmes may be qualified to speculate on the illnesses that beset four generations of Stuarts, his amateurism as a historian shows too clearly. Even though this book was written for a general audience, not for specialists in the period, it lacks citations in places where they are obviously needed, especially to support arguable pronouncements. When he does cite a work, it is often a survey textbook or an unremarkable encyclopedia, which is a faux pas no professional historian would commit. Holmes relies on too many dated biographies, gossipy "social" histories written in the 19th century, and even the romance novelist Barbara Cartland's Private Life of Charles II: The Women He Loved (London: F. Muller, 1958). The chapter on the state of medicine in Stuart England could have profited from the recent scholarship of Andrew Wear, Harold Cook, and the late Roy Porter. Holmes's appendix on physicians to the Stuarts omits the Whig doctor to William and Mary, James Welwood, as well as controversial quacks such as Anne's oculist, William Read, and Charles II's "feverologist," Robert Talbor. Had Holmes read Talbor's Pyretologia (1672), he might have stumbled on another possible reason for the alarming rate of miscarriage among the Stuart elite: Talbor, who had a royal monopoly on Jesuits' Bark (cinchona) in England, prescribed double doses of quinine for pregnant women. There are also problems with Holmes's rather narrow focus on monarchical health, not the least of which is the absence of mention of any noteworthy activity, political or religious, that occurred apart from the family, as if the Stuarts were in some sort of vacuum. Perhaps the death of Prince Henry in 1612 was a calamity that led inexorably to the reign of Charles I and the Civil War, but the forces opposing the government's foreign and domestic policies were already bringing change. Charles I did die in 1649 -- not because he was sick but because he was executed. Indeed, everybody dies of something, and the Stuarts were no more prone to debilitating disease or reproductive woes than were the Tudors -- who got only three generations of monarchs out of their dynasty -- or, for that matter, other early modern denizens of the British Isles. One could argue that the death of Oliver Cromwell, regicide and Lord Protector, was more important in the scheme of things, precipitating the restoration of the Stuarts, than the passing of William III, whose anti-French wars were continued by Queen Anne.Elizabeth Lane Furdell, Ph.D.Copyright © 2004 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. The New England Journal of Medicine is a registered trademark of the MMS.
ISBN: 0750932961
ISBN13: 9780750932967
Author: Frederick Holmes
Publisher: Sutton Publishing
Format: Hardcover
PublicationDate: 2003-10-25
Language: English
Edition: illustrated edition
PageCount: 256
Dimensions: 6.4 x 0.98 x 9.56 inches
Weight: 20.16 ounces
Frederick Holmes, physician and professor emeritus of medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center, took a sabbatical leave in 1991 to study British history and became enamored with the Stuart family of 17th-century kings and queens (Figure). The result is this generously illustrated, well-written book, which ought to interest medical professionals who want to know more about how prominent people of the past -- in this case, a ruling family of Scotland and England -- were treated for disease. Focusing on the dynasty's health, Holmes concludes that "disease and disability brought down the Stuart dynasty," because "Parliament gained power each time Stuart rule faltered because of sickness and infirmity." Using original diagnostic measurements that he labels certain, possible, doubtful, or of uncertain meaning, along with an eclectic mix of primary and secondary sources, Holmes considers the lives and deaths of these royal patients. His diagnoses provide the strongest and most entertaining part of the narrative, sometimes agreeing with traditional assumptions and at other times decrying historical judgments that, in his view, need revision -- notions such as that James II's nosebleeds might have cost him the throne or that George III and his ancestors suffered from porphyria. Holmes bravely attributes Charles II's death to poisoning by mercury inhaled from the toxic experiments in which the king engaged with the Royal Society, and he argues that Queen Anne succumbed to systemic lupus erythematosus. However, he is less successful in analyzing the Stuarts' philosophies of ruling, attributing their political missteps to mental defect or delusion, rather than to principled if unpopular policy. Although Holmes may be qualified to speculate on the illnesses that beset four generations of Stuarts, his amateurism as a historian shows too clearly. Even though this book was written for a general audience, not for specialists in the period, it lacks citations in places where they are obviously needed, especially to support arguable pronouncements. When he does cite a work, it is often a survey textbook or an unremarkable encyclopedia, which is a faux pas no professional historian would commit. Holmes relies on too many dated biographies, gossipy "social" histories written in the 19th century, and even the romance novelist Barbara Cartland's Private Life of Charles II: The Women He Loved (London: F. Muller, 1958). The chapter on the state of medicine in Stuart England could have profited from the recent scholarship of Andrew Wear, Harold Cook, and the late Roy Porter. Holmes's appendix on physicians to the Stuarts omits the Whig doctor to William and Mary, James Welwood, as well as controversial quacks such as Anne's oculist, William Read, and Charles II's "feverologist," Robert Talbor. Had Holmes read Talbor's Pyretologia (1672), he might have stumbled on another possible reason for the alarming rate of miscarriage among the Stuart elite: Talbor, who had a royal monopoly on Jesuits' Bark (cinchona) in England, prescribed double doses of quinine for pregnant women. There are also problems with Holmes's rather narrow focus on monarchical health, not the least of which is the absence of mention of any noteworthy activity, political or religious, that occurred apart from the family, as if the Stuarts were in some sort of vacuum. Perhaps the death of Prince Henry in 1612 was a calamity that led inexorably to the reign of Charles I and the Civil War, but the forces opposing the government's foreign and domestic policies were already bringing change. Charles I did die in 1649 -- not because he was sick but because he was executed. Indeed, everybody dies of something, and the Stuarts were no more prone to debilitating disease or reproductive woes than were the Tudors -- who got only three generations of monarchs out of their dynasty -- or, for that matter, other early modern denizens of the British Isles. One could argue that the death of Oliver Cromwell, regicide and Lord Protector, was more important in the scheme of things, precipitating the restoration of the Stuarts, than the passing of William III, whose anti-French wars were continued by Queen Anne.Elizabeth Lane Furdell, Ph.D.Copyright © 2004 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. The New England Journal of Medicine is a registered trademark of the MMS.

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Estimated delivery times:

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Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.  

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Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.). 

If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.

You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.

Additional non-returnable items:

  • Gift cards
  • Downloadable software products
  • Some health and personal care items

To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)

  • Book with obvious signs of use
  • CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
  • Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
  • Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery

Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.

Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.

If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:

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If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.

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Overview
Frederick Holmes, physician and professor emeritus of medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center, took a sabbatical leave in 1991 to study British history and became enamored with the Stuart family of 17th-century kings and queens (Figure). The result is this generously illustrated, well-written book, which ought to interest medical professionals who want to know more about how prominent people of the past -- in this case, a ruling family of Scotland and England -- were treated for disease. Focusing on the dynasty's health, Holmes concludes that "disease and disability brought down the Stuart dynasty," because "Parliament gained power each time Stuart rule faltered because of sickness and infirmity." Using original diagnostic measurements that he labels certain, possible, doubtful, or of uncertain meaning, along with an eclectic mix of primary and secondary sources, Holmes considers the lives and deaths of these royal patients. His diagnoses provide the strongest and most entertaining part of the narrative, sometimes agreeing with traditional assumptions and at other times decrying historical judgments that, in his view, need revision -- notions such as that James II's nosebleeds might have cost him the throne or that George III and his ancestors suffered from porphyria. Holmes bravely attributes Charles II's death to poisoning by mercury inhaled from the toxic experiments in which the king engaged with the Royal Society, and he argues that Queen Anne succumbed to systemic lupus erythematosus. However, he is less successful in analyzing the Stuarts' philosophies of ruling, attributing their political missteps to mental defect or delusion, rather than to principled if unpopular policy. Although Holmes may be qualified to speculate on the illnesses that beset four generations of Stuarts, his amateurism as a historian shows too clearly. Even though this book was written for a general audience, not for specialists in the period, it lacks citations in places where they are obviously needed, especially to support arguable pronouncements. When he does cite a work, it is often a survey textbook or an unremarkable encyclopedia, which is a faux pas no professional historian would commit. Holmes relies on too many dated biographies, gossipy "social" histories written in the 19th century, and even the romance novelist Barbara Cartland's Private Life of Charles II: The Women He Loved (London: F. Muller, 1958). The chapter on the state of medicine in Stuart England could have profited from the recent scholarship of Andrew Wear, Harold Cook, and the late Roy Porter. Holmes's appendix on physicians to the Stuarts omits the Whig doctor to William and Mary, James Welwood, as well as controversial quacks such as Anne's oculist, William Read, and Charles II's "feverologist," Robert Talbor. Had Holmes read Talbor's Pyretologia (1672), he might have stumbled on another possible reason for the alarming rate of miscarriage among the Stuart elite: Talbor, who had a royal monopoly on Jesuits' Bark (cinchona) in England, prescribed double doses of quinine for pregnant women. There are also problems with Holmes's rather narrow focus on monarchical health, not the least of which is the absence of mention of any noteworthy activity, political or religious, that occurred apart from the family, as if the Stuarts were in some sort of vacuum. Perhaps the death of Prince Henry in 1612 was a calamity that led inexorably to the reign of Charles I and the Civil War, but the forces opposing the government's foreign and domestic policies were already bringing change. Charles I did die in 1649 -- not because he was sick but because he was executed. Indeed, everybody dies of something, and the Stuarts were no more prone to debilitating disease or reproductive woes than were the Tudors -- who got only three generations of monarchs out of their dynasty -- or, for that matter, other early modern denizens of the British Isles. One could argue that the death of Oliver Cromwell, regicide and Lord Protector, was more important in the scheme of things, precipitating the restoration of the Stuarts, than the passing of William III, whose anti-French wars were continued by Queen Anne.Elizabeth Lane Furdell, Ph.D.Copyright © 2004 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. The New England Journal of Medicine is a registered trademark of the MMS.
ISBN: 0750932961
ISBN13: 9780750932967
Author: Frederick Holmes
Publisher: Sutton Publishing
Format: Hardcover
PublicationDate: 2003-10-25
Language: English
Edition: illustrated edition
PageCount: 256
Dimensions: 6.4 x 0.98 x 9.56 inches
Weight: 20.16 ounces
Frederick Holmes, physician and professor emeritus of medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center, took a sabbatical leave in 1991 to study British history and became enamored with the Stuart family of 17th-century kings and queens (Figure). The result is this generously illustrated, well-written book, which ought to interest medical professionals who want to know more about how prominent people of the past -- in this case, a ruling family of Scotland and England -- were treated for disease. Focusing on the dynasty's health, Holmes concludes that "disease and disability brought down the Stuart dynasty," because "Parliament gained power each time Stuart rule faltered because of sickness and infirmity." Using original diagnostic measurements that he labels certain, possible, doubtful, or of uncertain meaning, along with an eclectic mix of primary and secondary sources, Holmes considers the lives and deaths of these royal patients. His diagnoses provide the strongest and most entertaining part of the narrative, sometimes agreeing with traditional assumptions and at other times decrying historical judgments that, in his view, need revision -- notions such as that James II's nosebleeds might have cost him the throne or that George III and his ancestors suffered from porphyria. Holmes bravely attributes Charles II's death to poisoning by mercury inhaled from the toxic experiments in which the king engaged with the Royal Society, and he argues that Queen Anne succumbed to systemic lupus erythematosus. However, he is less successful in analyzing the Stuarts' philosophies of ruling, attributing their political missteps to mental defect or delusion, rather than to principled if unpopular policy. Although Holmes may be qualified to speculate on the illnesses that beset four generations of Stuarts, his amateurism as a historian shows too clearly. Even though this book was written for a general audience, not for specialists in the period, it lacks citations in places where they are obviously needed, especially to support arguable pronouncements. When he does cite a work, it is often a survey textbook or an unremarkable encyclopedia, which is a faux pas no professional historian would commit. Holmes relies on too many dated biographies, gossipy "social" histories written in the 19th century, and even the romance novelist Barbara Cartland's Private Life of Charles II: The Women He Loved (London: F. Muller, 1958). The chapter on the state of medicine in Stuart England could have profited from the recent scholarship of Andrew Wear, Harold Cook, and the late Roy Porter. Holmes's appendix on physicians to the Stuarts omits the Whig doctor to William and Mary, James Welwood, as well as controversial quacks such as Anne's oculist, William Read, and Charles II's "feverologist," Robert Talbor. Had Holmes read Talbor's Pyretologia (1672), he might have stumbled on another possible reason for the alarming rate of miscarriage among the Stuart elite: Talbor, who had a royal monopoly on Jesuits' Bark (cinchona) in England, prescribed double doses of quinine for pregnant women. There are also problems with Holmes's rather narrow focus on monarchical health, not the least of which is the absence of mention of any noteworthy activity, political or religious, that occurred apart from the family, as if the Stuarts were in some sort of vacuum. Perhaps the death of Prince Henry in 1612 was a calamity that led inexorably to the reign of Charles I and the Civil War, but the forces opposing the government's foreign and domestic policies were already bringing change. Charles I did die in 1649 -- not because he was sick but because he was executed. Indeed, everybody dies of something, and the Stuarts were no more prone to debilitating disease or reproductive woes than were the Tudors -- who got only three generations of monarchs out of their dynasty -- or, for that matter, other early modern denizens of the British Isles. One could argue that the death of Oliver Cromwell, regicide and Lord Protector, was more important in the scheme of things, precipitating the restoration of the Stuarts, than the passing of William III, whose anti-French wars were continued by Queen Anne.Elizabeth Lane Furdell, Ph.D.Copyright © 2004 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. The New England Journal of Medicine is a registered trademark of the MMS.

Books - New and Used

The following guidelines apply to books:

  • New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
  • Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
  • Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.

Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.

Shipping Fees

  • Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
  • Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
  • No additional fees and charges.

Delivery Times

The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.

Estimated delivery times:

  • Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
  • Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days

Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.  

Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times. 

Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.). 

If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.

You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.

Additional non-returnable items:

  • Gift cards
  • Downloadable software products
  • Some health and personal care items

To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)

  • Book with obvious signs of use
  • CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
  • Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
  • Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery

Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.

Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.

If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:

  • Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
  • Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
  • Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.


Shipping Cost


We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.

If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.

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