Vampire folklore is numerous throughout our history. Some myths date back as far as the 12th century. It is feasible that these original myths of vampires were spawned by genuine medical circumstances.
Porphyria
There are several kinds of porphyria. Four of the kinds have symptoms of light reactivity: Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (PCT), Variegate Porphyria, Congenital Erythropoetic Porphyria (C.E.P.), and Protoporphyria or Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP). Further symptoms entail brown teeth, red and sometimes bloody gums, and hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth). These maladies match many vampire legends. Although, victims of porphyria do not crave or consume blood.
Catalepsy
Catalepsy is a sensual condition classified by lessened susceptibility to pain combined with muscular rigidity. Patients with catalepsy do not react to external stimuli. Subjects comprehend their environment but they cannot move or speak. Attacks of catalepsy may extend for a few minutes or for a few days.
In severe cases, a person who is enduring a cataleptic episode will appear to be dead. Signs of life can only be identified by way of scientific medical equipment. Ancient sufferers of catalepsy could have been buried alive. Some time later, when they regained muscular control they most definitely would’ve attempted to escape from their coffins. Some vampire folklore describes noises coming from newly buried coffins. Later, when local villagers dug up these graves and unlocked them, scoring marks were discovered on the interior, leading townspeople to ascertain that vampires were attempting to escape from their coffins.
Anemia
Anemia is a condition characterized by blood that doesn’t have adequate red blood cells. Since red blood cells transfer oxygen all around the body, symptoms include fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, and vertigo. These symptoms are a result of the body’s organs not obtaining sufficient oxygen. These symptoms also resemble the symptoms of vampire victims in early legends. Anemia is a very common condition.
Rabies
Bats and Wolves both are oftentimes connected with vampires. They are common carriers of the disease rabies. Rabies has symptoms that resemble vampirism. Hyper-sensitivity, a characteristic of rabies, might result in light or garlic repulsion. Other symptoms entail becoming nocturnal due to aberrant sleep patterns and hyper-sexuality. Rabies is spread by biting, and patients with rabies are oftentimes observed frothing at the mouth with blood.
Conclusion
Today’s medical science may translate some of our medieval vampire stories. Porphyria, anemia, rabies, and catalepsy are all explainable causes of early vampire tales. Villagers of the period who were deficient in medical education wouldn’t understand these diseases and their symptoms. The result could be the vampire folklore that spread in Europe in the middle ages.
About the Author:
Gen Wright is a contributor to the online community Vampire Rave, a social network with a vampire theme. He also contributes to the Dark Network, a network of paranormal, supernatural, and darker websites.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Vampire Diseases
Medieval Diseases
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