Explaining* Lycanthropy

[naomi_jay]

Once upon a time werewolves were attributed to magic and devil worship. Nowadays people are a little more cynical and look for more rational explanations for werewolves. In 1584, Reginald Scott used the term “lycanthropy” in relation to an extreme form of violent insanity in which the afflicted imitated the behaviour of a wild beast. This was pretty heretical reasoning for the time and Scott barely avoided being bound at the stake for his works, which just goes to show that science never benefited anyone.

 

The term was also applied to individuals suffering from melancholy and severe depression. In 1621, Robert Burton wrote his Anatomy of Melancholy, which theorised that men and women suffering from advanced melancholy “go abroad in the night, barking, howling at graves.”

 

More recently, in 1975, psychiatrists Frida Surawicz and Richard Banta published “Lycanthropy Revisited,” which presented two cases of contemporary werewolves. One of these was the case of Mr H, who ingested LSD before seeing himself changing into a werewolf. He saw fur grow on his hands and face and craved flesh and blood. Even after the effects of the LSD wore off, Mr H believed himself to be a werewolf and was subsequently treated for paranoid schizophrenia.

 

A recent discovery of a “hairy gene” may explain medieval panic about werewolves. Studies in Nova Scotia, Canada, revealed a mutant gene responsible for a condition called congenital generalised hypertrichosis. (Really, “werewolf” is much easier to yell in moments of dire peril.) The gene causes hair to cover the entire face and upper body, and may be an “evolutionary trait left over from animal ancestors.”

 

A March 1990 issue of Discover magazine reported the theory of neurologist Juan Gomez-Alonso, that people suffering from rabies may have triggered ancient tales of werewolves. He traced the connection between a rabies outbreak in eighteenth century Europe shortly before tales of shape shifters grew prominent.

 

So really it all boils down to drugs and mental illness, which is a lot more rational than magic, but nowhere near as much fun.

*It took me three attempts to spell "explaining" properly.

Comments

[sanguinepen.livejournal.com]

I think you've researched enough to have a good conversation with Bob now. I remember my eyes started to glaze over when he was explaining all the different kinds of shapechangers to Harry in Fool Moon.

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

Lol, I know. I found it hard to keep up with all the various types of werewolves in that book. I have to admit, I didn't really get into the Dresden Files until book 3.

[sanguinepen.livejournal.com]

Me too. The magic just hit with book three. My favorite is Death Masks - book 5.

[i-am-toast.livejournal.com]

which just goes to show that science never benefited anyone

*snarls gently* ;)

Have you read The Duchess of Malfi? By Webster, 1623. It has lycanthropy as a form of mental illness, in a very cool and blackly comic way.

[chaostheory.livejournal.com]

which just goes to show that science never benefited anyone

I disagree! People only say that when science has found an answer for something they didn't want to know!

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

I'm on Summer Knight at the moment, and enjoying it immensely. I do wish Harry wouldn't take it upon himself to save everyone he meets though. I'm worried it could turn into a form of Anita Blake-style Mary Sue-ness, in which everyone's helpless until Harry comes along.

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure I did read it at uni in my first year, but I can't remember anything about it. I might have to unearth my copy and re-read it. Thanks!

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

I, personally, have never found any practical use for physics outside of the classroom. All that crap about radio waves and shit? I don't believe it. Electricity is magic that comes out of the walls.

[chaostheory.livejournal.com]

And what did that kind of thinking get us? it gave us "creationism"

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

Which, as we all know, is a perfectly rational approach to life.

/sarcasm

[chaostheory.livejournal.com]

Well, i believe that the universe was created in 6 days. they even try to explain the dinosaures. Silly christians.

FOR THE darWIN!

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

LMAO

Obviously God created dinosaurs, to keep the cavemen on their toes. Cause they were around at the same time, you know?

[chaostheory.livejournal.com]

I cant make a sarcastic comment, cause it just takes the piss out of itself, its that stupid.

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

I used to know a brother and sister who were taught creationism up til secondary school. They'd NEVER heard of Darwin or natural selection.

[chaostheory.livejournal.com]

Did they get stoned when they asked their parents about Evolution?

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

Lol, no, but you should have been there when the brother started going out with Becky.

[chaostheory.livejournal.com]

What happened? lol.

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

She wasn't allowed in the house. Literally, when she went to meet him or whatever, she would have to park outside and ring him up.

[chaostheory.livejournal.com]

OMG, Its like a reverse Carrie crossed with Dawsons Creek.

Darwins Creek!

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

It's all just proof that evolution can work backwards.

[chaostheory.livejournal.com]

Well, recessive genes can produce anomylies in nature.

THAT'S SCIENCE!

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

Or is it?

[chaostheory.livejournal.com]

Well its not Dumbledore is it?

[naomi-jay.livejournal.com]

I'm prepared to accept that science exists. I'm even prepared to accept it might be useful and correct from time to time.

But dammit, you can't make me like it!

[chaostheory.livejournal.com]

Thats all I'm asking for! Lol.