What Made Darwin Sick?
Posted February 1, 1998
Scientists have long given credit to Charles Darwin for his work in developing the theory of evolution by natural selection after his voyage on the Beagle.
But when he returned to England, he became ill with recurring episodes of nausea, chest pain, dizziness, and other odd symptoms. This illness turned Darwin the world traveler into a
recluse who seldom ventured outside of his own home. Biographers have often debated the cause of his illness, and several people have suggested possible diagnoses.
For years the belief was that Darwin suffered from Chagas' disease, a disorder transmitted by the bite of the benchuca beetle. Darwin himself noted that he was bitten
by various insects in 1835 while in Argentina. The diagnosis of Chagas' disease has been based on Darwin's complaints of gastrointestinal distress and knowledge that he visited Argentina
where this disease and the benchuca beetle were well known.
Darwin's notes, letters, and other writings describe the symptoms of his illness in detail. Thomas Barloon and Russell Noyes, two medical researchers from the University
of Iowa, have concluded that most of the symptoms Darwin himself listed are identical to those listed for an illness called panic disorder in standard medical reference books. They suggest
that Darwin suffered from this disease rather than Chagas' disease because many of the symptoms he listed for his own illness don't match those produced by Chagas' disease.
Whatever disease Darwin suffered from, it clearly changed his life. From the time of his return from his trip around the world, Darwin increasingly avoided travel
and speaking engagements whenever possible. His illness prevented him from spending more time in public. Some researchers suggest that his illness, in fact, gave him more time alone
to think about and develop his theory. It is likely that we will never know for certain what caused Darwin's ill health, but panic disorder might be a possible cause.
References
Ma, Lybi. "On the Origin of Darwin's Ills." Discover, September 1997, Vol. 18, No. 9, pp. 27-28.
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