Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The "Madness" of Friedrich Hölderlin: an iatrogenic intoxication

  • Neurology and Preclinical Neurological Studies - Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Neural Transmission Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The German poet Hölderlin, assumed to have suffered from schizophrenia, in fact has been the victim of a combined calomel and cantharidine intoxication administered by his physician Autenrieth. This new theory explains much better his behavioural changes and also his neurological and other concomitant symptoms; it can be tested by analysing a very few of his hairs for the presence of these compounds.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bertaux P (1978) Friedrich Hölderlin. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt/M

    Google Scholar 

  • Dumont MP (1989) Psychotoxicology: the return of the Mad Hatter. Soc Sci Med 29:1077–1082

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karras DJ, Farell SC, Harrigan RA, Henretig FM, Gealt L (1996) Poisoning form „Spanish fly“ (cantharidine). Amer J Emerg Med 14:478–481

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keynes M (2008) Balancing Newton’s mind: his singular behaviour and his madness of 1691–1693. Notes Rec R Soc 62:289–300

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kintz P, Ginet M, Cirimele V (2006) Multi-element screening by ICP- MS of two specimens of Napoleon’s hair. J Analytical Toxicol 30:621–623

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klawans H (1990) Newton’s madness: further tales of clinical neurology. Harper Collins Publishers, New York City

    Google Scholar 

  • Park J-D, Zheng W (2012) Human exposure and health effects of inorganic and elemental mercury. J Prev Med Public Health 45:344–352

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Peters UH (1982) Hölderlin: Wider die These vom edlen Simulanten. Rowohlt, Reinbeck

    Google Scholar 

  • Rooney JPK (2014) The retention time of inorganic mercury in the brain. Tox and Appl Pharmacol 274:425–435

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salzberger LS (1952) Friedrich Hölderlin. Yale University Press

  • Till JS, Madjmudar BN (1991) Cantharidine poisoning. South Med J 74:444–447

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waldron HA (1983) Did the Mad Hatter have mercury poisoning? Br Med J 287:1967

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weldon MM, Smolinski MS, Maroufi A, Hasty BW, Gilliss DL, Boulanger LL, Balluz LS, Dutton RJ (2000) Mercury poisoning associated with a Mexican beauty cream. West J Med 173:15–18

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wittkop G (1993) (Hrsg.): Hölderlin: Der Pflegesohn. Texte und Dokumente 1806-1843 mit den neu entdeckten Nürtinger Pflegschaftsakten. Verlag J.B. Metzler Stuttgart-Weimar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aramon Pharma, Königin-Luise-Str. 27, 14195, Berlin, Germany

    R. Horowski

Authors
  1. R. Horowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Horowski.

Additional information

A more extensive report and analysis of our new insights about Hölderlin’s „madness“ will be published in March 2017 by Klöpfer and Meyer, Tübingen, as an essay from R. Horowski with the title „Hölderlin war nicht verrückt“. The support from PA Löschmann and H Mergenthaler is gratefully acknowledged.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Horowski, R. The "Madness" of Friedrich Hölderlin: an iatrogenic intoxication. J Neural Transm 124, 761–763 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-017-1689-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-017-1689-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation