SOME HISTORIC PERSONAGES 237 



is the thymo-centric, with small enclosed sella turcica. The latter 

 fact explains the occurrence of the epilepsy. Periodic variations 

 in the secretory tides of the other endocrines, the ovaries, the 

 thyroid, and so on, may determine the onset of the attack of "fits." 

 The point is that when epilepsy plays a constant part in the life 

 history of a man of genius, we are justified in assuming a dis- 

 turbed balance among his hormones, and so a reasoned picture 

 perhaps of the foundations for the erratic in his behaviour or his 

 productions. 



The Neurasthenic Genius 



The fin de siecle intelligentsia of the nineteenth century were 

 quite stirred up by a publication of Max Nordau on "Degen- 

 eration," in which a number of revered artists and intellighents 

 were help up to public scorn as degenerates and neurasthenics. 

 So wrought up were they, in fact, that Bernard Shaw was moved 

 to compose a defense entitled "The Sanity of Art." In spite 

 of the Great Vegetarian's dialectics, it remains to be explained 

 why a certain species of creative ability has been combined with 

 the fatigability, variability and general wretched irritability of 

 every organ and tissue in the body which taught them that they 

 were sensitive souls imprisoned in the flesh. Going from doctor 

 to doctor as from pillar to post, from this medical creed to that 

 hygienic cult, lucky to escape the worst, often landing upon the 

 bosom of New Thought for succor. We have noted in previous 

 chapters the relation of neurasthenia to the glands of internal 

 secretion in general, and to adrenal insufficiency in particular. 

 A closer examination of neurasthenic genius will show it to con- 

 sist essentially of a pituitocentric in whom for one reason or 

 another, congenital (the persistence of the thymus) or acquired 

 (shocks, accidents, diseases) there has been failure of the adre- 

 nals, thyroid or the interstitial cells, about in the order of their 

 occurrence. 



The Case of Nietzsche 



Friedrich Nietzsche is about as good a case as there is on 

 record of a genius blasted by migraine. The originality and 

 force of his mind, as well as the articulate music of an imagina- 

 tive poet, places Nietzsche among the philosophic elect of the 

 race. Showing that he was an unstable pituitary-centered of a 

 certain type will throw light upon his malady, as well as upon 

 his life and work. 



