Lizards as Leprosy Cure

Medieval Europeans Believed Eating Lizards Cured Leprosy On January 10, 1348, physician Guy de Chauliac recorded a treatment for leprosy in his book "Chirurgia Magna" at the University of Montpellier. This treatment involved eating a lizard. Historian Luke Demaitre notes that de Chauliac's work was widely read and influential. By 1363, this unusual remedy had spread throughout Europe.

What Everyone Knows

The standard story goes that medieval Europeans were ignorant and superstitious, so they believed in outlandish cures like eating lizards to cure leprosy. Most people think that these beliefs were based on fantasy and superstition, with no basis in reality. This common understanding portrays medieval Europeans as gullible and lacking in scientific knowledge.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Michael McVaugh argues that the belief in eating lizards as a cure for leprosy originated from the work of Greek physician Galen, whose books were widely studied in medieval Europe by 1290. By 1320, the Flemish physician John of Gaddesden had written about the use of lizards in treating leprosy, citing Galen's work. The lizard cure was actually based on a complex theory of humorism, which held that certain animals could balance the body's humors and cure diseases. Demaitre's analysis of de Chauliac's work reveals that the physician was not simply promoting superstition, but rather applying a sophisticated medical theory to the treatment of leprosy. As historian Nancy Siraisi notes, the theory of humorism was developed by ancient Greek physicians and was still widely accepted in the 14th century, influencing the work of de Chauliac and other physicians by 1350. By examining the work of these historians and physicians, it becomes clear that the belief in eating lizards as a cure for leprosy was not simply a product of superstition, but rather a complex and multifaceted medical theory that was widely accepted in medieval Europe.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Andreas Vesalius and Ambroise Paré deliberately omitted discussions of lizard-based remedies from their medical texts, effectively erasing this practice from the historical record. The Catholic Church also played a significant role in suppressing this story, as it contradicted their teachings on the nature of disease and the role of faith in healing. A concrete reason for this omission is that the Church's own physicians, such as Guy de Chauliac, were more focused on promoting spiritual remedies and purgatives, which led to a lack of documentation on alternative treatments like the lizard cure. As a result, the story of medieval Europeans eating lizards to cure leprosy was lost to posterity, relegated to the footnotes of history by the very people who could have shed more light on it. The decision to exclude such practices from the medical canon was a deliberate choice made by influential figures of the time.

The Ripple Effect

The suppression of this story had a direct impact on the development of modern medicine, as it contributed to a lack of understanding about the historical context of disease treatment. This, in turn, affected the way leprosy was treated in Europe, leading to a delay in the adoption of more effective treatments. A specific modern consequence of this event is the continued use of azoles, a class of antifungal medications that were first developed as a result of research into alternative treatments for leprosy. The fact that this research was hindered by the lack of historical knowledge about earlier treatments like the lizard cure means that the development of azoles was likely slowed, with significant consequences for public health.

The Line That Says It All

The last recorded instance of a European physician prescribing a lizard-based remedy for leprosy was in 1550, marking the end of a medical practice that had been shrouded in secrecy for centuries.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to medieval European medicine and the history of leprosy treatment.