Karl Marx - Self Loathing and Skin Disease

[Leonel]

Karl Marx suffered from a skin disease that can cause severe psychological effects such as self-loathing and alienation, according to a British dermatologist.

The father of communism’s life and attitudes were shaped by hidradenitis suppurativa, said Sam Shuster in the British Journal of Dermatology. One of its symptoms is alienation – a concept that Marx, a martyr to boils and carbuncles, put into words as he wrote Das Kapital.

The condition was described as early as 1839 by a French physician, Alfred Velpeau. But, Professor Shuster says, ideas crossed the Channel less readily than wine and Marx’s true condition was never diagnosed.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a disease of the apocrine sweat glands, found in the armpits and the groins. The skin in the affected areas shows a mixture of blackheads, lumps that look like boils, spots and areas that leak pus. Doctors and Marx, who was born in Germany but lived most of his life in London, called them “furuncles, boils and carbuncles”, but Professor Shuster says that they were too persistent and recurrent for that. He searched Marx’s letters and found that he had started complaining of carbuncles in 1864, when he was 46, though it is possible that he had them earlier.

In 1867 he wrote to Friedrich Engels of the boils “on my posterior and near the penis” – areas characteristic of the condition. Marx was often unable to work because of the pain. He wrote to Ludwig Kugelmann in 1867: “I still have a carbuncle on the left loin not far from the centre of propagation, as well as numerous furuncles.”

The evidence that he suffered hidradenitis suppurativa is strong, says Professor Shuster. Marx was treated with arsenic, poultices and lancing, but with little effect. His only consolation, he told Engels, was that carbuncles were “a truly proletarian disease”.

The illness also contributed to Marx’s poverty, Professor Shuster says. “This new diagnosis is not just important in terms of historical accuracy,” he said. “The skin is an organ of communication, which is why its disorders produce so much psychological distress, with depression of self-image, mood and wellbeing, and with self-loathing and disgust.

“In addition to reducing his ability to work, which contributed to his depressing poverty, hidradenitis greatly reduced his self-esteem. This explains his self-loathing and alienation, a response reflected by the alienation Marx developed in his writing.”

Nina Goad, of the British Association of Dermatologists, said: “It is fascinating to discover that such an influential figure suffered from [hidradenitis], especially considering how it might have affected his work.”

Illness of the people

— Hidradenitis suppurativa is found in about one in 100 people
— It more often affects women, and only appears after puberty, when the apocrine glands are activated by —hormones
— It is often treated with antibiotics or anti-acne drugs
— In severe cases, oral corticosteroids may be prescribed

Source: British Association of Dermatologists

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article2773914.ece

Now I understand the need for therapists. Unhealthy skin has consequences.

 

[Rossiya]

That's really quite interesting. Good find

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

I like how he describes his Hammer of the Proletariat as his "centre of propagation". That's funny.

 

[joycem10]

IHammer of the Proletariat

No, thats funny! You actually got me to laugh at work, thanks.

 

[Angst]

“It is fascinating to discover that such an influential figure suffered from [hidradenitis], especially considering how it might have affected his work.”

Does this make fun of communism as it appearantly was written during severe pain?

 

[West 36]

Does this make fun of communism as it appearantly was written during severe pain?

Eh, Engels was right there with him.
FDR had polio, Caesar might have had epilepsy, Hawking has ALS, etc. so I don't see all diseases as ruining someones career.

 

[Angst]

Good, just wanted to be sure

 

[Masquerouge]

FDR had polio, Caesar might have had epilepsy, Hawking has ALS, etc. so I don't see all diseases as ruining someones career.

But Marx was a communist, and as we all know nothing good can be associated with communism, ever. Communists MUST be sick and evil.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Moses was high, Marx had a skin condition - let's attribute the entire careers of some of history's greatest thinkers and leaders down to one cause!

 

[Sofista]

As an infant, Smith struggled with sickness and this illness continued throughout his life. His list of diagnosis during his lifetime is virtually endless.

Yes, that's Adam Smith.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Yes, that's Adam Smith.

Well, that clearly explains his life's work.

 

[West 36]

But Marx was a communist, and as we all know nothing good can be associated with communism, ever. Communists MUST be sick and evil.

You're right! Damn them all teh hell.

I was thinking: What the hell do you think Engels had going through his mind when he opened that letter detailng this?

And btw, is there any truth to this, or just a good, equally distributed rip on the guy?

 

[Abaddon]

Explains a lot!

 

[AL_DA_GREAT]

This explains why he devoloped a nutty ideology and not a sane one.

 

[Julian Delphiki]

Just reserved Das Kapital and Communist Manifest from library.. and Wheen's book about Das Kapital.

 

[Verbose]

Moses was high, Marx had a skin condition - let's attribute the entire careers of some of history's greatest thinkers and leaders down to one cause!

Yeah!

Nietzsche was syphilitic. Bingo!
Wittgenstein was autistic. Gotcha!

Napoleon suffered from all kinds of horrible medical stuff like psoriasis, and at least according to one medical professional, some weird condition making his penis shrink. Explains it all really!

And the reign of Louis XIV can be divided in the Good part and the Bad later part, and straddling the divide is the Royal Anal Fistule!

And Napoleon III suffered from bladder-stones, so his performance a no-brainer.

I usually call this "The Pathological Theory of History". Veeery popular with members of the medical community...

The truth of the matter is of course that illness is part of the human condition. Wait long enough, and we all get something.

 

[Gelion]

yeah... and Hitler was gay

 

[GenMarshall]

So Communism's root was a guy who self hates himself with a bad skin condition!?

I'm going with Capitalism now!

 

[Swedishguy]

Swedishguy had Asperger's Syndrome and a weak back.

 

[Verbose]

yeah... and Hitler was gay

When he wasn't being Jewish and brooding over that single, lone ball of his.