Between the mid-16thand former 20thcenturies , the green disease ( also known as greensickness , lover fever , or virgin disease ) was a gendered shape that was localise on young teenage girls who had legion symptom and sometimes a greenish hint or paleness to their hide .

It was originally associated with virginity in1554 , when medico Johannes Lange first wrote about the disease . Although it was described before and after this date , he telephone it “ the disease of virgin ” ; this may have move it from a digestive disorder bear on anyone , as originally intend , to a experimental condition only establish in women . It then became known aschlorosisin the 17thcentury , from the Greekchloros , which meant a icteric shade of green . Then finally in the 19thcentury , it was known as hypochromic genus Anemia .

The symptom include fatigue , moodiness , or lack of appetite – which coincidently are also side - effect of hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle . Other symptom included heart palpitations , fainting spells , weakness , blondness , and the absence seizure of menstruation .

Themain causewas think to be that the roue did not allow the body through catamenia but was retained , with any excess origin cause to-do elsewhere in the body . sexuality or very vigorous activity was think to help oneself the blood disperse again .

And , what did people think the curative was ? Well , of course , marriage – followed swiftly by sex activity , pregnancy , and childbirth . Peoplebelievedthat sexual practice would open up the body more and appropriate the retained rakehell to move around . So , this was a way to get new adult married and more into contrast with societal expectations . Although , there were also some ideas from physicians that physical activity like horseback equitation could be a cure .

People did venerate this disease as it was thought that the malady was a effort of death . In fact , John Grauntproduced " A board of Casualties " for the City of London , and showed that in 1659 , 186 multitude died of this disease ; although , it was called “ stop of the Stomach ” , because people did not write light-green malady as it was shameful way to die . As they thought : “ For since the World believes , that man and wife cures it , it may seem a shame , that any Maid should die uncured … ” .

commonly , woman were also slapped with shape if they were not behaving as society anticipate . This disease was in direct contrast tohysteria , in which the patient was difficult to control , but instead presented as more passive and submissive .

Green sicknesswas also a consideration that was assigned to hoi polloi who may have been less extroverted , those that were classed as delicate or watery , or even " feeble boys " . Although the latter was rarer , manly unripened sickness was mentioned by Shakespeare inHenry IV Part 2 . Often , in reference to men , this was used as an abuse .

But , in the modern day , what is this disease ?

Well , if the person had physiological symptom and not just unwanted behaviors , then it could have been associated with many dissimilar conditions . For representative , the green chromaticity to the peel could have been linked toanemia , which is when the body does not have enough Fe . If someone has low-spirited melanin unify with the reduced hemoglobin in anemic blood , this could bring on a fleeceable hue .

Other cause for the symptoms could have been malnutrition , anorexia , or evenpica .

So what happen to the unwellness ? During the tardy 19thcentury , the rates ofadmissionswith the disease to St Bartholomew ’s Hospital , London and St Georg Hospital , Hamburg were at 16 percent , and this then dwindled to zero by the 1920s . This was in all probability due to the increase iron inspiration in masses ’s diet , Fe supplements , and an increased cognition about the human body .