Shaking palsy and other neurologic illness in The Quixote / La perlesía y otras patologías neurológicas en El Quijote de Cervantes

ABSTRACT

Abstract Miguel de Cervantes had seasoned knowledge of medical care in his time. Here we provide evidence of his having read medical texts from his personal library and of his relationships with relatives and friends who were physicians. As an example of his knowledge, we analyze the references to palsy and other neurological diseases like epilepsy, tremors and head trauma, which are mentioned or described in his great literary masterpiece titled The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote. (Acta Med Colomb 2022; 48. DOIhttps//doi.org/10.36104/amc.2023.2830).

RESUMEN

Resumen Miguel de Cervantes tuvo un conocimiento avezado de la medicina de su época. Acá se demuestra la evidencia de sus lecturas de libros de medicina que poseyó en su biblioteca personal y de sus relaciones con familiares y amigos médicos. Se analiza como ejemplo de su saber las referencias a la perlesía y otras patologías neurológicas como la epilepsia, los temblores y los traumas craneanos, que son mencionadas o descritas en su gran obra maestra titulada El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote. (Acta Med Colomb 2022; 48. DOIhttps//doi.org/10.36104/amc.2023.2830).