Vamp&Wolf...Rabies???

[miezekatze]

Vampires and werewolves are a staple of scary Halloween folklore, but they may actually have been born out of medical conditions.

A Spanish neurologist believes the blood sucking lore of vampires originated with a major rabies epidemic in Europe in the 1700's.

Dr. Juan Gomez-Alonso came up with his theory when watching a classic horror movie. "I watched the film more as a doctor than as a spectator, and I became so impressed by some obvious similarities between vampires and what happens in rabies, such as aggressiveness and hypersexuality."

Rabies is a viral infection transmitted in the saliva of infected animals. Although rabies is rare today, it does have a nearly 100 percent mortality rate.

What are the connections between rabies and vampires?

In his research, Gomez-Alonso found that 25 percent of rabid men "have a tendency to bite others." Rabies intensifies sexual and aggressive activities, and Gomez-Alonso says biting is common with both.

Another symptom of rabies, hypersensitivity, could be the cause of the vampire's aversion to garlic and mirrors. "Men with rabies ... react to stimuli such as water, light, odors or mirrors with spasms of the facial and vocal muscles that can cause hoarse sounds, bared teeth and frothing at the mouth of bloody fluid," he said.

Vampire's voracious sexual appetite and nocturnal habits can also be attributed to rabies. It affects the parts of the brain that help regulate sleep cycles and sexual behavior.

What about werewolves? They may have had hypertrichosis or hirsutism.

It's an endocrine malfunction that causes excessive hair growth over the entire body. The condition can develop with age as the result of hormonal irregularities, or be a genetic trait present at birth. Men with hypertrichosis tend to have hair all over their bodies, while women with the condition exhibit thick hair growth in patches.

Hypertrichosis has become less common as humans evolved. In the past, people with the condition have appeared in circuses as "wolf-men" or "dog-boys."

---I got this from: www.mydna.com/resources/news/200510/news_20051030_vampires_werewolfs.html

Personally i find this to be nothing but BS...but it does make you think ...this is most likely how all those dumb movies got there ideas and gave ppl with a real illness names such as Vamps and Wolves...and by doing so gave those who really are a bad image...

[Shadow]

Baby.. this is why you need a good hobby... I'm just playing. I will agree, it is a bit interesting.

-Stitch

[ARELAN]

So vampires, as a homogenic group,are aggressive and hypersexual... One can learn new things every day. Interesting and all, but... what is G-A talking about? Interesting anyway... rabies can result anaesthesia in some bodily areas and surprising physical strength... I almost got the desire to try it!
It's good to know that people, like this doctor, are interested in such things.
Unfortunately, instead of the link I find revolutionhealth.com.

[Laurasia]

I have no idea why I never noticed this thread! LOL! Anyway, to follow the stylings of a good friend of mine.....

A Spanish neurologist believes the blood sucking lore of vampires originated with a major rabies epidemic in Europe in the 1700's.

If he believes that he is sorely mistaken, since there has been mention of vampire-like beings since ancient times.

What are the connections between rabies and vampires?

In his research, Gomez-Alonso found that 25 percent of rabid men "have a tendency to bite others." Rabies intensifies sexual and aggressive activities, and Gomez-Alonso says biting is common with both.

And where is the connection here? Vampires do not bite when they feed as it is unsafe to do so. Lifestylers are another thing altogether, but that has nothing to do with true vampirism. Also I have not known myself, or any other vampires, to really be any more active sexually than regular people. And we tend to be some of the most level-headed of people in my experiences - so again, where is the supposed connection?

Another symptom of rabies, hypersensitivity, could be the cause of the vampire's aversion to garlic and mirrors.

Now that is simply superstitious nonsense that has nothing to do with true vampirism.

Vampire's voracious sexual appetite and nocturnal habits can also be attributed to rabies. It affects the parts of the brain that help regulate sleep cycles and sexual behavior.

I'm not going to get into the sexual activity part of it again but, I haven't found vampires to be anymore likely to have strange sleep patterns either.

I suppose if he is trying to find similarities between rabies-infected persons & the vampires of myth (though, as I mentioned his timing is sorely off) all right, but not us true vampires.

[boogieman]

I agree with Lauraisa on this matter to an extent. I agree that TRUE VAMPIRES are what and how she says, However, There are serveral diffrent Medical conditions whihc have been belived to be the start of the vampire MYTH. But they are the cause to the myth not the real truth. And of course movies and many novels do not care to distinct the one from the other, to them Mythical vampires are more widely known to the public and is so more accepted by them. not to mention in books and films the myths are what give them that carisma above other things. I do think that perhaps not for sure but maybe this was one of the things that did rise and continue more of the superstitions about vampires. And I do belive they are much older then the 1700's but Like all things that exist, they have all existed longer then most think. Take cars Ford is belived to be the first cars, thats false but most commen knowlage that people have will say its true. Since that was when They became more widly used and produced. So i can see the point in this guys resurce about the rabies in the 1700s, perhaps that spread the superstitions more widly known and in more mass then ever before, but they all have existed longer then that. Regardless of the small contraversy and detial i could trow in I will simply restate what i think of this matter on this particualr subject. I agree with Dear Laurasia That this does not relate or decribe REAL vampires, But That It MAYBE is one cause of the vampire myths that superstitious people in the past had, and was perhaps a prat to do wiht it being more widely spread amound the popular world.