"The Sweat" in Tudor England

July 4th, 2009
  • I've been reading books about Tudor England, and they mention a disease that was known simply as "the sweat." Apparently this was the second-most feared disease in Tudor times, after the black plague. My question is, what was this disease? Is it something that still exists and that we now know by some other (modern) name? Here's what I know about the disease: --It was highly contagious. --It came on very suddenly and killed very quickly. It was said that an infected person could be "dancing at nine o'clock and dead by eleven." --It was, as the name suggets, characterized by a high fever and sweating. --It wasn't the plague, and it wasn't smallpox.


  • Dear ltmickey, Since there is no definitive answer to the present day, and experts are still arguing about the nature of "The Swear" or "The Sweating Sickness", this is not an answer you'd have to pay for; it's just a free comment. But I thought you might find this interesting: Alan Dyer wrote in 1997 an essay about the possible viral sources of the "Sweating Sickness": You can read his full, extensive essay on this theory here: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1044802 You can also download a PDF file of the entire text: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=1044802&blobtype=pdf And in 2001, Eric Bridson wrote an essay "The English 'sweate' (Sudor Anglicus) and Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome" examining the probable origins of the sickness: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3874/is_200101/ai_n8939673 Should these recent theories be useful for you, you can let me know and I will make this an answer. Best regards, Scriptor


  • Scriptor, With no definitive answer out there, these theories certainly suffice as an answer. Thanks! LTMickey


  • Thank you very much! It was my pleasure to help you. Best regards, Scriptor







  • #If you have any other info about this subject , Please add it free.#
    Your name:
    E-mail:
    Telphone:

    Your comments:


    If you have any other info about "The Sweat" in Tudor England , Please add it free.