Sudden whitening of the hair: an historical fiction?

Abstract

Sudden hair whitening (canities) was first reported centuries ago. Although a rare event, it has affected well-known historical figures, including Sir Thomas Moore and Queen Marie Antoinette of France. Early reports are substantiated by more recent cases in the scientific literature. Often, there is association with psychological stress; in the two historical cases above, the condition is thought to have been a reaction to the sentence of execution. In this paper, we examine some case histories of those afflicted throughout history and discuss hypotheses to explain the phenomenon

Canities subita: sudden blanching of the hair in history and literature

“…Landois suggested that air in the medulla and cortex of the hair shaft created the illusion of sudden blanching of the hair. To date, microscopy has not supported either of these theories …”

“…On February 19, 1858, a rebel of the Bengal army was stripped naked in front of authorities, and his hair allegedly turned from jet black to gray within a half an hour as described in The Family Physician …”

“…French physician Pierre Rayer sought a scientific basis for historical claims in the early nineteenth century. He connected sudden blanching of the hair with human emotions such as rage, sadness, anxiety, and excessive sexual passion . In 1882, English physician and author Francis Anstie reported transient white color changes of the eyebrow and scalp hairs during severe neuralgia attacks in his patients .…”

“…On February 19, 1858, a rebel of the Bengal army was stripped naked in front of authorities, and his hair allegedly turned from jet black to gray within a half an hour as described in The Family Physician. 13 Annie Oakley, a celebrated female sharpshooter, who debuted in Buffalo Bill's Wild West reported sudden cani-ties. On October 29, 1901, The Charlotte News reported a grim train wreck involving Buffalo Bill's cast.…”

“…He connected sudden blanching of the hair with human emotions such as rage, sadness, anxiety, and excessive sexual passion. 13 In 1882, English physician and author Francis Anstie reported transient white color changes of the eyebrow and scalp hairs during severe neuralgia attacks in his patients. 16 Psychiatrist Urbanstschitsch also reported similar occurrences in his patients exhibiting signs of emotional anxiety and extreme neuralgia.…”