(Inside Science) -- In the late 15th century, a mystery disease broke out in England. Thousands died and terror stalked the land. The disease, called the sweating disease, now is only a figment of history and literature.
It may have altered history by killing Prince Arthur, the heir to the throne whose death ushered in the tumultuous reign of Henry VIII.
The disease remains one of medicine’s great mysteries. It came in five waves, and haunted Tudor England for 70 years before disappearing.
The Black Death of the late 14th century killed more people, as did the great influenza pandemic in the early 20th century, but the disease that struck Tudor England was just as terrifying. While science now understands the plague, science has only speculation to explain the sweating disease.
