ABSTRACT
Of hypochondria in its loose and formerly popular sense of melancholy moodiness, a fair number of examples can be found among historical and literary personages, at least if we include a " gentle melancholy " or, as the Scots law says, " if the malady be not confirmed". Aristotle himself went so far as to say that melancholy was exceptionally frequent among men of genius, an opinion which is commonly held to this day. Some there have been who rejected this opinion. Boswell,1 himself a sufferer, denied the special susceptibility of able men. The reasons for his denial were partly based on ethical grounds; partly perhaps on an affected modesty.
