Theodore Roosevelt Research Paper

Theodore Roosevelt was the embodiment of a walking medical disaster with the several ailments that he developed throughout his lifetime. It began in his childhood with long asthmatic nights, as well as headaches, stomach pains, and severe insomnia (Grondahl, 2004). Later on, he developed myopia and awful tooth structure (Grondahl, 2004), which led to several problems for him throughout his life. Genetics was not the only misfortune Roosevelt endured. His adventurous ways led him to getting shot, bucked off several horses, and possible anemic episodes (Grondahl, 2004). The important factor to consider is that none of these ailments killed him. However, he did spend most of his life tolerating the symptoms that remained from said ailments. Theodore Roosevelt’s treatments for …show more content…
There are several accounts of Roosevelt’s parents staying up long nights (Grondahl, 2004), listening to his screams as a child (Grondahl, 2004). These asthma attacks were nearly constant, which Roosevelt later described as “the sensation of drowning” (Grondahl, 2004, page 46). After years of experiencing this pain, his parents, desperate for both the child and themselves, decided to send him to a neurologist. This doctor specialized in neurasthenia, which is an “ill-defined medical condition characterized by lassitude, fatigue, headache, and irritability as well as emotional disturbance” (“Neurasthenia | Definition of neurasthenia in English by Oxford Dictionaries”, n.d.). He believed he had the power to manipulate Theodore Roosevelt’s nerve endings in order to “reverse the nervous system’s malfunction” (Grondahl, 2004, page 54) and the “ill effects of excessive affluence” (Grondahl, 2004, page 54). He planned to do so by sending electric impulses throughout his body. The doctor attached transmitters to Roosevelt’s head, abdomen, and feet claiming these areas would specifically target and restore his “vital source” (Grondahl, 2004, page

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