Medical historians have traditionally believed that Mary, Queen of Scots, suffered from gastric ulceration which began when she was aged thirteen years. More recent evidence indicates that she may have suffered from porphyria with her first severe attack occurring when she was aged twenty four years.
The medical history of Queen Mary's teenage years is reviewed and thought to be compatible with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. A brief outline of the historical awareness, diagnostic criteria and epidemiological aspects of anorexia nervosa supports this view.
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