Disregarding Ralph of Coggeshall’s claim that they were prassinus, dark green, the Green Children’s coloration has been attributed to extreme anæmia, resulting in a greenish pallor. Two medical explanations have been offered: chlorosis (“green sickness”) and favism – an extreme allergic reaction to chemicals inherent in fava beans (broad beans), the beans the children ate.
In a recent book, Canadian historian Paul Edward Dutton argued strongly in favour of the favism diagnosis. 1
Favism is a result of a deficiency of the Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme. In most people the condition is symptomless, but it can lead to dramatic red blood cell breakdown. This breakdown can be triggered by eating broad (fava) beans, particularly raw or with their skins on, or even breathing the scent and pollen of bean flowers.…
You're reading a preview of
Fortean Times (Digital) - 1 Issue, 455