Lesson 4

MAGICAL ILLNESSES

Spattergroit is a highly contagious disease caused by a fungus. A person infected with spattergroit will develop purple pustules all over the skin. If the fungus spreads to the uvula, the person will not longer be able to talk. Another symptom of spattergroit is fatigue, so victims of spattergroit tend to stay in bed until they recover. Once, a portrait at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries mistaked Ron Weasley's freckles for spattergroit. The treatment it suggested was to "take the liver of a toad, bind it tight about its throat, and stand naked by the full moon in a barrel of eels' eyes." This treatment is, most likely, an old remedy. There is no evidence that it still works.

Dragon Pox is a contagious disease that causes the skin to become pockmarked. Similar to the Muggle illnesses chicken pox and small pox, dragon pox is caused by a virus. Witches and wizards that have dragon pox may develop a green and purple rash or a lasting green tinge on the skin. Another symptom of dragon pox is sparks from the nostrils when sneezing. Gunhilda of Gorsemoor discovered a cure for dragon pox. However, people can still get dragon pox. Elderly witches and wizards are more susceptible to catching (and dying from) dragon pox.

Lycantrophy is a chronic (long-term) condition that occurs when a human is bitten by a transformed werewolf. People afflicted with lycantrophy will grow ill as the full moon approaches. The illness is spread by saliva to blood contact. On every full moon, a werewolf goes through a painful transformation. The effects of lycantrophy can be lessened by drinking Wolfsbane Potion the week before the full moon. Damocles Belby was given the Order of Merlin for inventing Wolfsbane Potion. The potion emits a faint blue smoke. It has an unpleasant taste, but adding sugar makes the potion ineffective. Wolfsbane Potion allows werewolves to keep their human mind when they transform. There is still no known cure for lycantrophy.

If a witch or wizard is suffering from depression, taking some of the Elixir to Induce Euphoria is a possible solution. The effect of the Elixir to Induce Euphoria varies for different people and cannot be seen as a cure for depression. Possible side effects are excessive singing and nose-tweaking.

After experiencing something extra frightening, a patient may have horrible nightmares. Not only do these nightmares keep the person up, but it also slows the healing process. Dreamless Sleep Potion allows the person to sleep without any dreams. The potion is purple. The amount of potion taken by the person is proportional to the amount of time the person sleeps.

With all the stresses of school and life, it is common for witches and wizards to have nervous breakdowns. The Calming Draught is a potion that can be used to calm down a person after a trauma or emotional outburst. Madam Pomfrey keeps a supply of Calming Draught handy during exams, especially during O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s.