[Martin Luther's somatic diseases. A short life-history 450 years after his death]

The article contains a short life-history of the religious reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546) with main emphasis on his many somatic diseases. The list comprises varicose ulcer, angina pectoris with anxiety, obesity, hypertension arterialis, Ménière's disease with vertigo, tinnitus and fainting fits, gastralgia, constipation with anal ulcers and haemorrhoids with bleeding, urolithiasis, arthritis urica, Roemheld's syndrome, and cataract in one eye. Mentally he had a manic-depressive cast of personality, and a tendency to emotional lability. In spite of this he had an enormous capacity for work.