The Glass Delusion: When People Became Psychologically Fragile

In the winter of 1393, the young French king Charles VI (previously at Neatorama), who was known to be mentally ill, became convinced that he was made of glass and ordered iron rods sewn into his clothing in order to protect him from breaking. His was the first documented case of what became known as the "glass delusion." Over the next several centuries, there would be plenty of others. The glass delusion varied, as some thought their bodies were glass pitchers or lamps, some felt they were encased in glass, and some believed they had glass inside of them. They were all terrified of being shattered.  

Then the glass delusion died out in the 19th century. Some believe it came about because glass was the most technologically magic material available during those years, and this delusion was later replaced by the scarier materials of the modern world. Read up on the rise and fall of the glass delusion at the Public Domain Review.  -via Messy Nessy Chic