Читать книгу The Monster Book - Nick Redfern - Страница 19

For those who believe in the existence of literal werewolves, the image of the hairy shape-shifting beast that is part-human and part-wolf, and that embarks on a marauding killing spree at the sight of a full moon, is no joke. But if such creatures really exist, are they true werewolves of the type that have been so successfully portrayed onscreen time and again by Hollywood movie moguls? Or could at least some of them be deranged souls, afflicted by a variety of mental illnesses and delusions? The answer might very well be “yes” to the second question.

Clinical lycanthropy is a rare psychiatric condition that is typified by a delusion that the afflicted person has the ability to morph into the form of a wild animal—and very often that of a berserk, killer wolf. Of course, this does not fully explain why so many such people believe they are changing into a specific animal—such as a wolf—rather than just experiencing random changes in, say, their arms or legs. But, nevertheless, it is without doubt a significant part of the puzzle. And there is another aspect to this affair that may go some way towards explaining the inner-workings of the mind of the clinical lycanthrope.

Linda Godfrey, a leading authority on werewolves in the United States, and the author of Hunting the American Were-wolf, The Beast of Bray Road, and The Michigan Dogman, states: “One other medical explanation that turns up frequently in relation to lycanthropy is the ergot equation. A fungus that affects rye, ergot is now widely regarded as a possible cause of the bestial madness. According to this theory, it was not demonic influence but the ingestion of Claviceps purpurea (which contains a compound similar to LSD), which led to the demented behavior.”

Some mentally ill people believe that they can transform themselves into animals, usually vicious wolves.

“According to this theory, it was not demonic influence but the ingestion of Claviceps purpurea (which contains a compound similar to LSD), which led to the demented behavior.”

And then there are just the plain deranged and evil characters who have been lumped in with lycanthropy. Beyond any shadow of doubt at all, one of the most notorious serial killers of all time was Peter Stumpp (sometimes referred to as Peter Stuube, see below), a German farmer who became infamously known as the Werewolf of Bedburg. Born in the village of Epprath, Cologne, Stumpp was a wealthy, respected, and influential farmer in the local community. But he was also hiding a dark and diabolical secret—one that surfaced graphically and sensationally in 1589, when he was brought to trial for the crimes of murder and cannibalism.

Having been subjected to the torture of the rack, Stumpp confessed to countless horrific acts, including feasting on the flesh of sheep, lambs and goats, and even that of men, women, and children, too. Indeed, Stumpp further revealed that he had killed and devoured no fewer than fourteen children, two pregnant women and their fetuses, and even his own son’s brain. Stumpp, however, had an extraordinary excuse to explain his actions. He maintained that since the age of twelve, he had engaged in black magic, and on one occasion had succeeded in summoning the Devil, who provided him with a “magical belt” that gave him the ability to morph into “the likeness of a greedy, devouring wolf, strong and mighty, with eyes great and large, which in the night sparkled like fire, a mouth great and wide, with most sharp and cruel teeth, a huge body, and mighty paws.”

The court, needless to say, was not impressed, and Stumpp was put to death in brutal fashion: flesh was torn from his body, his arms and legs were broken, and, finally, he was beheaded. The Werewolf of Bedburg was no more. Stumpp was not alone, however.