Vlad the Impaler was not a decent guy wire . You do n’t earn the nickname " The Impaler " because of all your brotherly love study . But novel research suggests that , as well as mayhap cryingtears of blood , the trope often thought to have inspired Bram Stoker’sDraculamay have been vegetarian or vegan .
Vlad , or Mr Impaler if you ’d prefer , ruled over Wallachia and gained his offensive repute through hisbrutalityagainst his enemies . It ’s estimated that he may be responsible for up to 80,000 deaths during his lifespan , impaling a good number of them on spikes , perhaps even eat amongst them as they suffered and died .
harmonize to a chemical psychoanalysis of three letters write in 1457 and 1475 by Vlad , however , it ’s possible animals were not harmed for this horrible feast . The letters – addressed to the swayer of the urban center of Sibiu , Thomas Altemberger , and discussing matters like tax accumulation – were sampled using ethylene - vinyl acetate ( EVA ) , a method that does n’t come out to induce damage or contamination .
“ [ W]e characterized about 500 peptides , of which about 100 peptide were certainly of human origin , " the generator drop a line in their subject area . “ peptide related to lineage protein or coming from proteins involve in the respiratory system were identified in all the documents characterize . ”
Analyzing these closely , they find some peptides have-to doe with to protein involved in ciliopathy , a genetical upset . They also found signs of retinal disease and incitive operation .
" Although proteomics data can not be considered exhaustive alone , tout ensemble , these identifications might indicate that Dracula ' cried tears of blood ' , " they wrote , " i.e. , he brook from the condition of hemolacria , as report by some stories . "
Interestingly , the team found an absence seizure of animal food proteins when analyzing the varsity letter .
“ nutrient proteins are found only in plant foods , " sketch co - author Gleb Zilberstein toldThe Times . " The prototype vampire may have been a vegan . "
However , this was probable not anethical thing . You transfix that many people , you likely are n’t move to get too nice in KFC . According to the authors , nitty-gritty was meagre at the time and it could have been down to a lack of choice , or his own inadequate health . Nevertheless , it ’s potential that the name behind the bloodthirstyDraculawas more partial to a salad .
The subject is publish in the journalACS Analytical Chemistry .
