George III, indigo and the blue ring test
Can a urine test offer insight into George III's insanity?
Analysis of George III's urine at the height of his insanity revealed a deposit in the shape of a blue ring, characteristic of indigo. But what could have been the source of indigo and was it linked to his dementia?
Most of us pay little regard to the colour of our urine. The various shades of yellow are caused by the presence of a variety of pigments - urobilins - the degradation products of haemoglobin. But other colours are possible: red, orange, and even green, purple, brown and blue. The first of these should necessitate a visit to the doctor. Blood tints the urine red, and needs early investigation. But what about shades of blue and green? Possibly the most famous report of blue-tinted urine is that of George III (1738-1820) just before he became too ill to rule. Does the colour give us any clues to the cause of his eventual fall from power?
Thanks for using Education in Chemistry. You can view one Education in Chemistry article per month as a visitor.
Register for Teach Chemistry for free, unlimited access
Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.
Get all this, plus much more:
- unlimited access to resources, core practical videos and Education in Chemistry articles
- teacher well-being toolkit, personal development resources and online assessments
- applications for funding to support your lessons
Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.
Not eligible for Teach Chemistry? Sign up for a personal account instead, or you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.