Source:
Some Historic Women; or, Biographical Studies of Women Who Have Made History, pages 282 to 283, by William Henry Davenport Adams, 1890-1899; original at the University of Toronto - Robarts Library
Above: Kristina.
The biography:
The internal difficulties which originated in the social condition of Sweden and in the immense privileges enjoyed by the nobles, the young Queen faced with much courage and patience, devoting herself with unselfish energy to attempts to find their solution. At last she overtaxed her strength, and induced frequent attacks of intermittent fever, with which her physicians, according to the evil practice of the time, endeavoured to cope by the free use of the lancet. We may reasonably assume that the exhaustion of vitality caused by this severe regimen had an injurious effect upon the Queen, both physically and mentally. In 1653 [sic] her attendants were seriously alarmed by her state of health. She suffered from fainting fits which lasted for hours, and from other evidences of a debilitated constitution, due partly to excessive bleeding, partly to excessive fatigue, and partly to want of sufficient sleep. Her naturally strong constitution, however, carried her through these trials.
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