Posted on by Gabriel

Hunchback King Richard III infected with worms

This undated photo provided by the University of Leicester shows the remains of England's King Richard III which were found in a dig in Leicester, England in September 2012. Not only was Richard III one of England’s most reviled monarchs, but it now turns out the hunchback king was probably infected with parasitic worms that grew up to a foot in length. Researchers who dug up Richard III’s skeleton underneath a parking lot report they have found roundworm eggs in the soil around his pelvis, where his intestines would have been. They compared that to soil samples taken close to Richard’s skull and surrounding his grave, where there weren't any eggs. In a study published online Wednesday Sept. 4, 2013 in the journal Lancet, experts say it’s unlikely the worms did any serious damage to the king. (AP Photo/University of Leicester)LONDON (AP) — Not only was Richard III one of England’s most despised monarchs, but it now turns out the hunchback king was probably infected with parasitic worms that grew up to a foot in length.

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