People tend to fear what they do not understand; this human trait has given rise to hysteria, myths, legends, superstitions, and a multitude of mystical creatures. One of the most common monsters that piques the interest of numerous people are vampires. Vampires are seen as fictitious due to all the attention they have received by the media and their transition from bloodthirsty creatures of the night to emotionally distant, teenage dreams. However, there almost always is a grain of truth behind every good story; certain diseases such as hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia could have easily given rise to the myth of the vampire. The world does not unanimously agree on what defines a vampire, but most cultures agree on the following attributes:
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Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, or HED, is a group of rare genetic disorders that cause the afflicted to have malformation of certain teeth, facial abnormalities, an increased tendency to develop allergic conditions, and a lack of sweating due to the absence of sweat glands (Wright and Wang). Vampires are notorious for having elongated canines, sunken faces, an extreme aversion to garlic, and a tendency to avoid the sunlight. HED often causes people to have only their front teeth, canines, or molars. More often than not, those teeth are pointed or cone shaped, giving them the animalistic look of fangs. Additionally, people with HED will commonly have “prominent foreheads, underdeveloped nostrils, sunken nasal bridges, and sunken cheeks” (Wright and Wang.) HED not only explains the physical characteristics humans’ possess similar to vampires but also the behaviors. Garlic is a common allergen that ignorant people, who believed someone with HED was a vampire, could have exploited to harm said afflicted person; thereby, causing the sufferer to avoid garlic and giving rise to the myth that garlic could protect oneself from harm from vampires. HED can also explain why vampires are always seen at night or locked away in a creepy, dark house. The afflicted do not possess sweat glands, in some cases, and are unable to cool themselves …show more content…
Vampires are more than their outside visage; their behavior is an integral part of their persona. They are monsters; they suck the essence of life from their victims in a ruthless fashion. Said to be of the dead, they have no need for their humanity and so act in cruel ways towards humans. A lesser known “vampire” from history was Countess Elizabeth Bathory of Hungary. Bathory was a sadistic woman who learned Satanism and sadomasochism from her relatives at a young age (History.com Staff). Consequently, Bathory must have felt it was acceptable behavior to act mercilessly to her victims since her entrusted loved ones were supportive of her habits. Her status was also quite helpful in providing shelter from those who wished revenge on the nefarious woman. Bathory, in an effort to keep herself looking young and healthy, would bite pieces off of the flesh of her young victims, “with the help of her former nurse, Ilona Joo, and local witch Dorotta Szentes” (History.com Staff). Clearly, Bathory was a despicable woman who had no qualms with torturing and killing innocent young girls for their screams and
Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, or HED, is a group of rare genetic disorders that cause the afflicted to have malformation of certain teeth, facial abnormalities, an increased tendency to develop allergic conditions, and a lack of sweating due to the absence of sweat glands (Wright and Wang). Vampires are notorious for having elongated canines, sunken faces, an extreme aversion to garlic, and a tendency to avoid the sunlight. HED often causes people to have only their front teeth, canines, or molars. More often than not, those teeth are pointed or cone shaped, giving them the animalistic look of fangs. Additionally, people with HED will commonly have “prominent foreheads, underdeveloped nostrils, sunken nasal bridges, and sunken cheeks” (Wright and Wang.) HED not only explains the physical characteristics humans’ possess similar to vampires but also the behaviors. Garlic is a common allergen that ignorant people, who believed someone with HED was a vampire, could have exploited to harm said afflicted person; thereby, causing the sufferer to avoid garlic and giving rise to the myth that garlic could protect oneself from harm from vampires. HED can also explain why vampires are always seen at night or locked away in a creepy, dark house. The afflicted do not possess sweat glands, in some cases, and are unable to cool themselves …show more content…
Vampires are more than their outside visage; their behavior is an integral part of their persona. They are monsters; they suck the essence of life from their victims in a ruthless fashion. Said to be of the dead, they have no need for their humanity and so act in cruel ways towards humans. A lesser known “vampire” from history was Countess Elizabeth Bathory of Hungary. Bathory was a sadistic woman who learned Satanism and sadomasochism from her relatives at a young age (History.com Staff). Consequently, Bathory must have felt it was acceptable behavior to act mercilessly to her victims since her entrusted loved ones were supportive of her habits. Her status was also quite helpful in providing shelter from those who wished revenge on the nefarious woman. Bathory, in an effort to keep herself looking young and healthy, would bite pieces off of the flesh of her young victims, “with the help of her former nurse, Ilona Joo, and local witch Dorotta Szentes” (History.com Staff). Clearly, Bathory was a despicable woman who had no qualms with torturing and killing innocent young girls for their screams and