Mercy Brown Research Paper

Mercy Brown was born in Exeter, Rhode Island. She died in 1892, just a little over 100 years ago. She was the daughter of a store clerk. Two months earlier her mother and sister had died of consumption. It was decided by her doctors, due to her pale skin, bloodshot eyes, and rapidly failing health, along with a sensitivity to sunlight that the family were being attacked by vampires. She was whipped. She was beaten. She was prayed over. She was stripped and bathed in ice. She was made to drink the blood of her dead mother, which her family kept at the advice of their doctors. Of course, it wasn’t vampires killing Mercy. It was tuberculosis, so she died. Then, in January, her brother Edwin got sick. He was the only boy in the Brown family and the heir to their name. The Brown women were all dug up. Their coffins were pried open, and the men of the village gathered around. Mercy’s body had only been in the ground for two months. The others had been buried longer, because her body in a better condition than the others they decided that Mercy was the …show more content…
Tuberculosis can be caused by microscopic droplets in the air. When someone coughs, sneezes, sings, talks, spits, or even laughs can have these droplets and infect others. Although tuberculosis is contagions, its not that easy to catch. You're more likely to get it from someone you work, or live with than a stranger. Signs and symptoms of tuberculosis consist of coughing that lasts three or more weeks, coughing up blood, chest pain, pain with breathing or coughing, unintentional weight loss, fatigue, fever, drenching night sweats, chills, and loss of appetite. (http://www.cdc.gov/features/tbsymptoms) You can see how these all relate to the familiar vampire stereotypes: pale, skinny, weakness to light, the red eyes. (http://dracula.cc/vampires_traits) Without proper medical care George could only rely on folklore in attempt to save his