The Dollop with Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds 7 - American Vampire Panic
Jun 9, 2014
Dive into the spine-chilling American Vampire Panic of the 19th century. Explore how vampires evolved from terrifying scapegoats to modern-day icons. Discover the absurd remedies and bizarre rituals communities engaged in during the tuberculosis epidemic. Delve into the romanticization of illness, while examining macabre folklore and the peculiar beliefs surrounding death. The hosts blend dark humor with historical anecdotes, painting a vivid picture of a society gripped by fear, superstition, and literary influences.
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Early Vampire Practices
- Early vampire beliefs in Europe involved exhuming bodies during crises.
- Stakes driven into gas-filled corpses made noises, mistakenly confirming vampire beliefs.
Tuberculosis in 19th Century America
- Tuberculosis, or "consumption," was a major cause of death in 19th-century America, killing 1 in 4 children.
- Its symptoms included fever, coughing, bloody cough, and wasting of the body.
Misconceptions and Cures for TB
- Some doctors blamed tuberculosis on drinking or poverty, offering useless cures like brown sugar and horseback riding.
- The disease ravaged families, leading to the belief that the deceased were draining the life of the living.