Independent Research on Jane Eyre - Typhus

Typhus

What is it?

-Disease that inflicts humans with the Rickettsia prowazekii bacteria originating from lice and other small bugs-Symptoms include:severe headache, high fever(first and most common symptom), cough, rash, severe muscle pain, chills, falling blood pressure, stupor, sensitivity to light, delirium, and death-Can notice these symptoms as soon as one to two weeks after exposure-Found mostly in times of war and deprivation-Treated with antibiotics-Mortality rate:10 to 60 percent(vastly lower if antibiotics are used before first 8 days)-It can be used as a biological weapon-Accounts of the disease date as way back as ancient Greek times
     

How does it relate to Jane Eyre?
-Cause of death for both her parents and why she is living with her cruel aunt and cousins(the Reeds) at Gateshead
-There was an outbreak at Lowood, the Christian charity school, in which many of the students came down with it except for Jane
           
 Interesting link to "Public Health in Jane Eyre and Victorian Era"                    http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/bronte/cbronte/jane1.html
Industrialization and Urbanization caused Typhus?
-Poor sanitation in households and bad working conditions(for all people of any status)
Deprivation/Poor conditions at Lowood?


Contemporary Jane Eyre Song:
http://youtu.be/s8LIRtPnuA8