A Mysterious Illness Strikes
In the late 19th century, New England faced an outbreak of tuberculosis, or “consumption.” The disease spread through families, wasting its victims away. As more people fell ill, fear grew in these close-knit communities, and some sought supernatural explanations for the spread.
Suspicions of the Undead
Many in New England came to believe that deceased family members were returning from the grave, draining the life of their loved ones. To stop these suspected “vampires,” families began exhuming bodies, looking for signs of an undead presence, such as fresh blood in the corpse’s heart.
Graveyard Rituals
Once a body was identified as a “vampire,” villagers would burn the heart, believing it would stop the spread of disease. One of the most famous cases involved Mercy Brown of Rhode Island in 1892. Her exhumed heart was burned, hoping to save her family from further illness.
A Unique Chapter in American History
The New England Vampire Panic faded as medical knowledge of tuberculosis spread, revealing it to be an airborne illness. However, the fear-driven exhumations left a lasting imprint on folklore and revealed the extent of panic in early rural communities.
In the late 19th century, New England faced an outbreak of tuberculosis, then called “consumption.” The disease spread through families, causing a wasting away of its victims. As more people became ill, some in the communities feared supernatural causes, particularly “vampires.” pic.twitter.com/AEQ5QM7LMn
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