3-057-416 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Charlotte Bronte's letter to Dr John Epps, 1848. Desperate to alleviate her sister Emily's suffering, just ten days before she died, Charlotte Bronte' wrote to the homeopathic doctor John John Epps recommended by her publishers in London. She describes in chilling detail her sister's paroxysms of coughing, her lack of appetite, racing pulse and her refusal to accept medication. 'Decbr. 9th 1848. The Patient respecting whose care Dr. John Epps is consulted, and for whom his opinion and advice are requested is a female in her 29th year. A peculiar reserve of character renders it difficult to draw from her all the symptoms of her malady, but as far as they can be ascertained they are as follows...'. Emily died of tuberculosis, ten days after this letter was written, aged 30.