Diseases & Diagnoses
Also known as: Diseases & Diagnoses, Diseases
Thematic Tag: Diseases & Diagnoses
Retired. This tag is retired in favour of Health & Illness, which now covers named diseases and diagnoses. The 2026 tag audit no longer assigns it; existing tags are removed carnet by carnet, and the file is kept as a retired redirect so old links keep working (no tag points here as of 2026-10-03). This thematic tag collects diary paragraphs mentioning specific named diseases and medical diagnoses. Complements the broader Health theme by focusing on identified illnesses rather than general symptoms, doctors, or treatment.
Diseases in the Diary
- Phtisie / phtisie laryngee: Marie's primary illness — tuberculosis in its period terminology. She never uses "tuberculose." First fears appear in 1875; confirmed diagnosis comes gradually through the 1880s.
- Cholera: The 1873 Vienna epidemic affects travel plans; Abramovitch dies of cholera in Nice (August 1873)
- Fievre typhoide / typhus: Mentioned in family illness contexts and Marie's occasional dark wish to fall ill
- Laryngite: Marie's persistent throat condition, diagnosed from 1878 onward
- Pleurisie / pleuresie: Lung inflammation, diagnosed 1881; "l'enveloppe du poumon droit est malade"
- Bronchite / peri-bronchite: Recurring respiratory diagnosis, euphemistic alternative to phtisie
- Catarrhe: Nasal/throat inflammation, early diagnosis
- Variole: Smallpox — mentioned once in a prayer ("delivre-nous de la variole")
- Anemie: Dismissed diagnosis — "il m'examine et declare une anemie. C'est un imbecile."
- Anevrisme: Cause of Fedoroff's death (1874)
Marie's Diagnostic Language
Marie often records diagnoses with skepticism or dark humor:
- "Pharyngite, laryngite et catarrhe. Rien que cela." — Nothing but that.
- "la fameuse peri-bronchite chronique" — the famous chronic peri-bronchitis (euphemism)
- "Je voudrais bien que ma phtisie fut imaginaire." — I wish my tuberculosis were imaginary.
Related Entries
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