The death of Charlotte Brontë.

Abstract

Although her own physician ascribed her death to tuberculosis, later evaluation of Charlotte Brontë's life and work led some observers to conclude that the cause of her death was hyperemesis gravidarum, a pregnancy complication that was ascribed to neurosis and a rejection of her pregnancy and her femininity. A full analysis of Charlotte Brontë's last months casts doubt as to whether she was ever actually pregnant. Evaluation of her final illness suggests that tuberculosis with secondary Addison disease can fully explain her terminal signs and symptoms.