キーツの手紙に見られる結核についての記述

キーツの手紙から彼の結核の症状、当時の結核に対する考え方および治療方法が分かります。




At Bedhampton I was unwell and did not go out of the Garden Gate but twice or thrice during the fortnight I was there ---Since I came back I have been taking care of myself --- I have been obliged to do so, and am now in hopes that by this care I shall get rid of a sore throat which has haunted me at intervals nearly a twelvemonth. (to Fanny Keats, 11 February, 1819) ( Letters 2.38)

キーツが長い間ひどい喉の痛みに苦しんでいたことが分かります。


Whenever you have an inflammatory fever never mind about eating. The day on which I was getting ill I felt this fever to a great height, and therefore almost entirely abstained from food the whole day. (to Fanny Keats, 6 February 1820) ( Letters 2, 251)
当時は飢餓療法が治療に用いられていました。体を弱らせることによって病気も弱らせるという発想です。今から考えるとよけいに抵抗力がなくなって病気が進行してしまったんではないかとおもわれます。


I am recommended not even to read poetry much less write it. (to Fanny Keats, February? 1820) ( Letters 2, 257)

当時は結核は精神の状態が原因とも考えられていました。したがって詩を書くとか情熱的な事は禁止されたらしいです。


To-day I have left off the Medicine which I took to keep the pulse down and I find I can do very well without it, which is a very favourable sign, as it shows there is no inflammation remaining. (to Fanny Brawne, March? 1820) (2,278) Letters 1 317, 319)
この手紙からキーツが瀉血を受けていたことが分かります。当時はどんな病気の治療にも瀉血が行われました。体の体液のバランスを整えるという考え方から来ています。メスを使った方法とヒルを使った方法とがありました。



I hear with great pain the dangerous accident that you have undergone, & Mr Gisborne who gives me the account of it, adds, that you continue to wear a consumptive appearance. This consumption is a disease particularly fond of people who write such good verses as you have done, and with the assistance of an English winter it can often indulge its selection; ---I do not think that young & aimiable poets are at all bound to gravity its taste; they have entered into no bond with the Muses to that effect But seriously (for I am joking on what I am very an{x}ious about) I think you would do well to pass the winter a{fte}r so {treme}ndous an accident in Italy, & (if you thinks it as necessary as I do) so long as you could find Pisa or its neighbourhood agreeable to you, Mrs Shelley unites with myself in urging the request, that you would take up your residence with us ---You might come by sea to Leghorn, (France is not worth seeing, & the sea air is particularly good for weak lungs) which is within a few miles of us. (from Shelley, 27 July 1820) (Letters 2. 310)
シェリーからの手紙です。イタリアへ転地療養に誘ってくれています。「この病気はあなたのような良い詩を書く人を好む」という文面からも結核のロマン化の一側面が見られます。



The chief part of his disease, as far as I can yet see seems seated in his Stomach. I have some suspicion of disease of the heart and it may be of the lungs, but of this say nothing to his friends as in my next I shall be able to give you something more satisfactory His mental exertions and application have I think bee the sources of his complaints The truth is, having come abroad for the purpose of restoring his health, every thing must be done to favor the ch{ange} of climate ---I mean that he shall buy or hire {by the} month a horse to ride out whenever the w{eather perm}its & so forth (from Dr. James Clark to?, 27 November 1820) (2.358)
キーツのイタリアでの主治医のクラーク医師からの手紙です。馬に乗るといいということが述べられています。イギリスではシデナムという18世紀の医者の提唱以来はやった療法のようです。



when in an instant a Cough seized him, and he vomited near two Cup-fuls of blood. ---In a moment I got Dr Clarke, who saw the manner of it, and immediately took away about 8 ounces of blood from the Arms ---it was black and thick in the extreme. (Joseph Severn to Charles Brown, 17 December 1820) (Letters 2.361)
これの瀉血の様子です。血を吐いた後に8オンス(200cc強?)の血を採られるなんて今から考えるとぞっとします。



The blood broke forth again in like quantity the next morning ---and the doctor thought it expedient to take away the like quantity of blood --- the distended stomach keeps him in perpetual hunger or craving --- and this is augmented by the little nourishment he takes to keep down the blood Every day he raves that he will die from hunger --- and I was obliged to give him more than allowed--- You cannot think how dreadful this is for me --- the Doctor on the one hand tells me I shall kill him to give him more than he allows --- and Keats raves for more till I am in complete tremble for him.(Severn to Brown, 17 December 1820) (Letters 2.362)
キーツのかなり末期の状態です。瀉血と飢餓療法に苦しんでいるキーツ。医者の指示とキーツの要求との板挟みの友人セバーンの様子がよく分かります。






Works Cited.
Rollins, Edward, ed. Letters of John Keats 1814-1821. 2vols. Cambridge MA: Harvard UP, 1958.

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