Madam, - In his Irishman's Diary of April 4th, Brian Maye states quite emphatically that Charlotte Bronte died of consumption, after developing a chill. According to Juliet Barker's detailed biography of the family this would not seem to have been the case. As she points out, the actual cause of death has been disputed for many years.
More recent opinion, taking into account the evidence from her final illness would seem to suggest that she in fact died as a result of suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum (severe vomiting in pregnancy). On the death certificate the cause was given as phthisis, indicating a progressive wasting illness. This was indeed associated with tuberculosis but would also, as Barker points out, have been appropriate in a case of hyperemesis.
The "lingering cold" described by Mrs Gaskell which was supposed to have led to Charlotte's illness seems not to be corroborated by other accounts, thus casting doubts on the tuberculosis theory. - Yours, etc.,
CHRISTINE MILLS, Chelmsford Avenue, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.