Jane Austen may went blind and died from arsenic poisoning
Researchers from the British library has found that British novelist Jane Austen became blind at the end of life, in all probability, the result of arsenic poisoning.
Judging by the three pairs of points stored in the British library, her vision has deteriorated significantly at the end of life.
At that time, at the turn of XVIII—XIX centuries, heavy metals such as arsenic, was part of certain medications that could make the Austin, suffering from rheumatism.
Reasons for its early — at age 41 — death July 18, 1817 until now was unclear and was the subject of various conjecture.
Now as experts believe, the largest repository of books in Britain, arsenic poisoning could be a factor (perhaps the major), which led to her death.
Jane Austen lived and died in the town of Steventon, located in Hampshire, and gave the world literature six great novels describing the life and manners of contemporary English society, including “Pride and prejudice” with his aristocratic, handsome Mr. Darcy is a romantic hero, who became an accomplishment of generations of readers.
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Three pairs of glasses that are in excellent condition preserved in the Desk of the writer have been carefully researched using tiptimer determining the optical strength of the lenses.
It was found that if while wearing the first pair of glasses the farsightedness of the writer was +1.75 diopters on each eye, then to the last, the third pair, it rose to + 4.75 and 5.00, and this means that by the time of his death, she barely could read and write.
“There is speculation that it could accidentally be poisoned by this heavy metal like arsenic. We know that arsenic poisoning can cause cataracts, — explained the curator of the British library Sandra Tappen. — Arsenic was often included in the composition of some medicines for different diseases, such as rheumatism, from which, as we know, suffered from Jane Austen”.
At the same time it is not known whether glasses tortoiseshell frame written writer, or she bought them herself.
Now researchers at the British library we hope that ophthalmologists will offer his expert opinion on the matter.