TATIANA ROMANOV: TYPHOID FEVER, 1913.

 

TATIANA ROMANOV: TYPHOID FEVER, 1913

Tsarevich Alexei with Grand Duchess Tatiana in bed with typhoid fever.
Tsarevich Alexei with Grand Duchess Tatiana in bed with typhoid fever.

On 24 February, 1913, Grand Duchess Tatiana contracted typhoid fever in the period of the Great Lent before Orthodox Easter. Her condition was very serious for the rest of February and the entire month of March, when the Tercentenary Celebrations actually began.

Tsarevich Alexei with Grand Duchess Tatiana in bed with typhoid fever.
Tsarevich Alexei with Grand Duchess Tatiana in bed with typhoid fever.

 

 

 

From the 1913 diary of Tatiana Romanov:

“24th February. Sunday. In the morning temp. 39.2”  

 

From the 1913 diary of Olga Romanov:    

Monday. 25 February… Poor Tatiana still has fever [of] 39.4, but her headache is not as bad. Grandmama and Aunt Ksenia came over to see her…”

“Tuesday. 26 February… In the morning Tatiana had fever 39.1, in the evening – 39.6. At 2 o’cl… ”  

 Empress Alexandra with Grand Duchess Tatiana in bed with typhoid fever.
Empress Alexandra with Grand Duchess Tatiana in bed with typhoid fever.

“Wednesday. 27 February…  Tatiana had fever in the morning and in the evening, 39.7. I went to see her a few times…”

“Thursday. 28 February… Tatiana’s [temperature] was 39.1 in the morning, and 38.4 in the evening, she took a bath…”

“Friday. 1 March…  Tatiana’s [temperature] was 38.1 in the morning, in the afternoon 37.8, 38.6 in the evening. She is feeling better…”

“Saturday. 2 March…   In the afternoon the Batushka brought the Eucharist to Tatiana upstairs and gave her communion. In the morning [her temperature]: 38.1, 38.7, 38.9, she is tired…”

Tuesday. 5 March…  Aunt Olga was here from 2 until 7 o’clock. Sat with her and Mama at T[atiana]’s, who had her hair cut short. In the morning [her temperature was]: 38.9, 39.1, after bath – 39…”

 

Grand Duchess Tatiana in 1913 with shorn hair. recovering from typhoid fever
Grand Duchess Olga and Grand Duchess Tatiana in 1913 with shorn hair, recovering from typhoid fever

Tuesday. 12 March…   T[atiana]’s temperature was normal – 37 in the afternoon…”

“Tuesday. 19 March…  T. was lying down on the sofa and walking around for a bit…”

“Thursday. 21 March… T. came downstairs for the first time today…”  

Friday. 22 March… T came downstairs and had dinner…”

“Saturday. 23 March…  T. was downstairs the entire time, and is much more cheerful. She got a lot taller…”

 Empress Alexandra with Grand Duchess Tatiana with shorn hair. recovering from typhoid fever.
Empress Alexandra with Grand Duchess Tatiana with shorn hair. recovering from typhoid fever.

 

Grand Duchess Tatiana wearing her regiment's uniform in 1913 with shorn hair. recovering from typhoid fever
Grand Duchess Tatiana wearing her regiment’s uniform in 1913 with shorn hair. recovering from typhoid fever

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the books:

Journal of a Russian Grand Duchess: Complete Annotated 1913 Diary of Olga Romanov, Eldest Daughter of the Last Tsar

and

Tatiana Romanov, Daughter of the Last Tsar: Diaries and Letters, 1913–1918

Facebooktwitterpinteresttumblrmail

3 thoughts on “TATIANA ROMANOV: TYPHOID FEVER, 1913.

  1. Didn’t anyone think to pack her in ice, use cold compresses or call Rasputin?

    Reply

    1. That used to be a standard thing, the hair would start falling out, so people shaved it.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.