Truths in Popular Vampire Superstitions

In 1847, Blackwood's Magazine published an article titled: “Letters on the Truths Contained in Popular Superstitions – Vampyrism.” It presented numerous examples of supposed real vampires reported over the previous century. One was the famous vampire Arnod. The article described how skeptics would fare:

“Your scepticism will abate pretty considerably when you see him stealthily entering your room, yet are powerless under the fascination of his fixed and leaden eye—when you are conscious, as you lie motionless with terror, of his nearer and nearer approach—when you feel his face, fresh with the smell of the grave, bent over your throat, while his keen teeth make a fine incision in your jugular, preparatively to commencing his plain but nutritive repast.”

The article also recounted a “real” case where a suspected vampire’s body was exhumed: “The body,” says the report, “was found in a perfectly fresh state, with no sign of decomposition. Fresh blood had recently escaped from its mouth, with which its shirt was wet. The skin (the epidermis, no doubt) had separated together with the nails, and there were new skin and nails underneath. As it was perfectly clear from these signs that he was a vampyr, conformably to the use established in such cases, they drove a stake through his heart. Whereupon he gave an audible groan, and a quantity of blood flowed from him. The same day his body was burned to ashes, which were returned to the grave.”

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