The Doctor's Struggle Against Superstition

Chronicles Doctor Spielsberg's journey from a rational physician to a believer in the supernatural, as he confronts the vampire's work.

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Initial Skepticism

A Man of Science The Doctor's Reputation Doctor Spielsberg is introduced as a skilled physician of sixty, with a shaved face and powdered wig. He is a man of reason, who laughs at Laura's father's mention of "hippogriffs and dragons." He believes that the mysterious deaths in the area are due to natural causes and superstition spreading among the peasants. A Professional Visit When Laura's father first consults him about the general illness, the doctor dismisses the idea of a supernatural plague. He advises that the people are infecting each other with fear. His rational approach is typical of the Enlightenment era, but it will soon be tested.

Examining Laura

The Puncture Marks A Disturbing Discovery When the doctor finally examines Laura, he finds the two small blue spots on her throat. His face grows grave, and he asks Laura's father to confirm the marks. This physical evidence contradicts his previous skepticism. He orders that Laura must never be left alone, a directive that indicates he now suspects a supernatural danger. A Change of Heart The doctor's demeanor shifts from confident to alarmed. He recognizes the symptoms from his medical knowledge but also from the folklore of vampirism. He no longer laughs at superstition; instead, he takes precautions that suggest he believes in the threat.

Consultation with Father

A Private Conference The Doctor's Serious Words Doctor Spielsberg and Laura's father speak in a low tone in the window recess. Laura cannot hear what they say, but her father emerges pale and agitated. The doctor's diagnosis is clearly grave, and he warns that immediate action is needed. He leaves without prescribing medicine, suggesting that conventional treatment is useless. The Burden of Knowledge The doctor now knows that Laura is the victim of a vampire, but he cannot openly say so without being dismissed as a madman. He entrusts Laura's father with the truth, effectively making him an ally in the fight against the supernatural. This marks the doctor's full acceptance of the vampire's reality.

The Letter to the General

A Written Diagnosis The Doctor's Letter In a parallel event, the doctor who attended Bertha Rheinfeldt wrote a letter to General Spielsdorf explicitly stating that Bertha was being visited by a vampire. The General initially dismissed it as absurd, but later realized its truth. This letter shows that the doctor had already encountered the vampire's work and developed a theory. A Pattern of Evidence The doctor's letter describes the same symptoms Laura experienced, confirming the consistency of vampire attacks. The letter, though not from Doctor Spielsberg, represents the medical profession's confrontation with the supernatural. Spielsberg's own actions mirror this earlier diagnosis.

The Aftermath

A Doctor's Vindication The Proof of the Supernatural Although Doctor Spielsberg does not participate in the exhumation, the official report confirms his suspicions. The vampire's body, with its fresh blood and beating heart, provides undeniable evidence. The doctor's earlier precautions are validated. A Changed Perspective Laura's recovery proves that the supernatural intervention was necessary. The doctor, who began as a skeptic, ends as a witness to the inexplicable. His role in the story underscores the theme of science confronting the unknown, and the limits of rationalism.

before Laura's illness

after several weeks of Laura's illness

immediately after the examination

possibly before the doctor's visit

after the vampire's destruction