Diphtheria (Greek(diphthera)"pair of leather scrolls") is an upper respiratory tract illness characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane (a pseudomembrane) on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity.[cause of neck swelling] A milder form of diphtheria can be restricted to the skin.
The cutaneous[skin] form of diphtheria is often a secondary infection of a preexisting skin disease. Signs of cutaneous diphtheria infection develop an average of seven days after the appearance of the primary skin disease.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphtheria
Wikipedia entry features image of grotesque lesion;therefore, the scars resulting from Fannie's illness is credible afterall. Overexposure during sailing could have lowered her resistance to infection, making her vulnerable to an infectious disease that was very popular at the time. Since their was no vacination or antibiotic available until after WWII, she would have been lucky to have survived.
Hope to have given some resolution. Maybe we can enjoy the great performance even better without doubts of authenticity.
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Bklyn4ever
16 years ago
Though the illness was named, I just took it for another of those Mysterious Hollywood Diseases. The symptoms are dictated by plot necessity. Bette was prone to these ailments, like the one in 'Dark Victory' that entails an exact prediction of when she will die that is only known to her.
Another good one was whatever Sandy Dennis had in 'Sweet November.'
In 'Skeffington', Bette had to lose her looks, and they did not have ugly sticks back then (as in "Who hit you with an ugly stick?"). I thought smallpox would have been more credible [EDIT: small pox would have been an anachronism in the 20th Century]. Diphtheria is a stretch because it is not commonly associated with long term disfigurement. Maybe a car accident, à la 'Vanilla Sky/Abre los ojos.'
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