Table 4.

Key features of epidemic typhus in Thucydides' description

Features present	Features not present
Fever	Evidence of black rats, lice
Rapid onset	Red throat, hoarseness
Red eyes	Foul breath
Hoarseness	Dry cough
Rash (truncal)	Runny nose, sneezing
Body or extremity gangrene	Blisters, sores
	Internal sensation of heat
	Retching, convulsions
	Diarrhea
	Sleeplessness
	Loss of sight
	Memory loss
	Death by exhaustion

Adapted from Page DL. Thucydides' description of the great plague of Athens. Classic Q 1953;3:97–119.