Quotation: “Just over the external jugular vein there were two punctures, not large, but not wholesome-looking. There was no sign of disease, but the edges were white and worn-looking, as if by some trituration. It at once occurred to me that this wound, or whatever it was, might be the means of that manifest loss of blood; but I abandoned the idea as soon as it formed, for such a thing could not be.” (115)

Comment: This was the first time Dr. Seward had noticed the marks on Lucy’s neck, although it was not the first time they had ever been seen by anyone. He wonders what caused them and if they may be the source of all of Lucy’s blood loss, but not knowing about vampires, dismisses the idea immediately. What’s more interesting is Dr. Van Helsing’s reaction to seeing the puncture marks on Lucy’s neck. He acts as if he is shocked to see them and then proceeds to cover them up and won’t talk to anyone about them including Dr. Seward.

Dr. Van Helsing clearly knows what is causing Lucy’s blood loss after seeing the marks on her neck because he makes sure someone is with her at all times and proceeds to have garlic sent to her house. The use of garlic makes me wonder if garlic warding off vampires was part of some of the tales about vampires that were passed around Transylvania. Otherwise how would Dr. Van Helsing know to use garlic and think it would have any impact at all? Also, if he knew that vampires existed, why wasn’t that one of the first things he looked for when he first examined Lucy, unless he thought they were only in Transylvania.

Question: I find it very interesting that Dr. Van Helsing didn’t want to tell Dr. Seward what he thought was causing Lucy’s blood loss. Why would he not want to warn the doctor and make sure he was prepared in case other people started showing up with similar symptoms? Was he afraid Dr. Seward would think he was crazy and not believe him?