[SunkenCiv]

Typhus was a common risk in the Nazi death camps and concentration camps.

Typhus is caused by one of two types of bacteria: Rickettsia typhi or Rickettsia prowazekii. The form of typus depends on which type of bacteria causes the infection. Rickettsia typhi causes murine or endemic typhus. Endemic typhus is uncommon in the United States. It is usually seen in areas where hygiene is poor and the temperature is cold. Endemic typhus is sometimes called "jail fever." Lice and fleas of flying squirrels spread the bacteria. Murine typhus occurs in the southeastern and southern United States, often during the summer and fall. It is rarely deadly... Rickettsia prowazekii causes epidemic typhus and Brill-Zinsser disease. Brill-Zinsser disease is a mild form of epidemic typhus. It occurs when the disease re-activates in a person who was previously infected. It is more common in the elderly. -- *

[decimon]

...Rickettsia prowazekii.

That looks Polish. I see it now...Napolean and Hitler made the mistake of going through Poland on the way to Russia. ;-)

[Madam Theophilus]

Thanks everyone for putting me straight on the difference between typhus and typhoid. You learn something new everyday with Free Republic!

[hellbender]

Yes, physical stress (including poor diet) and poor environment seem to play a big role in typhus. That's why I find it hard to believe that typhus alone beat the French. Their campaign went downhill from the very beginning. Their supply lines were too long and subject to Russian guerilla attacks, and they couldn't live off the land due to the Russian scorched-earth policy. Also, as your quote shows, cold temperature favors the disease.

Napoleon's big successes were all in highly developed western Europe. He didn't do so well in guerilla wars in backward countries.