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Mozart may have died of rheumatic fever
The immensely talented Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died Dec 5, 1791, at the age of 35, and only a fortnight after he had been in robust health. The reason for his death has for a long time been one of the most compelling mysteries of musical history, and is likely to remain so. Many theories have been put forward, suggesting ailments such as typhoid fever and kidney failure, and more bizarre causes like murder. Peter Schaffer’s Broadway-play-turned-Hollywood-movie Amadeus, which depicts Mozart’s life and death, popularized the theory that he was ‘disposed of’ by court rival Antonio Salieri. Though the content of the play and movie are both largely fictitious, the plot is realistic and convincing...besides, it’s so much more exciting than a heart attack or a stroke, and having the composer realise that he is writing his own Requiem is just perfect for an emotionally high-strung scene. But modern medical sleuth Dr. Faith Fitzgerald, a professor of medicine at the University of California, Davis, thinks that illness is still the most likely cause. “Because Mozart was a great and famous man, we tend to expect an extraordinary cause of death,” said Dr. Fitzgeraid, who diagnosed Mozart with severe rheumatic fever. (200 years too late!) Her diagnosis was presented at a clinical pathology conference hosted by the University of Maryland School of Medicine. This annual forum is devoted to the diagnosis of fatal illnesses of historical figures, and in past years, doctors have looked at the deaths of other great figures as Edgar Allan Poe, Alexander the Great and Pericles. Rheumatic fever, once a common ailment in Europe, is now largely forgotten thanks to the invention of antibiotics. But it was common in Mozart’s time, and he had died during an epidemic. Mozart had also suffered from the disease several times as a child, and was thus more likely to contract it as an adult. It was almost the end of another productive year for Mozart when he was struck suddenly by fever. Rashes and painful swellings followed, and he passed away 15 days later. Dr. Fitzgerald ploughed through written descriptions of the composer’s death left by his family and physicians, and was able to rule out other possible causes of death, including liver disease and typhoid fever. “He was clear in mind, and apparently working on "The Requiem" right up until just before the end,” she said. “He was not delirious, not demented, in no way cognitively impaired, which would be unusual for almost every other disease.” What also helped clinch her diagnosis was the fact that Mozart had his beloved pet canary taken away because he could no longer stand the sound of birdsong. “Irritability is a classic symptom of rheumatic fever,” she said. Her argument is solid and well-supported by evidence, but it remains to be seen if her diagnosis would help to clear the mystery, or just add to the mess of theories. Seems that most people still prefer the sensationalized version. - REUTERS A good website is always under construction, and Keith (klassiks) is constantly working on his at Vienna Strasse/7645. Check it out, and don’t forget to sign the guestbook! |
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