Some Random Trivia

It would be downright impossible to find someone who hasn't heard of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart but most people probably don’t know why the 18th century composer passed at the early age of 35.

Over the years there has been a lot of mystery and intrigue surrounding his death.  Once thought to have been poisoned by a fellow composer or members of the Masonic order, historians all now agree that he bled to death due to some kind of illness, but what?

There are a number of theories rolling around about the specifics of the illness (kidney failure, parasite, disease) and with no autopsy there is no way to know for sure which is true.  But, one running theory amongst scholars is a secondary flare up of the inflammatory disease acute rheumatic fever – as in the disease that I have (greeeaaat). But this new bit of trivia doesn’t make me too worried and here’s why...

In 1791, Mozart fell ill experiencing symptoms of pallor, weight loss, and painful swelling of the hands and feet (sound familiar).  Unfortunately, Mozart was alive during a time of ill-thought-out medical practices and they did a bloodletting treatment to cure him of his ailments (whatever they may have been).  But, even more unfortunately, bloodletting while suffering from severe inflammation apparently causes hemorrhagic shock and, in the 1790’s, there’s no coming back from that. So, the treatment intended to save the most gifted musical genius in history accidentally killed him.

Fortunately for me, bloodletting isn't in regular practice anymore so I don’t have to worry about that kind of medical mishap!  Whoops!