A forensic pathologist has decided that Beethoven's doctor inadvertently
poisoned the composer with lead.
The article in the Beethoven Journal, published by San Jose State University's Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies, lays the composer's crash at the feet of Dr. Andreas Wawruch and his bedside remedies. His demise at 56 put an end to years of depression and mysterious physical ailments, but, according to the article, it didn't have to happen when it did.
The article's author, Viennese forensic scientist Christian Reiter, analyzed concentrations of lead in strands of the composer's hair. Other scientists who have studied Beethoven's hair, as well as skull fragments said to be from the composer (they are on long-term loan to the Beethoven center), are just beginning to examine Reiter's Advertisement methodology.
Could have finished up that
Tenth Symphony, huh?
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