MEDICAL HISTORY
1797 Episodes of severe colic [Wegeler/Ries p38]
1798 Constant diarrhea. Dr. Frank rx'ed "Strengthening medicine & almond oil aud.canal installation w/ no effect. [Wegeler/Ries p28].
1799 Cold baths were prescribed but no change. Autumn "customary lukewarm baths" rx'ed in Danube coincident with decreased diarrhea [Wegeler/Ries p28]
1799-1800 [Winter] "I was truly miserable, I had really dreadful attacks of colic and deteriorated to my previous self"
1800 [May] Went to Vering "…thinking that my condition might also require the attention of a surgeon" [Wegeler/Ries p28] Rx: Lukewarm baths in the Danube with a "flask of strengthening stuff"
1800 [June] "pills for the stomach" ordered by Vering . GI sxs decreased, no change in hearing w/ ] infusions for ear: "Buzzing and ringing day and night" [Wegeler/Ries p28-9]
1801 [June 29] In a letter [Anderson51] to his friend Dr. Franz Wegeler, complained of changes in his hearing over the preceeding three years along with recurrent abdominal symptoms:
"For the last three years my hearing has become weaker and weaker. The trouble is supposed to have been caused by the condition of my abdomen which, as you know, was wretched even before I left Bonn, but has become worse in Vienna where I have been constantly afflicted with diarrhoea and have been suffering in consequence from an extraordinary debility. Frank tried to tone up my constitution with strengthening medicines and my hearing with almond oil, but much good did it do me! His treatment had no effect, my deafness became even worse and my abdomen continued to be in the same state as before. Such was my condition until autumn of last year; and sometimes I gave way to despair. Then a medical asinus advised me to take cold baths to improve my condition. A more sensible doctor, however, prescribed the usual tepid baths in the Danube. The result was miraculous; and my inside improved. But my deafness persisted or, I should say, became even worse. During this last winter I was truly wretched, for I had really dreadful attacks of colic and again relapsed completely into my former condition. And thus I remained until about four weeks ago when I went to see Vering. For I began to think that my condition demanded the attention of a surgeon as well; and in any case I had confidence in him. Well, he succeeded in checking almost completely this violent diarrhoea. He prescribed tepid baths in the Danube, to which I had always to add a bottle of strengthening ingredients. He ordered no medicines until about four days ago when he prescribed pills for my stomach and an infusion for my ear. As a result I have been feeling, I may say, stronger and better; but my ears continue to hum and buzz day and night. ... In order to give you some idea of this strange deafness, let me tell you that in the threatre I have to place myself quite close to the orchestra in order to understand what the actor is saying, and that at a distance I cannot hear the high notes of instruments or voices. Sometimes too I can scarcely hear a person who speaks softly; I can hear sounds, it is true, but cannot make out the words. But if anyone shouts, I can't bear it."
1802 Schmidt treated Beethoven at time Heiligenstadt testament written.
1804 [October 13] In a letter from v. Breuning to Wegeler [Wegeler/Ries pp48-9] as Beethoven shared his flat since May:
He had just barely moved in when he became violently ill. The illness threatened to become relly dangerous but finally passed into a lingering, intermittent fever. ... Now he is quite well again."
1808 [mid-March]: Serious infection of B.'s finger - nearly causes loss (surgical cure).
"My colic is better, but yesterday my poor finger had to undergo a serious nail operation. When I wrote to you yesterday it looked very threatening. Today it is quite limp with pain." [Wegeler/Ries p191 ref#106 to New Beethoven Letters pg38]
1809 [Feb 19] Beethoven's physician, Schmidt, died. Malfatti began providing medical services.
1816 [Feb 28] Letter to Ries: "...I have not been well for some time; my brother's death affected my spirits and my work."
1817 [Apr-Oct] Beethoven was described as sitting sad and quiet, often spitting into his handerchief, looking at it as though he expected blood.
1821 [Early July] Developed jaundiced - persisted for over 1 month.
[Nov 12] Wrote to Franz Brentano that he had recovered from a severe bout of illness.
1822 [Jan] Ill with 'gout in the chest' for the past 5-6 months.
1824 [Late Sept] Evidence that his somatic complaints were intermittent: sharing drinks with Johann Andreas Stumpf... "They drank many toasts with Beethoven very relaxed and expansive 'Today I am my real self and what I ought to be' " [Last Decade p62-3] Stumpff also reported Beethoven as saying: 'When I contemplate in wonderment the firmament and the heat of luminous bodies which we call worlds and suns, eternally revolving within its boundaries, my spirit soars beyond those stars, many millions of miles away towards the fountain from which all creative work springs and from which all creation must still flow." [Last Decade, pg. 282]
1825 [Mid-April]:(Dr. Braunhofer's rx'ed strict diet: "no wine, no coffee, nospices of any kind. I'll arrange matters with the cook... you muststick to the diet, you won't starve on it ... you must do some workduring the daytime so that you can sleep at night. If you want torecover completely and live a long life, you must live according tonature. You are very liable to inflammatory attacks and have narrowlyescaped a severe inflammation of the bowels - the predisposition isstill in your body... I can promise you that if you drink any spirits,you will be lying weak and exhausted on your back in a few hours."[L. Dec p67]
[May 13]: While in Baden, Beethoven wrote Dr. Braunhofer of his spitting up blood felt to come from his airway and complaining of nosebleeds, "as was the case several times last winter". The letter closed with a humous canon WoO189 composed May 11th: 'Dr. close the door to death!...'
[Mid-Sept]: "I am getting thinner and thinner and feel ailing rather than well [L.Dec p67/ Letters III p1199]
1826: Quality of food & lodging was poor in Gneixendorf. (The room was cold w/ little or no heating; food of poor quality). After 3 days, notice was given that he would have to pay for room & board: "If you want to live with us, you can have everything for 40 gulden C.M. monthly, that makes 500 gulden C.M. for the whole year" [G.v.B.p86] B. spent much time walking in open fields; at dawn & evenings worked on last comps. Health faded while there w/ further c/o abd. discomf., thirst, anorexia. (Wrote Dr. Braunhofer re:back pain also.) Johann had asked for money to stay after having inviting them to his estate; B. thus decided to return w/ Karl to Vienna by November.
[Dec 1]: Beethoven and his brother Johann had a violent argument at Johann's estate in Gneixendorf. Beethoven reacted with rage and stormed out, immediately leaving with Karl for Vienna despite the very cold, and stormy weather, inadequate transportation - a crude, open mild-cart, and inappropriate clothing: Beethoven was dressed in summer clothes. (Johann refused an available closed coach per Schindler.) Beethoven spent the night in a primitive, unheated Inn room along the way and by the time he arrived in Vienna the next day, he had become quite ill with fever, side pain, cough, gastrointestinal distress, etc. [L.Dec p79] (Likely ascites w/ secondary pulmonary atelectasis and/or pneumonia and possible sepsis.)
[Dec 5]: Drs. Braunhofer & Staudenheim called but did not attend. Karl Holz called Dr. Wawruch who later described B's condition: "I found B. afflicted with serious symptoms of inflammation of the lungs. His face glowed, he spat blood, his breathing threatened to choke him and a painful stitch in his side made lying on his back painful." [L.Dec p79]
[Dec 10]: B. again incr. ill w/ jaundice & evolving ascites. Karl remained at bedside thru December w/ Johann and his wife; the von Breunings including Gerhard often present. Wawruch described B: "...Trembling and shivering he bent double owing to the pains which raged in his liver and intestines, and his feet, hitherto moderately swollen, became enormous. From this time a dropsy developed, and there was an increase of jaundice." [L.Dec p79]
[Dec 20]: B. underwent 1st of several surgical drainages (by Dr. Seyfert - chief surgeon at hospital) to reduce abd. swelling/pain & reduce work of breathing. (25 lbs removed w/ subseq. estimated 125 + lbs drainage).
1827 [Jan 8]: 2nd abd. surg. drainage. Malfatti, long estranged came at B's request after having at 1st refused siting professional ethics after their estrangement years earlier over B's courting his daughter Therese [L.Dec p81]; consulted (B. responded like an adoring child). Malfatti decided that alcohol restriction was improper given mortal condition and allowed 1 glass/day w/ rapid but temporary improvement (B. is said to have exceeded dose soon after). Sauna baths also prescribed to cause sweating but actually associated w/ rapid increase in ascites [L.Dec p81].
[Feb 2]: 3rd abdominal surgery for fluid removal.
[Feb 27]: 4th abdominal surgery again for abdominal fluid reaccumulation.
[March 13]: B. visited by Ferdinand Hiller for second time during his terminal illness along w/ Hummel. Hiller recorded the following: "...found that his condition had deteriorated considerably. He lay in bed, seemed to be suffering great pain and at times uttered a deep groan; nevertheless, he spoke freely and vigorously. ... B. said to Hummel 'You are a lucky fellow - you have a wife, she looks after you, she is in love with you - but I'm a poor bachlor!' followed by a deep sigh."
[March 19]: ?24th: B's brother Johann wrote a note to B. stating the inevitable and suggesting he take last rites, etc. & from Dr. Wawruch's recollections: Johann "wrote with the greatest delicacy the words of admonition on a sheet of paper, which B. read with unexampled composure, slowly and thoughtfully, his countenance like that of one transfigured. Cordially and solemnly he held out his hand to me and siad 'send for the priest' and after receiving the Last Sacraments B. recalled to tell the priest 'I thank you, reverand sir. Your have brought me comfort' " [L.Dec p83]
[March 22]: Beethoven received last rites and he was heard to say: "Father! I thank you! You have brought me comfort!".
[March 23]: Last visit by Hummel & his wife & Hiller. Hiller recalled ... "He lay there faint and wretched, at times sighing gently. No further word passed his lips; the perspiration stood out on his brow. Seeing that by some chance he did not have his handkerchief at hand, Hummel's wife took her dainty wisp of battiste and at different times dried his face. Never shall I forget the grateful glance which his broken eyes sent up to her when she did this." [no quote; mentioned - L.Dec p83] Codicil to will signed w/ great difficulty: "luwig van Beethoven" [Kerman p88] "My nephew Karl shall be my sole legatee, but the capital of my estate whall fall to his natural or testimentary heirs" [Anderson III p1346 #1568]
[March 24] Wine from Schott's (Rudesheimer Berg, 1806) arrived; B. too weak; said of it, "Pity, pity, too late." These were his last words. Later, he lapsed into a coma. With the rapidly progressing illness, friends were contacted. The great man lapsed into unconsciousness and, as a fierce storm spllit the sky with lightning and thunder growled, Beethoven took his last breath and died. All Vienna and the world grieved. The schools were closed; many people stayed away from work. Five days later, on March 29th, thousands lined the streets to witness is body being carried to its final resting place. (Franz Schbert was one of the torchbearers.) And as they watched, they wept. (Paraphrased from: "Milton Cross New Encyclopedia of the Great Composers and Their Music," (1969 edition, Doubleday, V#1, p.75)
