THE SKULL OF WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
PREDICATES OF HIS DEATH
✝Vlček E.1, Druga R.2, Šmahel Z.3, Bigoni L.3, Velemínská J.3
1Department of Anthropology, National Museum, Prague, 2Institute of Anatomy, 2nd Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, and 3Chair of Anthropology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic |
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Summary:
W. A. Mozart died due to the consequences of chronic epidural hematoma after sustaining a dull injury to his head, probably at an
early age. Exacerbation of the process was repeated over a period of many years and manifested itself as pyrexial disease, meningeal
irritation with intense headaches. After the attack subsided, the illness manifested itself again. After the last attack of the likely
infected nidus, Mozart died on December 5, 1791. Historic data about the composer’s behavior indicate development of a temporal
syndrome or temporal epilepsy with typical clinical manifestations.
Key words:
W. A. Mozart, craniofacial analysis, skull injury, cause of death
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