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Chicago (dpa) - Sophisticated analysis of a fragment of Ludwig Van Beethoven's skull has confirmed that the brilliant 19th century composer died of massive lead poisoning, researchers said Tuesday.
The research was carried out at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory where scientists focused the most powerful X-ray machine on the bone fragments and found conclusive evidence of long term lead poisoning.
"The finding of elevated lead in Beethoven's skull, along with DNA results indicating authenticity of the relics, provides solid evidence that Beethoven suffered from a toxic overload of lead," said Bill Walsh, chief scientist at the Pfeiffer Treatment Center in Warrenville, Illinois and director of the Beethoven Research Project.
"Beethoven experienced a change of personality and abdominal illness in his late teens and early 20s that persisted throughout his adult life. His abdominal symptoms and autopsy findings are both consistent with lead poisoning," Walsh said.
Beethoven died in 1827 at age 56 after suffering decades of poor health.
Scientists and historians have yet to determine what caused the acute lead poisoning but some have speculated that it may have been due to Beethoven's habit of drinking wine from lead cups, or medical treatments which used lead.
Copyright 2005 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
