What is the most likely way Edgar Allan Poe died?

Question

I know either rabies or alcohol withdrawal, but which way has found to be more logical?

Answer 1

I thought he died BECAUSE of too much alcohol. I could be wrong though. Either way, I would say it had to do with alcohol, and I seriously doubt it was rabies.

Answer 2

http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/news-releases-17.htm - I think it's most probable that he died of an advanced case of rabies. Apparently, he had stopped drinking at least six months before his death, so it probably wasn't alcohol that did it.

http://www.medicalalumni.org/CPC/pages/poe.htm

From http://www.wsoctv.com/health/10344238/detail.html
"The Case of Edgar Allan Poe
The first case presentation, in 1995, was Edgar Allan Poe. He was presented as a 40-year-old who was brought to the emergency room for lethargy and confusion. The patient had been initially found unconscious on the steps of a museum. There were no signs of trauma and no odor of alcohol on his body. He soon developed tremors and delirium, a rapidly changing heart rate and profuse perspiration. By the third day, his symptoms seemed to subside and he reported only mild stomach upset and headache. However, he had no memory of the events leading up to the illness or hospitalization."

"History suggests Poe abused alcohol and opiates. He also may have suffered from some type of seizure disorder. The delirium, tremors and confusion could have been caused by alcohol and drug abuse. However, medical records indicate Poe had stopped drinking about six months prior to his death. In addition, there were no signs or smells of alcohol use when he was brought to the emergency room. The consensus? The class of experts believe Poe may have died from rabies. In the final stages of illness, people with rabies commonly have the same symptoms as those reportedly seen in Poe. Records show Poe had many pets and was probably bitten by one infected with the disease. People can be infected with rabies for up to a year before developing symptoms. By that time, they often forget about the original incident."

It's still a mystery, and I suppose it will remain so. However, going by medical evaluations, I still believe it was most likely rabies.

Answer 3

Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site

http://www.ushistory.org/tour/tour_poe.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Edgar_Allan_Poe

Answer 4

Got a laugh out of the addition to your question... I was just stopping by to see what others said about Poe's death.

But rabies? That's a new one.
;-}
EDIT: and there was rabies, listed along with more things I already knew, right there in our own Wiki, put together by folks much like ourselves. lol

Great question, high in entertainment value if nothing else. That man's death has been a mystery for so long, I doubt it will ever be clarified.

Answer 5

Rabies? I never heard that. I believe ( without looking it up) that a combination of TB and alcohol abuse killed him.

Answer 6

i agree with the rabies theory. and it is not just in Wikipedia - the University of Maryland published this article.

http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/news-releases-17.htm

Answer 7

There's no way of knowing, so just pick the one you like and stand by it. He's not coming back to tell you.
I think he was bricked into a catacomb alive, by a drunken clown, or reveler.

(That's from his story "The Cask of Amontillado")

Answer 8

i think the man was so mently involved with a new writing he lived it and died--lol never more said the raven

Answer 9

Not really sure anyone has a definitive answer. Check out http://www.eapoe.org/geninfo/poedeath.htm

Answer 10

Probably rabies:
http://www.cswnet.com/~erin/eap3.htm
http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=00BdaE