As a domain expert in the field of historical musicology, I am well-versed in the life and works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, including the circumstances surrounding his untimely death. Mozart, one of the most prolific and influential composers of the Western classical era, passed away at the age of 35 in December 1791. His death has been a subject of speculation and debate for over two centuries, with various theories proposed to explain the cause of his illness.

The exact cause of Mozart's illness remains a mystery, and several hypotheses have been put forward over the years. It is important to note that the medical knowledge and practices of the 18th century were vastly different from today's standards, and the diagnosis of Mozart's condition was not recorded with the precision we would expect today.

Syphilis has been suggested as a possible cause due to the symptoms that were attributed to Mozart in his final days, such as fever, confusion, and skin eruptions. However, syphilis typically has a long incubation period and its symptoms do not align perfectly with the rapid progression of Mozart's illness.

The **effects of treatment with salts of mercury** have also been considered. Mercury was a common treatment for various ailments at the time, including syphilis. However, the use of mercury could lead to mercury poisoning, which has symptoms similar to those Mozart exhibited before his death.

Rheumatic fever has been another hypothesis, given that it can cause inflammation in the heart and other organs, potentially leading to death. However, this theory also lacks concrete evidence linking Mozart's symptoms to this condition.

Vasculitis leading to renal failure has been proposed based on the idea that an inflammation of the blood vessels could have caused Mozart's rapid decline in health. This condition can lead to kidney failure and death if not treated, but again, there is no definitive proof that this was the case for Mozart.

An infection from a bloodletting procedure is another theory, considering that bloodletting was a common medical practice at the time. If the procedure was not performed with proper sterilization, it could have led to a severe infection.

Lastly, **trichinosis from eating undercooked pork chops** has been mentioned as a possible cause. Trichinosis is a parasitic disease that can cause severe muscle pain and fever, which are symptoms that could be associated with Mozart's final illness.

Despite the various theories, the truth about Mozart's illness remains elusive. The lack of a clear diagnosis and the rapid progression of his symptoms make it difficult to pinpoint a single cause. It is likely that Mozart's death was the result of a combination of factors, possibly including an underlying health condition that was exacerbated by the treatments and lifestyle of the time.

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Many causes have been suggested over the centuries: syphilis, the effects of treatment with salts of mercury, rheumatic fever, vasculitis leading to renal failure, infection from a bloodletting procedure, trichinosis from eating undercooked pork chops. RUMORS Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died after a sudden illness in 1791.Aug 17, 2009read more >>