I am looking for some works done on the mysteries surrounding Poe's death. any help would be greatly appreciated.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 1999

Answers

I have also been looking up on the subject of Poe's death. The conclusions are similar. The information states that Poe died of alcoholism. He had gone to Blatimore where an election was taking place. it is suspected that he had been drinking very heavily that night. There are suspicions that a gang of repeaters gave him drugged liquor. Either way, his deadly obsession with alcohol killed him in 1849. I hope i could help. E-mail me with any further questions

-- Anonymous, November 30, 1999

Check the web site It's about a doctor that looked at Poe's case not knowing who it was and came to the conclusion that he died of Rabies. It's assumed that the rabies came from his cat. Good luck!!

-- Anonymous, December 01, 1999

Edgar Allan Poe DIED OF RABIES! Not alcoholism... he was found passed out in a gutter, and he did not pass out over alcoholism, it was rabies.

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2000

A good medical review of the circumstances surrounding the death of Edgar Allan Poe can be found through the VA Medical of Baltimore web site "It's a mystery". Each year a case of a famous person is reviewed. You will find this case referenced among the past five years. The suggestion from the reviewer is that rabies is plausible as the reason for his ultimate death given the facts. He apparently had a lucid period of just short of a day prior to delirium and death. It is unlikely that either alcohol withdrawal or intoxication would present like this. It is a good discussion of delirium.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000

After reading the 1996 account of the medical evaluation relative to the prevailing symptoms and consequent passing of Edgar Allan Poe in 1849, I was struck by the plausibility of its accuracy and yet, I remain wary of its diagnostic precision. After all, descriptions of 19th symptoms diagnosed by 20th century medicine must surely introduce some hazard for error. Clearly, Im in no position to question the doctors credentials nor do I challenge his expertise. Rabies has been a scourge for millennia and to be so presumptuous as to simply dismiss the findings in this case as a best guess would be. well just obtuse.

Admittedly, I can offer no alternative or a definitive medical argument. But I think even the good doctor would repeat that its plausibility is simply that possible, perhaps even probable, but alas, not fact. Thereby, the mystery remains! So, Raine, there is no need to shout to make a disputable point.

However, if it is accurate that is to say that, if it is true that Mr. Poe died as a result of inadvertently contracting the rabies virus, I am also struck by the irony of his passing. Personally, I disagree, at least to some measure, that Poe had an inordinate fear of death. It surrounded him most of his life, almost from beginning to end. In some of his stories, poems and even his personal correspondence, he often characterized death as a hopeful relief from the frequent burdens of his own meager and lonely existence. His greater fear seemed to be that of a painful, agonizing and horrible death. A death, just such as that suggested by the manifestations evident in the final phases of rabies. There seems to be some dispute that he ever regained consciousness immediately before he died. However, if it is the case, I certainly pray God answered his dying request for mercy.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2000

I remember reading some information about E.A.Poe that implied he had contracted syphillis, an std, and suffered from the later stages of the untreated disease: insanity. Does anyone have any more info on this subject?

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2000

I read an article a _long_ time ago in Life Magazine (cover story) which discussed most of the major issues surrounding Poe's death, and even disputed the relatively standard claim that he was an alcoholic at the time of his death. It also tells a really neat story about some mysterious individual who leaves roses at his grave and (if I recally correctly) the site of his collapse on the date of his death every year. The article was published sometime between 1988 and 1991, and I've had no luck finding it archived online. If you can find a copy, it's probably a really good resource.

-- Anonymous, March 08, 2000

Edgar Allan Poe died of tuburculosis and alcoholism that is the whole truth and nothing but the truth

-- Anonymous, March 21, 2000

I whitnessed a television program which said that Poe had an Opium addiction, which aided in his contracting of TB. Since few people knew of Opium they attributed his mental distance and colapse to alcohol.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2001

There may have been a genetic flaw. If you compare his death to his sister's there might have been similarities. Poe might have suffered some condition such as hypoglycemia. He had taken up the temperance pledge and was drinking "healthy" teas etc that might have been full of bacteria. His missing, replaced clothes might have suggested robbery except he still had the cane he had borrowed shortly before his trip. Despite hardships he had great plans and an intense wish to provide for Mrs. Clemm. There is the further mystery of his small trunk which carried his writing materials. The account of his final days was badly marred by the notoriety and fame it brought to the good doctor who began to embellish the speech of Poe, complete with dramatization and moral interpretation. Mainly a lot of questions, guessing and little evidence as to what happened during those missing days.

-- Anonymous, April 30, 2001

I'm doing a school report and I think its Rabies or other medical problems...not alcoholism. You decide for yourself thoug

-- Anonymous, October 18, 2001

I am not sure but what the heck mabey it was rabies?!

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

No it can't be proved so why are people coming up with assumptions. Let's just wait for a time machine and then find out the answer.

-- Anonymous, November 10, 2002

I have been studying this for three years now and the only two things I've concluded has been a disease he acquired from too much alchol or sever trauma to the brain. This is concluded because when he was found he was delirious and there was something the matter with his liver. a poison was thats is to be from to much of some specific ingredient in a drink. You can never really rule out hte fact of murder cause he was in someone elses clothing...Just a thought from studying this for school three yrs straight.

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2003

Ok,I have been reading Edgar Allan Poe books since i could read he has always been my idol..But when u looke back on what is going on in the case of the actual doctor file it says the the suspesions where rabies and or Acoholism causing deliurim so there are many chances but somthing they always mention in the story they tall about how he dided is that he was found in someong elses clothes in the gutter of the street so my best conclusin is that he was murdered by whats his nutts ...the name he shouted guy...and what wearing his clother because they thought since it was common to only havce one outfit that maybe they wouldnt know him or recoize him!!

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2003

You %^*$% idiots! Bob Burnaquist died by trying to copy Tony Hawks move The 900. Tony got mad and shot Bob with a Colt Magnum. Dont u !% @# idiots know anything.

P.S. this is true i reserched it

-- Anonymous, January 10, 2005

Look guys...SO many studies have shown that Poe most likely dies of rabies. Look at the symptoms. He even showed signs of hydrophobia: A MAJOR symptom of Rabies. You people think too much.

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2005