Is it odd that one of the most menacing writers in history had an undiscovered death? To this day, many are still researching the cause of Edgar Allan Poe’s death. With reasonings such as rabies and alcohol, researchers are still unsure if they have found the main cause that led to Poe’s eerie death. Both causes seem suitable, but rabies is more logical. We believe Poe died from rabies because he showed a multitude of the common symptoms, strongly disliked alcohol, and lacked evidence of a bite or scratch.
When Poe first checked into Washington College Hospital, he was stupor. However, he eventually started experiencing a variety of rabies symptoms. In the excerpt, “Poe’s Death Is Rewritten as Case of Rabies, Not Telltale Alcohol,” Dr. R. Michael …show more content…
At a very young age, Poe had problems with alcohol. However, by the age of 40, he almost always avoided it. In the excerpt, “Poe’s Death Is Rewritten as Case of Rabies, Not Telltale Alcohol,” Mr. Jerome (curator of the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum in Baltimore) says, “The writer was so sensitive to alcohol that a glass of wine would make him violently ill for days” (188).
Lastly, the lack of a bite or scratch still makes Poe’s possibility of having rabies feasible. After the infection, the symptoms can take up to a year to appear. In the excerpt, “Poe’s Death Is Rewritten as Case of Rabies, Not Telltale Alcohol,” Dr. R. Michael Benitez says, “About one fourth of rabies victims reportedly cannot remember being bitten” (187). Therefore, even though there was no evidence Poe was bitten, there is still a possibility he just did not know.
Overall, there is plenty of evidence that shows Poe had rabies. First, Poe experienced many of the symptoms of encephalitic rabies. Next, Poe did not like alcohol so he could not have died from alcoholism. Last, Poe did not have evidence of a bite or scratch which is like many other rabies victims. In conclusion, Poe’s anomalous death has led to many unanswered questions and
When Poe first checked into Washington College Hospital, he was stupor. However, he eventually started experiencing a variety of rabies symptoms. In the excerpt, “Poe’s Death Is Rewritten as Case of Rabies, Not Telltale Alcohol,” Dr. R. Michael …show more content…
At a very young age, Poe had problems with alcohol. However, by the age of 40, he almost always avoided it. In the excerpt, “Poe’s Death Is Rewritten as Case of Rabies, Not Telltale Alcohol,” Mr. Jerome (curator of the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum in Baltimore) says, “The writer was so sensitive to alcohol that a glass of wine would make him violently ill for days” (188).
Lastly, the lack of a bite or scratch still makes Poe’s possibility of having rabies feasible. After the infection, the symptoms can take up to a year to appear. In the excerpt, “Poe’s Death Is Rewritten as Case of Rabies, Not Telltale Alcohol,” Dr. R. Michael Benitez says, “About one fourth of rabies victims reportedly cannot remember being bitten” (187). Therefore, even though there was no evidence Poe was bitten, there is still a possibility he just did not know.
Overall, there is plenty of evidence that shows Poe had rabies. First, Poe experienced many of the symptoms of encephalitic rabies. Next, Poe did not like alcohol so he could not have died from alcoholism. Last, Poe did not have evidence of a bite or scratch which is like many other rabies victims. In conclusion, Poe’s anomalous death has led to many unanswered questions and