Edgar Allan Poe, one of the most renowned American writers in history, met a mysterious and untimely death at the age of 40. There’s been numerous theories surrounding the cause of his death, including alcohol poisoning, rabies, cooking, and even murder. However, recent research and medical advancements suggest that a brain tumor best explains how Poe died. Born on January 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts, young Poe was an orphan and struggled with poverty throughout his life. Despite his hardships, Poe became a writer of poetry, short stories, and literary criticism. His life was plagued by personal tragedies, including the deaths of his mother, foster mother, and wife. He struggled with mental health issues, leading to erratic behavior …show more content…
Poe's medical history and symptoms before his death include hallucinations, delirium, and cognitive decline. These symptoms were consistent with those of a brain tumor. Poe's medical records and death certificate list "congestion of the brain" as the cause of death, and prior his physician had told Poe he had lesions on the brain. Tracy Mumford (2015) Even in death, Edgar Allan Poe remains a mystery, “Workers dug up the coffin to move Poe's remains to a new location, but decomposition had left little to move.One worker remarked on ‘a mass rolling around inside’ Poe's skull, according to the Smithsonian.” This couldn’t possibly have been his brain, however it could have been a tumor that calcified into a hard mass after death. The theory that a brain tumor caused Poe's death has generated widespread interest and debate among literary scholars, medical professionals, and Poe enthusiasts. Many believe that this theory provides a plausible explanation for Poe's mysterious death, given his history of cognitive decline and delirium. Furthermore, the brain tumor theory sheds new light on Poe's struggles with mental illness and …show more content…
Furthermore, the flu causes a fast pulse. A fever is also a common symptom due to the brain temperature regulating center being affected. Psychiatrists and neurosciencetists have conducted research on brain tumors and their effects on cognition and behavior. Their work has helped to illuminate the connection between neurological disorders and psychiatric symptoms. Medical historians have studied the medical practices of the 19th century and their impact on the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumors. Research has provided valuable insights into the historical context of Poe's death and the challenges faced by physicians at that time. Leitner Daleen tells us that “By 1860, medical knowledge had begun to expand to a better understanding of the arterial system and the role of hypertension, so that over the next century, ‘congestion of the brain’ faded from the lexicon of medical practice”. Now that we have the proper research and terminology, we can put the pieces together ourselves. Despite Poe not dying from “congestion of the brain”, it’s safe to say it did have something to do with his