Edgar Allan Poe's Rabies

Edgar Allan Poe was a genius who wrote brilliant stories and poems until the day he mysteriously. Many believe that Poe died from alcoholism. Poe was known for going on drinking binges. Poe’s symptoms during his final days help support the drinking theory. Others believe Poe died of rabies which is highly unlikely because Poe’s cat showed no sign of rabies. Poe died of alcoholism because there is more evidence towards this theory. During his time, Poe was known for his heavy drinking. In Silverman’s writing he states, “Dr. Sondgrass attributed his death to a lethal amount of alcohol (Silverman 186). This doctors opinion shoes that even upon his death, Poe was still drinking heavily. According to Benedetto, “Evidence of Poe’s chronic binges is strewn through his letters, in periodic admissions of ‘recovers’ and promises to his wife, Virginia, and her mother to reform” (Benedetto 189). The quote from Benedetto’s letter gives evidence of Poe’s alcohol abuse as seen in his letters to his
wife and her mother. This quote from Benedetto’s letter explains where Poe was found, “Poe was found outside a Baltimore saloon in an alcoholic stupor on October third, 1849, and died four days later” (Benedetto 189). The location where Poe was found before his death gives evidence that he was still associated with his bad habits. With all the evidence proving Poe was still drinking up to his death, it’s hard to believe he did not die from such a bad habit. During Poe’s time at the hospital, he showed symptoms of an alcoholic stupor. Kenneth Silverman, in his article about Poe, explains that when Snodgrass arrived at the saloon that Poe has the look of ‘vacant stupidity’. According to this article, Poe had a blank stare whenever Snodgrass arrived. Silverman writes, “According to Moran and his wife, Poe reached the hospital in a stupor, unaware of who or what had brought him there” (Silverman 185). Moran explains that when Poe arrived at the hospital he was delirious; enough so that he could not comprehend how he made it to the hospital. Kenneth Silverman explains in his article that Poe was violently delirious and repeatedly calling out someone’s name (186). According to Kenneth Silverman’s article, Poe was not in his right mind and may have been seeing visions. The symptoms Poe had during his last days give good reason of how his death was due to alcohol abuse. Despite others belief, Poe did not die from rabies.
In a letter Benedetto wrote he states, “Dr. Benitez admits the primary weakness of his theory- lack of evidence of a bite or scratch” (Benedetto 189). Dr. Benitez’s statement of there being a lack of a bite or scratch shows that rabies could not be an option for Poe’s death. Robert Benedetto explains that Poe’s cat, Caterina, Showed no signs of rabies (189). Without any signs of rabies on his beloved cat, Caterina proves that Poe’s cat did not give him rabies. As said in Benedetto’s letter, “Dr. R. Michael Benitez, an assistant professor of medicine at Maryland University Medical Center, is wrong to ascribe the death of Edgar Allan Poe to rabies through animal infection than to the traditional maintained caused alcoholism (Benedetto 189). Dr. R. Michael Benitez was wrong to assign Poe’s death to rabies with the lack of proper evidence. With no evidence that proves that Poe died from rabies it is wrong to label the cause of from
it.
I believe Poe died of alcoholism because of all the supporting evidence such as articles. Evidence such as Poe’s chronic binges when he would drink enough to be sick for days. Poe’s symptoms of him having an alcoholic stupor and his delirious mindset as he repeatedly called out. Not to mention the lack of evidence to support the theory of Poe dying from rabies. Poe’s mysterious death was caused by his own due to his alcohol addiction.