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No, Poe did not die from rabies.
This theory first arose in 1996 by a Dr. Michael Benitez. He had read an article on Poe's death written by a Charles Scarlett, Jr. in 1978. In that article, Scarlett commented that Poe had been given a drink of water but that he had difficulty swallowing it. From this single second hand statement, Benitez theorized that Poe exhibited two symptoms of rabies, namely difficulty in swallowing and hydrophobia (fear of water). The problem with the theory is that its factual assumptions are wrong.
Poe's physician, Dr. John Moran attended Poe at his deathbed. In 1885, Dr. Moran stated that he had put a lump of ice in Poe's mouth and gave him some water to see if he could swallow it. Dr. Moran wrote that Poe drank half a glass with no problem.
Since Benitez bases his rabies theory on Poe being unable to drink a little water and since Poe actually was able to drink water with no problem, the rabies theory is simply a dog that just won't hunt. In other words, it's wrong.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
It is not definitively proven that Edgar Allan Poe died from rabies. Some theories suggest that his symptoms were consistent with rabies, while others attribute his death to different causes such as alcohol withdrawal or carbon monoxide poisoning. The exact cause of his death remains uncertain.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoNo one knows for certain. It is highly unlikely because his death was relatively sudden, and consumption (tuberculosis) takes time to kill while showing definite symptoms sometimes years before. His death is still a mystery.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoNo. Although the actual cause of death is unknown and there are several theories, he did not die of tuberculosis as there is not hint at all that he ever had that disease. His wife died of it, but he did not.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoMost likely not. There is nothing definitive about the cause of death, but what has been determined is that the person who postulated the rabies theory did so on a statement made by another person that Poe was thirsty on his deathbed but could not drink a full glass of water. In actuality Poe's personal doctor said Poe was able to drink a glass of water. Thus the theory of rabies was made on the basis of a statement by someone else, and that statement turned out to be wrong. What does this have to do with rabies?
A symptom is rabies is fear of water. The incorrect statement that Poe was unable to drink water was interpreted to be the symptom of fear of water necessary to the rabies. Since Poe's WAS able to drink water, he had no fear of water. With no fear of water, there probably was no rabies either.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThe cause of Edgar Alan Poe's death is not known; some believe he died of rabies but there is no evidence for this.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agono, i dont believe so. no, i dont believe so.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoWithout an autopsy, or necropsy, there is no 'proof'.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThe actual cause of his death is a mystery, speculation has included rabies as a cause along with many other possible causes, nobody really knows why he died.
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Did Edgar Allan Poe die of a brain tumor?
The true cause of Edgar Allan Poe is still unknown, but it could be because of alcoholism.
What did Poe die from?
All the records of Edgar Allan Poe were lost when the death of the poet occurred.
When did Edgar Allan Poe's brother die?
August 1, 1831
What did Edgar Allan Poe's adopted mother die from and when?
Edgar Allan Poe's adopted mother, Frances Allan, died in 1829 from tuberculosis.
Did Poe's foster father die before he did?
Edgar Allan Poe died more than 15 years after his foster father, John Allan.
How did Edgar Allan Poe and wife die?
Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins Poe (Edgar Allan Poe's mother) died at age 24 on December 8, 1811. She probably died of pneumonia, but the cause of her death will never be known for certain. Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe (Edgar Allan Poe's wife) died at age 24 on January 30, 1847 of tuberculosis.
Did Edgar Allan Poe's mother die before or after his father abandoned the family?
Edgar Allan Poe's mother died before his father abandoned the family. His mother, Elizabeth Poe, passed away in 1811 when Edgar was only two years old. His father, David Poe Jr., had already abandoned them earlier, around 1809.
Which war did Edgar Allan Poe's grandfather die in?
Edgar Allan Poe's grandfather, David Poe, Sr., was a quartermaster in the American Revolutionary War, and he fought in the battle of Baltimore towards the end of the War of 1812 at the age of 71 though he did not die until two years later.
When did Edgar Allan Poe's aunt die?
Edgar Allan Poe's aunt, Maria Clemm, died on February 16, 1871.
How did Edgar Allan Poe's first wife die?
Poe had only one wife, Virginia Clemm. She died of tuberculosis in 1847.
How and when did Edgar Allan Poe's foster mother die?
Frances Allan died on February 28, 1829. The cause of death is not known.
Did Edgar Allan Poe's natural mother die of consumption?
Yes, Edgar Allan Poe's natural mother, Eliza Poe, did die of consumption (tuberculosis). She passed away in 1811 when Edgar was just two years old. This event had a lasting impact on Poe's life and influenced many of his works.
