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Settling the dispute of Romantic composer Bedřich Smetana’s neurological deterioration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2024

Yeong-Shin Hsiao Open the ORCID record for Yeong-Shin Hsiao [Opens in a new window] ,
Liang-Yin Kuo ,
Chen-Yin Chin  and
Shih-Chuan Hsiao Open the ORCID record for Shih-Chuan Hsiao [Opens in a new window]
Yeong-Shin Hsiao
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marien- and St. Anna Foundation Hospital, Ludwigshafen, Germany
Liang-Yin Kuo
Affiliation:
Department of Music, Tainan University of Technology, Tainan City, Taiwan
Chen-Yin Chin
Affiliation:
Department of Music, Tainan University of Technology, Tainan City, Taiwan
Shih-Chuan Hsiao*
Affiliation:
Department of Hematology & Oncology, St. Martin de Porres Hospital, Chiayi City, Taiwan
*
Corresponding author: Shih-Chuan Hsiao; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background

The father of Czech music, Bedřich Smetana was a brilliant, patriotic Romantic composer who spent his last decade completely deaf. He became progressively ill in his final years and passed away prematurely at 60 years old. Since then, there have been two main propositions for the etiology of his neurological symptoms, in particular his hearing loss: neurosyphilis or osteomyelitis of the temporal bone.

Methods

This article compares the clinical presentation and pathology of neurosyphilis and osteomyelitis.

Results

This article infers which one is arguably the most likely cause based on Smetana’s own medical history, signs and symptoms and autopsy findings.

Conclusion

Smetana’s clinical presentation and pathological results grant us a clearer picture of his neurological condition and allows us to diagnose his final neurological deterioration as complications of neurosyphilis and not osteomyelitis of the temporal bone.

Keywords

sensorineural hearing losssensorineural hearingtinnitusneurologychronic otitis medianoise-trauma
Type
Review Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , First View , pp. 1 - 4
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED.

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Footnotes

Shih-Chuan Hsiao takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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