Settling the dispute of Romantic composer Bedřich Smetana's neurological deterioration.

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.