The composer, born Ludwig Beethoven in Bonn, Germany, died at the age of 57 in 1827 leaving a prolific body of work including symphonies, piano sonatas, string quartets, chamber music, an opera and masses.

While previous research had already determined the composer had suffered from lead poisoning, Reiter's research strengthens the possibility that lead triggered his death.

"His death was due to treatments by Dr. Wawruch," said Reiter, who published his findings last week in the Beethoven Journal, put out by the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies at San Jose State University in California.

Reiter said that lead concentrations shot up in Beethoven's body every time his doctor, Andreas Wawruch, visited in the final months of the composer's life.

"How was [Wawruch] to know that Beethoven already had a serious liver ailment?" points out Reiter.

Treated for fluid in the abdomen

At the time, Wawruch was treating the artist for fluid in the abdomen, repeatedly puncturing Beethoven's abdominal cavity and then sealing the wound with a lead-laced poultice.

Reiter said the lead in the poultice would not usually have affected a healthy person but unfortunately for Beethoven, Wawruch had no idea his patient was suffering from cirrhosis of the liver — a fact established by an autopsy after the composer's death in Vienna.

"His treatment was attacking an already sick liver, killing that organ."

Reiter concludes repeated doses of the lead-based cream probably hastened Beethoven's death.

The composer caught pneumonia in late March 1827 and never recovered. He is buried in Vienna's Central Cemetery, beside Austrian composer Franz Schubert.

Previous studies suggested he may have got lead poisoning from drinking lead-laced wine and water with high concentrations of lead at a spa.

Beethoven's most popular works include Moonlight Sonata and his Ninth Symphony.

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2007/09/02/beethoven-death-doctor.html