[Illness and death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791). A contribution to the Mozart Year 2006].

In the Mozart year 2006 also medicine has to deal with the music genius W.A. Mozart. It has been intensely discussed for a long time whether Mozart was poisoned, whether he deceased from a certain illness, or by self-medication and/or medical procedures. Consequently, his death caused wild speculations and adventurous assertions. Many authors assume that Mozart was a chronically ill man all his life. However, most of Mozart's described illnesses were harmless, and his unbelievable amount of work proves his extraordinary efficiency. The exact cause of death remains speculative. The story of a tall stranger dressed in somber gray who assigned Mozart to write a Requiem Mass and the circumstances of Mozart's funeral have additionally contributed to the generation of legends. However, if one gathers all known facts, there is no evidence that Mozart was murdered, and the exact cause of his death remains unclear.