Mayra Medina-Final Exam

How did Edgar Allan Poe die? There are two main theories on his cause of death, and I have read both. I believe that he might have died of a cerebral inflammation. An inflammation or swelling to the brain. Both stories support that fact. I don't think Poe died of rabies because the story does not say he was bitten. He did have a cat, but Caterina did not have rabies. He also didn't die of consumption of alcohol because the story tells us that Poe was not a heavy drinker, for all he could handle was a small amount of wine. I don't believe the cause of his death was alcohol because the story has many other facts leading to the cerebral inflammation. Facts that are way more believable that the stories themselves. Dr. John J. Moran states that when they took Poe to the hospital, he didn't know how he got there. Poe remained unconscious until the next morning. That very same morning Poe developed a tremor of the limbs. His limbs started to tremble without Poe wanting them to, caused be a physical illness. Poe got very pale and he was drenched in sweat. Soon, he started hallucinating, he saw things that weren't there. The following day, they found Poe in a better condition than the previous day. But when Poe awoke, he started getting violently delirious. He began to call someones name. The name of his uncle-in-law Henry Herring. He wouldn't stop calling the name. Then, out of the blue, he stopped. His condition changed. He became very still, then, as he quietly moved his head, his last words, he said, "Lord help my soul." Seconds after, he passed away. All that was explained because to me, that sounds like something caused by an injured brain. A congestion, an inflammation, maybe a tumor, i don't know because the stories didn't say anything about studying his brain more. So, instead of believing Poe died of rabies or alcohol, I blame some brain problem he might have had.