Mozart and smallpox.
In 1767 at 11 years of age, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart contracted smallpox, allegedly causing him temporary blindness. Although now eradicated, smallpox in those days had a high mortality rate, and the history of classical music would have been very different if Mozart had become permanently blind, or died, as a result of the disease.
Zegers
Richard H C
RH
Department of Ophthalmology, Academic Medical Centre/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.h.zegers@amc.uva.nl
D001317:Austria; D001766:Blindness / Q000266:history*; D005197:Famous Persons; D049671:History, 18th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009146:Music / Q000266:history*; D012899:Smallpox / Q000266:history*