DNA results - So Near, Yet so Far
My highly placed sources have recently informed me of matters regarding Beethoven's skull fragments.
Source (1)
Beethoven's skull fragments are very substantial, and include very many large well preserved pieces. I once examined them (on the desk in my office) and was able to determine that they closely resembled the drawings of Beethoven's skull fragments recovered from his exhumed gravesite in the late 1800's in Vienna.
Unfortunately I am unable to provide you with much information at the request of the owner of these relics.
He is a highly intelligent cautious person who wishes to verify authenticity by current scientific research amongst others DNA analysis, prior to any public disclosure.
Of course we have a very large sample of well preserved hairs that were purchased at Sotheby's auction that were chemically analyzed using synchroton X-Rays and other nano-analysis methods. The tests indicated severe lead poisoning which apparently afflicted Beethoven (based on his medical history and review of symtoms).
I am certain that the bone relics and the Sotheby hair sample are authentic, but cannot identify the owner at this stage, or comment on any bone testing until permission is granted. I gave my word and I will keep it.
I believe him to be a completely honourable person, and respect his wishes.
We hope to continue testing of the hair after the DNA issue is definitively resolved. We would like to determine the distribution of the lead along the shafts and cross-sections of Beethoven's hair to gain further information about the amount of exposure in the last few months. The longest hairs correspond to about 9 months growth.
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Source (2).
I am sorry that there are no photographs of the skull fragments yet avaliable, and everything related to their study is unfortunately kept close to the vest.
The owner of the skull fragments is someone who is terrified of publicity and who also believes that he should be compensated for any information that comes from the fragments. The owner agreed in the end that a small piece of bone could be studied by the same scientists who had studied the hair. Although the results obtained will remain a closely gaurded secret, until such time as the owner agrees to allow them to be made public.
I can tell you obliquely that nothing the scientists found in examining the bone made them doubt their findings in the hair, and that nothing in the examinations made them doubt that both hair and bone actually were the remains of Beethoven.
The scientists still hope to make public in the near future the findings of their comparisons of hair and bone, as well as their detailed examination of the trace-metals content of the bone itself, but all this depends on the willingness of the owner.
*******
In a letter to his brother's 1802, Beethoven wrote: "As soon as I am dead, if Dr. Schmidt is still alive, ask him to discover my disease...so at least as much as possible the world may be reconciled to me after my death".
Dear Beethoven, perhaps he would have never understood that part of his mortal remains would have ended up on a physicians table in the USA.
Amalie.
[This message has been edited by Frohlich (edited November 16, 2003).]
Source (1)
Beethoven's skull fragments are very substantial, and include very many large well preserved pieces. I once examined them (on the desk in my office) and was able to determine that they closely resembled the drawings of Beethoven's skull fragments recovered from his exhumed gravesite in the late 1800's in Vienna.
Unfortunately I am unable to provide you with much information at the request of the owner of these relics.
He is a highly intelligent cautious person who wishes to verify authenticity by current scientific research amongst others DNA analysis, prior to any public disclosure.
Of course we have a very large sample of well preserved hairs that were purchased at Sotheby's auction that were chemically analyzed using synchroton X-Rays and other nano-analysis methods. The tests indicated severe lead poisoning which apparently afflicted Beethoven (based on his medical history and review of symtoms).
I am certain that the bone relics and the Sotheby hair sample are authentic, but cannot identify the owner at this stage, or comment on any bone testing until permission is granted. I gave my word and I will keep it.
I believe him to be a completely honourable person, and respect his wishes.
We hope to continue testing of the hair after the DNA issue is definitively resolved. We would like to determine the distribution of the lead along the shafts and cross-sections of Beethoven's hair to gain further information about the amount of exposure in the last few months. The longest hairs correspond to about 9 months growth.
********
Source (2).
I am sorry that there are no photographs of the skull fragments yet avaliable, and everything related to their study is unfortunately kept close to the vest.
The owner of the skull fragments is someone who is terrified of publicity and who also believes that he should be compensated for any information that comes from the fragments. The owner agreed in the end that a small piece of bone could be studied by the same scientists who had studied the hair. Although the results obtained will remain a closely gaurded secret, until such time as the owner agrees to allow them to be made public.
I can tell you obliquely that nothing the scientists found in examining the bone made them doubt their findings in the hair, and that nothing in the examinations made them doubt that both hair and bone actually were the remains of Beethoven.
The scientists still hope to make public in the near future the findings of their comparisons of hair and bone, as well as their detailed examination of the trace-metals content of the bone itself, but all this depends on the willingness of the owner.
*******
In a letter to his brother's 1802, Beethoven wrote: "As soon as I am dead, if Dr. Schmidt is still alive, ask him to discover my disease...so at least as much as possible the world may be reconciled to me after my death".
Dear Beethoven, perhaps he would have never understood that part of his mortal remains would have ended up on a physicians table in the USA.
Amalie.
[This message has been edited by Frohlich (edited November 16, 2003).]
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