Essay on Cause of Napoleon Bonaparte s Death
A. Plan of Investigation
Napoleon s death has been attributed to many causes: stomach cancer, arsenic
poisoning, improper medical treatment, hepatitis, and St. Helena s climate. The
purpose is to ascertain the likeliest cause, and if foul play was involved. With each
possible cause, there are different implications, i.e., cancer frees everyone from
blame, hepatitis incriminates the British, improper medical treatment the doctors, and
poisoning implicates the suspected poisoner. The focus is on four causes cancer,
poisoning, improper treatment, and hepatitis common explanations for Napoleon s
failing health, and evidence that supports or refutes each case.
B. Summary of Evidence
1. Napoleon s Last Days:
On May 5th, 1821; Napoleon ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
However, by April 25th, Napoleon was coughing up black flecks and blood, and two
days later, Napoleon s fever was higher, with shivering fits and violent hiccups
(McLynn 654).
Come May 3rd, Napoleon had alarming symptoms, and at 6 pm, Dr. Arnott
recommended ten grains (0.6g) of calomel the miracle drug of the day, mercury
chloride. Antommarchi protested, thinking it would kill him as he hadn t eaten in 6
days, but was outnumbered. By 11 12 pm came a black evacuation, after which
Napoleon drank more orgeat (Antommarchi 150). On May 4th, Napoleon constantly
drank orgeat, continued to evacuate substances, but was no longer conscious of
bowel movements it was evident the calomel produced a huge haemorrhage
(Antommarchi 151). On May 5th, he vomited the same matter he evacuated, had
delirium and couldn t even speak (Antommarchi 152). He died at 5:51 pm (McLynn
655).
Napoleon s periodical illnesses were chiefly digestive and were around as far back
as 1816 (Johnson 176). In May, Napoleon complained of weak legs, headaches, and
chills; in July, sharp side pains; ill again in September, and all October and early
November, which included problems of the gums, coughing, shivering, and
weakness. He had similar problem in February, March, and September of 1817
(McLynn 645). His first doctor, O Meara, used a mercury treatment as his liver
showed signs of hepatitis, including severe pain on his right (McLynn 648). Hepatitis
was endemic in St.