ABSTRACT

A medical appreciation can only intensify modern wonder at the unique and prolific genius of Franz Schubert. An appreciation of Schubert's physical traits, character and temperament reveals the effect that his illnesses and handicaps must have had on him, and the manner in which he withstood them. Macdonald has described Schubert's 'volcanic temper' in musical terms and suggested the possible background of psychological disturbance or even mental instability. The spirochaete of syphilis was considered to have made its first appearance among the North American Indians and to have been brought back to Europe by Christopher Columbus and his sailors when they returned to Europe from their voyage of discovery to the New World in 1492. Schubert moved out of the Rossau schoolhouse early in 1825 into pleasant accommodation on his own; he was described by Schwind as 'well and busy again after a certain stagnation'.