Frederic Chopin (Associated Press)
WARSAW, Poland – Polish medical experts say that the preserved heart of 19th century composer Frederic Chopin shows signs of tuberculosis and possibly some other lung disease.
The findings seem to corroborate Chopin's 1849 death certificate which said that the Polish-born musician died at the age of 39 in Paris from TB.
He rests in Paris, but his heart was brought to Warsaw and is kept as a national relic in a church. Sealed in a crystal jar, it was inspected in April by forensic and genetic experts.
One of them, Michal Witt, said Wednesday that the heart is much enlarged, suggesting a lung disease, and bears TB nodules.
Another expert, Tadeusz Dobosz, said the color of the preserving liquid suggests it can be cognac, the strongest alcohol known in 1849.
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