BEETHOVEN 200 YEARS AGO TODAY: Monday, April 18, 1825

Early this morning, Karl asks his uncle whether the prospective housekeeper is to buy 2 pounds of meat again, and whether he wants veal in the soup. Uncle Ludwig says he does, and asks when she is coming. Karl tells him she said today, at 7:30 a.m. Uncle Ludwig is not happy about that, but Karl says he can’t do anything more than make an appointment to come for a tryout. She was fine with that idea. Should she also make vegetables?

There is a knock at the door, but it’s not the housekeeper applicant. It’s laundryman Anton Wiesinger instead. Karl pays him 3 florins that is due to him. The housekeeper applicant does not show up at all. Karl, trying to be encouraging, suggests maybe she will show up tomorrow. He’ll have the maid pick up the mid-day dinner, and also a chicken for the evening meal.

Uncle Ludwig is still feeling very unwell with pain in his digestive system, possibly intestinal blockage. Since Dr. Staudenheim has not come to examine him yet, Ludwig asks Karl to summon Dr. Anton Braunhofer (1780-1846), who has treated Ludwig off and on over the last few years. Karl says he will go to see him right after dinner. [The lower half of this page, 14r, was torn off, probably so Karl could take a copy of Braunhofer’s address with him. The back side of the page is blank.]

Karl lets his uncle know about a selection of Hungarian white wines that are available, with the prices. The housekeeper applicant sends word that she is ill, and that’s why she didn’t come. She says she will come tomorrow.

Karl suggests his uncle write a few lines to Dr. Braunhofer, so he can leave it in case the doctor is not at home. Ludwig writes the following note to Braunhofer (to which Karl adds Beethoven’s 969 Johannesgasse address and today’s date):

“My dear friend, I am feeling ill and hope that you will not refuse to help me since I am in great pain. I beg you most earnestly to visit me today, if you possibly can. With everlasting gratitude and respect, Beethoven.”

Brandenburg Letter 1958, Anderson Letter 1359. The original is held by the Bonn Beethovenhaus, H.C. Bodmer Collection Br 54, and can be seen here:

https://www.beethoven.de/en/media/view/5754638666039296/scan/0

Karl goes to run errands. He visits the prospective housekeeper about what she will need for her trial cooking tomorrow, and she tells him that it’s easy to make a better soup from 3 pounds of meat rather than 2. Karl then visits Dr. Braunhofer, and he either comes with Karl or follows shortly thereafter. Karl writes in the conversation book the word “Snow.” [The Wiener Zeitung of April 20 at 391 indicates that it snowed in Vienna on the morning of April 18th.]

Braunhofer, unlike Dr. Staudenheim, writes in the conversation book. He asks Beethoven about his head, whether he has any dizziness, pain or hemorrhoids. He also inquires as to whether he has urgent bowel movements, and about his urination. [Beethoven will later complain about his urine being discolored, and that he doesn’t feel like he’s having enough bowel movements.] He does not have pains in his groin, and no itching of his skin. Braunhofer also asks whether Beethoven is very thirsty.

After examining his patient, Braunhofer puts him on a strict diet for a short period. No wine, no coffee, no spices. He’ll let the cook know what needs to be done, but he guarantees a complete recovery. But Beethoven’s condition “concerns me deeply as your admirer and friend.”

The proposed limited menu is as follows:

Morning: Chocolate, with milk or water, but without vanilla.

Mid-day: Soup according to instructions. Soft-boiled eggs without pepper.

“In return, you can hope for a rapid recovery without a great deal of medicine.” He asks that Karl come to him tomorrow and give him an update on his uncle’s condition. Braunhofer also asks whether Beethoven is continuing with the poultice. He’ll speak to the maid about it. Beethoven could also have almond milk, which is a natural laxative.

Conversation Book 87, 13r-17r.

Beethoven’s illness is later diagnosed as “inflammation of the intestines,” which in modern parlance would be called inflammatory bowel disease, a group of conditions that cause swelling and inflammation of the tissues of the digestive tract. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common of these are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The symptoms of both include belly pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding or blood in the stool, and extreme fatigue, all of which Beethoven displays at one point or another during the course of this illness.

There is a ceremony held in Olmütz today for the First Line Infantry Regiment, commanded by Count Kaunitz-Rittberg. The regimental flags are consecrated in person by His Imperial Highness and Eminence Archduke Rudolph, Cardinal and Archbishop of Olmütz, Beethoven’s principal patron, at the local cathedral. There is an extensive account of the event on the front page of the Wiener Zeitung of May 16, 1825 (Nr.110) at 475.

“The regiment had lined up in full parade on the cathedral square at 8 o’clock in the morning to receive its two new flags, after the complete wear and tear of the two old ones had made it necessary to part with these venerable symbols of victory, which had been bravely defended in a series of bloody battles and skirmishes.”

“The new flags were collected in silence from the home of the Colonel and Regimental Commander, Demuth von Hantsburg, by a company and carried to the cathedral. Of the two magnificent ribbons, with corresponding mottos, one was dedicated to the personal flag of His Imperial Highness and Eminence, and the other to the Regiment by Countess Mittowsky.”

“His Highness and Eminence, having arrived in the cathedral amid the thunder of artillery and the appropriate decorations of the regiment, began the solemn ceremony with a high Mass, which was presided over by the Bishop of Bochnia from Galicia, who had specially come to Olmütz for this celebration of the regiment, the district of which belongs to his diocese, and by the Bishops of Brno and the entire reverend Olmütz cathedral chapter, who were attended by the high generals, a large officer corps from all branches of the military, as well as many distinguished persons, both local and foreign.”

“The officer corps of the regiment had also come to the cathedral and lined up in three rows opposite the high altar. At the Gloria, and the first and second Gospels, the regiment stationed on the cathedral square fired a volley each time, which was answered by the thunder of the cannons that were being fired.”

“At both the first and second Gospels, all of the officers of the regiment, at the sign from their colonel, put on their caps and bared their swords, giving visible expression that they had been sanctified. They swore a silent vow to the Eternal One with all devotion and sacrifice as the highest pledge of loyalty to their monarch.”

“After the high Mass was ended, His Imperial Highness and Eminence, surrounded by the most venerable clergy, went to the nave of the cathedral to hear the sermon which the venerable cathedral capitular, Lord Maximilian Baron von Sommerau-Beckh, delivered on this solemn occasion, and both the history of the regiment since its establishment, and the teachings of religion, prepared their minds for the holy ceremony of consecrating the flags.”

“His Imperial Highness then went with his entourage to the steps of the high altar to give the new flags the holy consecration, after they had been fitted with nails in the usual way, and they were consecrated by His Imperial Highness, and handed them over to the two staff officers, Colonel Demuth and Major Rimelin. The newly-consecrated, high-flapping flags were then brought to the center of the regiment and received there, whereupon Colonel Demuth gave a speech referring to the sublime flag and the loyal defense of these holy flags, concluding with the exclamation, ‘Long live our Emperor and Lord! Long live the House of Austria! Long live Archduke Rudolph, who has blessed us and our flags!'”

“Then the regiment’s oath followed, and all the staff and senior officers then returned to the cathedral, where the Colonel took the two old flags with him and as he handed these venerable banners over to His Imperial Highness with the deepest reverence, His Highness deigned to seal this act with the gracious words: ‘This glorious gift from such a brave regiment will always be remembered in this cathedral, and I accept it with great feeling.'”

“When His Imperial Highness and Eminence then began to sing the Te Deum and then bestowed the most venerable holy blessing on the regiment, rifle volleys were fired, which were answered each time by the thunder of the cannon fire.”

“After the service, the regiment paraded before His Imperial Highness. His Highness and Eminence, who had gone with the generals to the balcony of the Archbishop’s residence, was pleased to express his highest satisfaction with its excellent conduct and order. The officer corps of the regiment had the honor of being invited to the table by His Imperial Highness and Eminence.”

“In the evening, he held a ball, which was attended by a large group, and whose cheerfulness His Imperial Highness and Eminence deigned to increase with his presence. Thus ended a celebration that will remain unforgettable for the Infantry Regiment Count Kaiseritz-Rittberg, and which will always be accompanied by the motto, ‘Follow the banner of honor!'”