From the abstract in the
Journal of Archaeological Science:
Cangrande [della Scala] died on July 22 1329, four day after his triumphal entrance in
the city of Treviso. The sudden death was preceded by vomit and diarrhea with fever that, according to written documents, he had
contracted a few days before by “drinking from a polluted spring”. The
gastrointestinal symptoms manifested by Cangrande in his last hours of
life are compatible with the early phase of Digitalis
intoxication and the hypothesis of poisoning is mentioned by some local
historical sources. The palaeo-pathological analyses confirm a Digitalis poisoning. The most likely hypothesis on the causes of death is that of a deliberate administration of a lethal amount of Digitalis.
Although several cases of poisoning through the use of organic
substances are known from historical sources, no other direct evidences
are documented in the palaeopathological literature.
A well-done Powerpoint presentation of the autopsy findings is available
here. The photo of the foxglove was taken in our back garden.
A
physician of Cangrande's was hanged by his successor Mastino II, adding
more weight to the possibility that foul play was at least suspected, although who was ultimately behind the killing is likely to
remain a mystery. One of the principal suspects at least in terms of
motive must in fact be Cangrande's nephew, the ambitious Mastino II
himself.
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