Dear all, Would any of you have an old copy of Chelys n°31? It contains an article on late practionners of the viol and I have some faint hope that Abel will be mentionned - who knows, something new might pop up?Let me know if you can help - I actually...

It seems that poor old Abel's symptoms (the red saliva, see below) were drink-related indeed. It is called hematemesis (literally blood vomiting), and it is, according to one medical encyclopaedia, due to an ulceration of the upper digestive system caused...

The Grove Dictionary did warn us : "It was about this time [the 1770's] that Abel first showed signs of the illness that was to kill him; it was apparently brought on by rich living and in particular by an over-indulgence in drink, but it seems impossible...