Death from diarrhoea increases the embarrassment
factor. Diarrhoea is rarely as painful as full-blown constipation but it is
more frequently fatal – as shown by the death of the Emperor Vespasian in 79 CE. His summer villa was found earlier in the year - it sounds like his death was less of a holiday...
In addition to an increase in his illness,
having contracted a bowel complaint by too free use of the cold waters, he
nevertheless continued to perform his duties as emperor, even receiving
embassies as he lay in bed. Taken on a sudden with such an attack of diarrhoea
that he all but swooned, he said: “An emperor ought to die standing,” and while
he was struggling to get on his feet, he died in the arms of those who tried to help him.
(Suetonius – De Vita Caesarum 121
CE)
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