pynchon-l-digest V1 #74

[Geof Starr]

> Tycho Brahe, the great astronomer/mathematician had his nose cut off
> while defending a theorem (with a foil). He wore a silver prosthesis for
> the rest of his life.

Not to stray too far off topic, but I also heard that Brahe suffered an unusual
death: Purportedly, he one night found himself a dinner guest of whoever was his
royal patron , consuming large quantities of ale. After several liberal mugs of
libation, Brahe had a severe need to empty his bladder, but apparently decorum
required that he not excuse himself until the host declared the event finished.
Late in the night, after hours of painful squirming, knee-crossing, and stomach
clenching on Brahe's part, the patron (who we must assume had a hollow leg)
finally deemed dinner done and had his servants see Brahe to the door. Now, most
of us would have at that point made a beeline for the nearest birch or bush, but
it seems etiquette had different directives in those days, for Brahe instead
called for his carriage and -- with much earnest, we must imagine -- told the
driver to take him immediately home and don't spare the whip. One can imagine
the countless trees and rock walls the poor man must have been eyeing the entire
trip, and what kept him from hitching his pantaloons and finding roadside
relief, we can only speculate. The decision proved fatal, though, for in the
dark night, the speeding carriage suffered an accident on the road and
overturned, sending Brahe tumbling and damaging his internals. His poor,
stretched bladder burst, and he died several days later of a kidney infection.

An astronomy professor shared this anecdote with me. Unfortunately, I did not
think to ask him to  cite his sources.