Oscar Wilde Dies

Though ill, Wilde was thus forced to attend chapel. During services he fainted and fell, injuring his ear when his head struck the ground. As a result, he spent nearly half of his time at Wandsworth in the infirmary: "I was confined [at Wandsworth] for two months, till I had to be carried into hospital, where I remained for another two months," after which he was moved to Reading.

His health did improve there, though unfortunately his ear would continue to bother him for the rest of his life. It became infected repeatedly and very likely contributed to his early demise.

http://www.anarchiststudies.org/node/335