1,721,045 research outputs found
Five autopsy reports of rib fractures in the mental hospital of Reggio Emilia (1874–5): pathogenesis proposal in defence of the ‘non-restraint’ system
No full textAt the end of the nineteenth century, recurrent cases of rib fractures were recorded in psychiatric asylums, opening a long chapter of discussions about the application of the ‘non-restraint’ system. Here we present a brief discussion of an article written by Enrico Morselli about five cases of rib fractures in the mental asylum of Reggio Emilia, in 1874–5. Morselli, a supporter of the ideas of ‘non-restraint’, suggested a common pathological cause. His analysis proposed the osteomalacic condition as the possible cause of fractured ribs, rejecting the accusations of violence by asylum attendants. The discussion also examines similar cases of the same period, making rib fractures the means through which the issue of management of the insane was addressed
Five brains of alienated criminals. Neurological investigations of early twentieth century criminal anthropology
No full textBackground: For the followers of criminal anthropology, during the second half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the association “anatomical anomaly – psyche anomaly” represented an immediate diagnostic tool to identify mental illness and consequently the tendency to become a criminal. In this article, we analyse a clinical report published in 1900 in which the author, Dr. Saporito, described five brains of alienated criminals from the Aversa asylum. Methods: Through the observations of Dr. Saporito's autoptic evaluations and the literature of the times, the beliefs of the positivist science of that time are highlighted. Results: The identification of multiple physical anomalies focused on the brains, with particular attention to the alteration at the level of some fissures, could lead to identify psychiatric disorders and criminal tendency. Conclusions: From the observations presented here, the author reiterated that several anomalies recorded in these five brains reproduced atavistic characteristics, which disappeared in the ontogenetic and phylogenetic evolution of the human brain
Paleopathological evidence of Legg-Calve’-Perthes from the medieval cemetery of St. Agostino in Caravate, Northwestern Italy
No full textLegg-Calvé-Perthes (LCPD) is a rare childhood disorder that induces the osteochondrosis of the femoral head. Almost all authors agree that the condition involves the obstruction to the bloody supply of the growing femoral head. The etiology is debated, as some authors claim that the triggering process of LCPD is unknown. Others argue that the onset of this affection can be prompted by several factors such as exogenous causes, trauma, metabolic issues, hematological disease, infections. LCPD has been recognized in archaeological material for nearly a century. The signs of the pathology are well described in the literature, but few paleopathological cases have been described. Here we report morphologic analyses of a skeleton retrieved during the archaeological investigations of the medieval cemetery of the church of St. Agostino in Caravate (Varese, Italy, 12th, and 13th centuries). After an accurate differential diagnosis, the observed features suggest a conclusion of avascular necrosis of the right femoral head and unilateral evidence of LCPD
Henry Tonks and the true face of war
No full textWounded faces, deformed, sewn up, assembled. This is the most visible legacy and at the same time the one that no one wants to see of every conflict. Reconstructive plastic surgery was born one hundred years ago during the First World War. Millions of people died, but millions more were severely injured. The trenches of World War I protected the bodies from shrapnel, but not faces. Thus was born the need to reconstruct faces using other parts of the body. Surgeon D. Gillies applied his knowledge of reconstructive surgery in a creative and innovative way to treat severely mutilating facial injuries. Alongside him, the painter and physician Henry Tonks was tasked with making pastel drawings of the facial injuries of wounded soldiers before and after surgery. Through this collaboration with Gillies, Tonks produced a series of portraits of facial injuries that remains unsurpassed to this day for emotional impact, scientific interest, and subtlety of representation
To Save a Corpse from Decomposition - the Purpose of Petrification in the Second Half of the 19th Century
Full text linkWe present this interesting note on the petrification of corpses, published in 1890 in the Italian Journal of Natural Sciences. After a brief review of the oldest forms of embalming, the author, Michele Martone, presents petrification as the only way to obtain the perfect conservation of the corpse. CONCLUSION: This scientific note presents some considerations regarding the constant search of humanity to arrest, if not the death of a person, the decomposition of their body
Science and religion: Enemies for life?
No full textThe article published by Prof. Antonio Neviani in 1896 offered us an interesting opportunity to discuss about the teaching of human evolution in schools today. Already at the end of the nineteenth century, Neviani complained about the fact that the teaching of the theory of evolution was not present in schools. Here, we present the thought of Neviani and we invite to reflect on the prohibition, still present in some countries, of the teaching of Darwin’s theory. (www.actabiomedica.it)
Tourism in the time of coronavirus. Fruition of the “minor heritage” through the development of bioarchaeological sites - a proposal
Full text linkThe consequences of the coronavirus pandemic are and will continue to be devastating for the tourism sector, especially for the cultural one. It is necessary to reflect on the new strategies to be adopted to deal with the heavy losses that the world of cultural heritage is suffering. The great archaeological attractions will no longer be able to accommodate the prepandemic numbers and therefore we must also think of alternative routes to present the minor heritage of our country. In recent years, our experience has allowed us to realize an open-air museum project in bioarchaeological sites (archaeological cemetery areas characterized by the recovery of human remains) that are part of an archaeological heritage that is little known, but which reserve great dissemination and fruition potential. The design of an archaeological itinerary, even a virtual one, which includes the bioarchaeological sites that we are musealizing, could offer a new visiting experience, especially in this difficult moment for all of us
Infectious disease in asylums: a fact-finding investigation to prevent tuberculosis contagion in the early twentieth century in Italy
No full textMultiple abnormalities in the skull of a prostitute. An autopsy report (1900)
Full text linkOBJECTIVE: The study presents and comments on the publication of an autopsy report. CASE REPORT: In 1900 De Blasio published an article entitled "Multiple abnormalities in a prostitute's skull" in the "Journal of Psychiatry, Criminal Anthropology and related sciences". In this work De Blasio related anomalies at the cranial level to the presence of mental pathologies. The skull belonged to a 24-year-old prostitute who died of syphilitic hepatitis. In his article, De Blasio described the life of the woman, after which he gave a macroscopic description of the skull. De Blasio believed that the subject's amoral behavior was caused by the anomalous shape of the subject's skull. CONCLUSION: From the study, it is evident that the school of criminal anthropology influenced De Blasio's autopsy medical practice, and it is interesting to note the interpretation of anthropologists of the time who tried to describe the link between physical and behavioral anomalies
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