An isotopic case study of individuals with syphilis from the pathological-anatomical reference collection of the national museum in Prague (Czech Republic, 19th century A.D.)

Bibliographic Data

ID21202192
AuthorsKevin Salesse (0000-0003-2492-1536, Université Libre de Bruxelles, corresponding author), Sylva Kaupová (0000-0002-7050-3573, National Museum), Jaroslav Brůžek (0000-0002-2478-9662, Université de Bordeaux), Vítězslav Kuželka (National Museum), Petr Velemínský (0000-0003-3691-7817, National Museum)
Year2019
Volume25
Pages46-55
Publication date2019-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Paleopathology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1879-9817 • E-ISSN: 1879-9825
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.ijpp.2019.04.001
PMID31051405
OpenAlexW2913234744
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited119

OBJECTIVE: values in relation to tertiary syphilis. MATERIAL: Based on materials from the 19th c. A.D. deriving from the pathological-anatomical reference collection (the Jedlička collection) of the National Museum in Prague (Czech Republic), a comparative approach of ten individuals with syphilis and nine without the disease was undertaken. METHODS: Bone powder samples were defatted according to the protocol of Liden et al. (1995). Bone collagen was extracted following the protocol of Bocherens et al. (1991). RESULTS: values of the two groups has been noticed. CONCLUSIONS: Either diets prescribed by physicians to syphilitic patients or nutritional stress caused by cyclic appetite disturbance due to the disease itself or the administered medical treatment appeared to be possible explanations of the observed isotopic pattern. Overall, the response of the two isotopic proxies could argue for relatively limited nutritional restrictions. SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first study examining bone collagen isotopic response to syphilis based on clinically documented human skeletal materials. LIMITATIONS: The sample sizes are relatively small and cautiousness must be taken regarding the interpretations of the data. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: Compound-specific stable isotope investigations and analysis of mercury content could be helpful to better understand the observed isotopic effects

Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Czech · Family medicine · Geography · Late 19th century · Pathological · Pathology · Syphilis · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · History · Isotope Analysis in Ecology · Medicine · Paleopathology and ancient diseases · Philosophy