Valentina Gazzaniga

The use of mercury against pediculosis in the Renaissance: the case of Ferdinand II of Aragon, King of Naples, 1467-96.

The hair samples of Ferdinand II of Aragon (1467–1496), King of Naples, whose mummy is preserved in the Basilica of San Domenico Maggiore in Naples, showed a high content of mercury, with a value of 827ppm. Furthermore, examination using a stereomicroscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) of head and pubic hairs of Ferdinand II, revealed a lice infestation. The reasons for the massive presence of the mercury in the kings hair are discussed and contemporary literature regarding the use of this metal in medical therapies and in cosmetic practices is analysed. As a result, the high value of mercury in the hair of Ferdinand II can be attributed to antipediculosis therapy, applied as a topic medicament. This case represents an important finding for the history of medicine, because demonstrates that in the Renaissance mercury was applied locally not only to treat syphilis, as well attested by direct and indirect sources, but also to prevent or eliminate lice infestation.

Uroporphyria: Some Notes on Its Ancient Historical Background

Black urine is recorded in all ancient urology as a negative prognostic sign, often linked with the presence of blood; its presence can also be considered as a sign of massive hemolytic crisis, especially if associated with specific nosological patterns. The Hippocratic case of Epidemics III, 11 has recently been diagnosed as an intermittent acute porphyria. Despite the difficult ‘retrospective’ diagnosis of an ancient case, it seems likely that the Hippocratic physicians empirically knew clinical associations of symptoms that modern medicine could consider as the first descriptions of porphyria.

Theophilus’ Auctoritas: The Role of De urinis in the Medical Curriculum of the 12th–13th Centuries

The three principles to know, to know how and to know how to be are already condensed in the works of Theophilos (7th–9th centuries). Theophilus’ De urinis was included in Latin translation in the Articella, probably because of its intermediate position between the texts of high doctrinal value by Hippocrates and Galen (lacking, however, a unifying ‘theory of urine’) and the epitomes, short manuals without any theoretical background. It thus forms an excellent synthesis of a cultural approach reconciling iatrosophia and techne and offers to the reader a text reconciling the theory and the practice, useful to health workers in hospitals, novice beginners and medical scholars. Thanks to his strong attention to the correlation between symptoms and pathology and to his search for assessment scales, Theophilus became the author on whom the birth of medical medieval studies was founded.

Medical Instructions of the XVIII Century to Resuscitate the Apparently Dead: Rescuing the Drowned to Define the Origins of the Emergency Medicine

The concept of an emergency therapeutic action, defined as an immediate intervention to save dying people, is absent from the ancient medical mind. The Hippocratic physician cures diseases, defined as states of functional alterations of the natural processes: the pathologies are considered to be manifestations of a dyscrasia, or rather an imbalance of the body’s components, by excess or by default of quality and moods, which moves the physis of the body away from its natural condition. The altered organic processes are explained as a consequence of an inappropriate life style, that is a wrong regime which alters and compromises the functions of the entire organism: the quantity and quality of food and pothos, the relation between waking and sleeping, the hygienic and living conditions, the physical change, sexual activity, in an holistic conception which does not involve a medical intervention in contrast with the process in act. The diseases must follow their course, grow and reach the Krisis, the moment of a definite change, which brings towards death or healing. The physician acts in order to re-establish the original equilibrium of the body, though respecting the natural course of the phenomena and thus avoiding to intervene on those who cannot be saved.

Rescuing the drowned: cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the origins of emergency medicine in the eighteenth century

The concept of a medical emergency, i.e., a time when immediate action is required to stabilize and restore the vital functions, is absent in the tradition of ancient medicine, which seeks to cure the sick. The theoretical and conceptual development of a prompt medical assistance definitely owes much to the refinement of instruments and surgical techniques that were develop in the early modern age, allowing the extension of therapeutic action to “healthy” individuals who are suddenly life-threatened due to an accident or to some external events that affect their vital functions. But it is especially in the eighteenth century that the epistemic basis of medical emergency is structured, when the Enlightenment gave rise to the ethical and political imperative of public assistance that required the planning of first aid at multiple levels, and medicine developed the concept of life-saving treatment. In particular, eighteenth century medicine, studying systems to assure immediate relief to the victims of accidents—especially to the drowned—allowed the development of specific and methodological systems of resuscitation and emergency treatment.

The Earliest Blood Transfusions in 17th-Century in Italy (1667–1668)

Historical accounts of the earliest experiments in blood transfusion celebrate work done in France and England in 1667 to 1668. Less attention has been given to pioneering experiments conducted at the same period in Italy. We review records of the first blood transfusion experiments conducted in 17th century Italy. Using original source documents, we provide details of early experiments focusing on the identity of early researchers, their instruments, and techniques. Accounts of the period describe animal-to-animal, animal-to-human, and human-to-human transfusions. We highlight how transfusion was considered a new form of emergency surgery, carried out in order to save patients who could not be cured with traditional therapy of the time.

Feet and fertility in the healing temples: a symbolic communication system between gods and men?

Anatomical ex-votos of feet have always been interpreted as representing the unhealthy part of the body for which patients were asking healing. However, according to the archaeological data and literary sources, another interpretation is also possible: the purpose of this article is to focus on the strong relationship between feet and fertility in the ancient world by cross-referencing the available archaeological evidence with the scientific data relating to this topic. That shed light on an important aspect of the Healing Temples in Greek and Roman medicine.

A Survey on the Knowledge and Attitudes of Italian Medical Students toward Body Donation: Ethical and Scientific Considerations

Post mortem body donation (PMBD) for medical training and research plays a key role in medical-surgical education. The aim of this study is to evaluate Italian medical students’ awareness and attitudes regarding this practice. A questionnaire was sent to 1781 Italian medical students (MS). A total of 472 MS responded: 406 (92.91%) had a strongly positive attitude to PMBD, while 31 (7.09%) were not in favor. The majority of subjects were Catholic (56.36%), while 185 and 21 subjects, said that they did not hold any religious beliefs, or were of other religions, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed significant associations (p-values < 0.05) between PMBD and religion, as well as perceptions of PMBD as an act of altruism, a tool for learning surgical practices, body mutilation, and an act contrary to faith. Although Italian MS believed cadaver dissection to be an important part of their education, they did not know much about it and had not received training on this altruistic choice. As future doctors, MS can play an important role in raising public awareness of the importance of PMBD for medical education and research. Specific educational programs to improve knowledge of this topic among MS are needed.

The Study of Ancient Bone Remains

Bio-archaeological studies and historical documents are a great tool to reconstruct the lifestyle and health conditions of the ancient populations, and to understand the correlation between man and the environment over the course of time. The Anthropological Service has taken part in the environmental protection activity of the Soprintendenza Speciale per il Colosseo, il Museo Nazionale Romano e l’Area Archeologica di Roma. This has contributed to outline the biological history of Roman society, in particular that of the Imperial age. In the last decades, new excavation methods applied to the human skeletal remains have helped to collect valuable information on Roman sepulchres, especially those found in the Suburb, because of the large number of civil buildings built after the urban development. These data, together with those deriving from in-depth laboratory investigation, are helping to understand the complex biological landscape of the ancient Roman population with its bio demographic and social processes.