Tomb number 2 of the Church of St. Michael in Mornago (Varese, Italy). Anthropological and archaeological study of medieval funeral remains

The current paper aims to present the archaeological and anthropological results of the investigation conducted on a medieval burial which presents several features that recall the Longobard culture. After the archaeological evaluations on the architectural morphology of the tomb and on the grave goods, we proceeded with the anthropological investigations on human and animal bone remains. These analyses allowed us to formulate a hypothesis related to this particular funeral ritual from ancient Longobard tradition. The tomb number 2 of St. Michael church in Mornago represents a rare evidence of inhumation with bird in Northern Italy

The "Canone Inverso": when tobacco was not so bad. A Look Back at the Primordial Debate on the tobacco effects in the Occupational Medicine

AIM: The article provides an overview on the beginning and evolutions of medical observations on tobacco induced diseases between Eighteenth and Nineteenth century. METHODS: By searching for historical medical literature, first studies on tobacco-induced diseases focused on production risks rather than on adverse effects that the use of tobacco has for the human health. RESULTS: The approach induced first eighteenth-century authors to define this substance as a non-pathogenic and, consequently, not to consider tobacco factories dangerous for health workers. In those years, tobacco was employed in therapy as a stimulant treatment and it was considered harmless and even healthy and preventive of several acute diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Authors will show that studies on pathogenic effects of smoking will only start around late nineteenth century, when the idea of the healthiness of tobacco industry was already supported

Crani di omicidi. Una diagnosi di antropologia criminale basata sui tratti atavici degenerativi

LetteraLetter

TO SAVE A CORPSE FROM DECOMPOSITION – THE PURPOSE OF PETRIFICATION IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY

We 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

TRAUMA LUBANJE: ANALIZA OZLJEDA NA DREVNIM KOSTURIMA S ARHEOLOŠKIH NALAZIŠTA U SJEVEROZAPADNOJ LOMBARDIJI

Traumatic lesions are among the most important sources of data providing information associated to interpersonal violence within ancient populations. The investigation on weapon‑related traumas on human remains allows us to reconstruct the dynamic of the violent episodes. The purposes of this study are to describe the types of skull traumas discovered in several skeletons from medieval necropolis of the North West Lombardy (8th-16th) and to examine their presence and distribution. The injuries observed in our osteoarchaeological collection were in the form of depressed and penetrated traumas. The injuries were revealed on the middle aged and older men, but also on women and subadult. Fractures of skulls were analysed with macroscopical and radiological observations. In particular, CT investigations were essential to understand the extent of the injury and to hypothesis the cause.Traumatske lezije su među najvažnijim izvorima podataka za pružanje informacija povezanih s međuljudskim nasiljem u drevnim zajednicama. Istraživanje trauma nastalih upotrebom oružja na ljudskim ostacima omogućavaju nam rekonstruirati dinamiku nasilnih epizoda. Ciljevi ovog istraživanja su opisati vrste trauma lubanja otkrivenih na nekoliko kostura iz srednjovjekovne nekropole Sjeverozapadne Lombardije (8.–16. st.) i ispitati njihovu prisutnost i distribuciju. Ozljede uočene u našoj osteoarheološkoj zbirci su u obliku natučenih i ubodnih trauma. Ozljede su uočene na muškarcima srednje i starije dobi, ali i na ženama i djeci. Frakture lubanje analizirane su makroskopskim i radiološkim promatranjima. Konkretno, CT istraživanja su neophodna za razumijevanje opsega ozljede i hipoteze uzroka

Science and Religion: Enemies for life?

The 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)

Cosmotellurism in Lombroso's work.

Background and aim of the work: Few know that Lombroso was also involved in epidemiological research. In particular, Lombroso’s scientific reflections on Medical Geography were addressed to the theme of climate influences and meteorological conditions on human conduct. The authors analyze the scientific production and the works of Lombroso devoted to medical geography. Discussion: Lombroso carried out accurate epidemiological investigations using the statistical method with great modernity, combining health data with geographical and climatic data to demonstrate the relationship between man, the environment and health in a social vision of preventive and curative medicine. Conclusions: The theory of Cosmotellurism in Lombroso’s work is not only a source of unquestionable interest in the History of Medicine. The heritage of Medical Geography within the pre-bacteriological medical culture can continue with its teachings to correctly address the clinician’s thinking even in the current historical context in which endemic and epidemic pathologies re-emerge in various parts of the world

A case of erosive polyarthropathy from Medieval northern Italy (12th–13th centuries)

Objective: To evaluate and differentially diagnose erosive skeletal lesions located on multiple joints of an individual archaeologically recovered in 2017. Materials: Skeletal remains of a well-preserved skeleton dating to the 12th–13th centuries from the Medieval church of San Biagio in Cittiglio (Varese, northern Italy). Methods: Macroscopic and radiographic imaging. Results: Erosive marginal symmetrical lesions are present on the metatarsophalangeal, metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints of an adult male, aged 55–75 years. Osteolytic changes, in the form of pocket erosions, surface resorptions and pseudocyst formations, are also macroscopically observed on some carpal and tarsal bones and on several large peripheral joints. Conclusions: A careful differential diagnosis of the lesions and their macroscopic and radiological appearance are suggestive of a case of rheumatoid arthritis-like polyarthropathy. Significance: This case contributes to the debate regarding the antiquity of erosive polyarthropathies, providing additional evidence for the existence of these diseases in the Old World prior to the discovery of the Americas. Limitations: Small sample size limits discussion of the scope of the disease in antiquity. Suggestions for further research: This case highlights the need for further macroscopic, radiographic, and biomolecular studies of pre-modern European skeletal samples to investigate the hypothesized pre-existence of these pathological conditions in Europe prior to 1492