Medicina nei secoli
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The evolution of the status of dwarfs in the Hellenistic and Roman period is witnessed by a number of evidence, mainly iconographic. This paper revisits extant representations at the light of ancient medical texts and physiognomics. Most objects relate short-statured people with the world of entertainement (musicians, athletes) and reveal their continuing function as good-luck bringers.
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Medicina nei secoli · Jan 2006
Historical Article[Surgical instruments for impossible births in the Museum of History of Medicine in Roma].
The Museum of History of Medicine of Rome collects gynaecological and obstetrical instruments. Forceps and embriotomy instruments illustrate the evolution of a sort of an "obstetrical speciality", from antiquity to XIX century. The article focuses mainly on the gradual transformation of forceps's use, from abortive to useful instrument for childbirth.
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Medicina nei secoli · Jan 2006
Historical Article[The School of Palaeopathology of Turin: from the histology of mummified tissues to the monitoring and programmed conservation of the mummies of the Egyptian Museum and the Anthropology Museum].
Scientific analyses, frequent revisions of historical collections and unsuitable preservation conditions in storage and display environments can cause damage to the anthropological patrimony. Therefore, there is an urgent need to establish criteria for the correct conservation of anthropological material according to a "standard of quality". Within the context of a broad and complex view of the protection of anthropological materials, the methodology followed by the research group is aimed at identifying a series of primary (diagnostic) and supportive (therapeutic) interactive processes. The final purpose of these processes is the programmed management of each specimen which is able to identify and control the activities necessary for conservation of the material.
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Medicina nei secoli · Jan 2006
Historical Article["You will not believe us, but we have many" defective births, children, mothers and tales].
The author traces a 'psicoanalitical' history of disability, reconsidering Greek mythology as the necessary background to comprehend the psycological situation of the mothers of handicapped children: Ephestus as a prototype to reflect on disability, invalidity and childhood handicap.