A Medical Bandage in an Italian Renaissance Mummy (Naples, XVI Century)
Authors
Valentina Giuffra
Department of Oncology, Transplants and Advanced Technologies in Medicine,
Division of Paleopathology, University of Pisa, I.
Silvia Marinozzi
Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of History of Medicine, University
of Rome “La Sapienza”, I.
Claudia Vultaggio
Department of Regional Cultures, 2nd University of Naples, I.
Gino Fornaciari
Department of Oncology, Transplants and Advanced Technologies in Medicine,
Division of Paleopathology, University of Pisa, I.
Keywords:
Mary of Aragon, Dressing , Ivy Leaves, Sulphur , Syphilis
Abstract
A dressing was observed on the left arm of the mummy of Mary of Aragon (1503-1568), under her precious Renaissance clothes. It consisted of a true medical bandage, covering a large syphilitic cutaneous ulcer, with a sulphur-embedded wad still in situ. The bandage has a very peculiar shape,rather different from the usual dressings described in the contemporary medical texts: a central rectangular pad, used as compressing appliance,is provided with a sort of pocket containing ivy leaves. The function of the dressing was not only to cover and protect the ulcer, but also to apply a plant drug. This is the first case of ancient medical bandage studied directly on a mummified body.
