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Identification and evolution of rickets and scurvy therapeutics between the 17th and 19th centuries CE: archaeo- and palaeopharmacological approach

hal.structure.identifierArchéosciences Bordeaux
dc.contributor.authorZINN, Alexandra
hal.structure.identifierInstitut national de recherches archéologiques préventives - Centre archéologique de Grand-Quevilly [Inrap, Grand-Quevilly]
hal.structure.identifierCentre Michel de Boüard - Centre de recherches archéologiques et historiques anciennes et médiévales [CRAHAM]
dc.contributor.authorTHOMANN, Aminte
hal.structure.identifierArchéosciences Bordeaux
dc.contributor.authorLEFRAIS, Yannick
hal.structure.identifierÉcole Pratique des Hautes Études [EPHE]
hal.structure.identifierArchéosciences Bordeaux
dc.contributor.authorDUTOUR, Olivier
hal.structure.identifierArchéosciences Bordeaux
dc.contributor.authorPIANET, Isabelle
hal.structure.identifierArchéosciences Bordeaux
hal.structure.identifierÉcole Pratique des Hautes Études [EPHE]
dc.contributor.authorCOLOMBO, Antony
dc.date.accessioned2025-05-13T02:01:03Z
dc.date.available2025-05-13T02:01:03Z
dc.date.conference2025-03-05
dc.identifier.urihttps://oskar-bordeaux.fr/handle/20.500.12278/206608
dc.description.abstractEnIn France, during the 18th-19th centuries, the period of industrial transition saw major socio-economic changes that had an impact on population health, and in particular on deficiency diseases such as rickets and scurvy. As part of health archaeology , this study combines two complementary approaches: archaeopharmacology - identification of therapeutics through artefacts and textual sources (e.g. ancient medical theses and treatises, pharmacopoeia, archives) and palaeopharmacology - identification of therapeutics through archaeometric analysis of ancient human remains (e.g. bones, teeth, dental calculus). For rickets and scurvy, medico-historical literature has traced traditional treatments based on plant (e.g. hemlock, opium, cinchona), animal (cod liver oil), or metals such as mercury. Despite its toxicity, mercury was widely used in medicine since the 17th century in syrups, ointments, and fumigations.The palaeopathological study of individual SP5, a 3- to 4-year-old child from the Rue Thubeuf cemetery in Rouen (late 18th-19th centuries), revealed multiple signs of bone deficiencies, likely attributable to rickets and scurvy. His osteoarchaeological remains were analysed for mercury content. The SP5 deciduous second molar was sampled to detect signs of vitamin D deficiency responsible for rickets in the dentine, using micro-computed tomography to obtain deficiencies information occurring during tooth development as dental tissues are not remodelled during life. In contrast, a thoracic vertebra was selected to gather information about the last months of life. Mercury was detected in these samples using a three-stage protocol to minimise the invasive nature of the study: 1- detection by ED-XRF (Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence), 2- quantification by CV-AAS (Cold Vapour-Atomic Absorption Spectrometry), 3- localisation in the mineral structure by LIBS (Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy).A minor episode of deficiency between birth and six months of age was detected by μCT, but was not related to observed bone deformities. However, the ED-XRF spectrum of the bone sample revealed a mercury peak, which was not observable in the dental sample. CV-AAS analysis revealed a high concentration of mercury in the vertebra (9.373 mg/kg ± 10%). The high mercury concentration in the vertebra suggests severe ante-mortem intoxication, supporting thehypothesis of mercury treatment for deficiencies, as other contamination sources (e.g., Rouen’s socio-cultural context, soil metallogeny, environmental factors, occupational exposure) were ruled out. In conclusion, SP5 may represent the first documented case of mercury treatment for vitamin deficiency, highlighting the value of paleopharmacology in linking archaeometric data with historical medical sources to better understand past therapeutic practices.
dc.language.isoen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/
dc.subject.enPalaeopharmacology
dc.subject.enVitamin deficiencies
dc.subject.enIndustrialization
dc.subject.enMercury
dc.title.enIdentification and evolution of rickets and scurvy therapeutics between the 17th and 19th centuries CE: archaeo- and palaeopharmacological approach
dc.typeCommunication dans un congrès
dc.subject.halSciences de l'Homme et Société/Anthropologie biologique
bordeaux.hal.laboratoriesArchéosciences Bordeaux - UMR 6034*
bordeaux.institutionUniversité de Bordeaux
bordeaux.institutionUniversité Bordeaux Montaigne
bordeaux.institutionCNRS
bordeaux.conference.title5th VCWAP
bordeaux.countryFR
bordeaux.conference.cityOnline Conference
bordeaux.peerReviewedoui
hal.identifierhal-05064386
hal.version1
hal.invitednon
hal.proceedingsnon
hal.conference.organizerAssociation For Early-Career Women Archaeologists And Paleontologists
hal.conference.end2025-03-07
hal.popularnon
hal.audienceInternationale
hal.origin.linkhttps://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr//hal-05064386v1
bordeaux.COinSctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.au=ZINN,%20Alexandra&THOMANN,%20Aminte&LEFRAIS,%20Yannick&DUTOUR,%20Olivier&PIANET,%20Isabelle&rft.genre=unknown


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