ABSTRACT
Diagnosis of the congenital form of syphilis is an important part of the palaeopathology of this disease. In theory, there are clear clinical signs to be found in the long bones and teeth, but it has rarely been possible to recognise the latter with a confidence in archaeological material, partly because the original descriptions of the dental deformities are sometimes contradictory and partly because it is nowadays difficult to find reference specimens in museums. This article describes two such specimens which have recently been rediscovered, and discusses the form of the dental defects which they show (Hutchinson's incisors, Moon's molars, and mulberry molars) in relation to the developmental sequence of the teeth.
Subject(s)
Syphilis, Congenital/pathology , Tooth/pathology , Child , Female , Fossils , History, 19th Century , History, 20th Century , Humans , Male , Molar/pathology , Paleodontology/methods , Syphilis, Congenital/diagnosis , Syphilis, Congenital/historyABSTRACT
Caroline Crachami (C.C.) considered to have had the Seckel syndrome was one of the most extreme cases of dwarfism ever recorded. Reputedly born in Sicily in 1815, she attracted much attention when exhibited in England before her death on 3 June 1824. Although she is said to have been 9 years old at death, published descriptions give her a dental age varying from 2 to 7 years. Examination of her skull in the Royal College of Surgeons of England demonstrated a more or less erupted complete deciduous dentition, with no erupted permanent teeth. Radiographs showed agenesis of several permanent teeth. It was concluded that the dental age of C.C. was 3 years (+/- 6 months). Perikymata were evident in the surface enamel encircling the crown of the partially exposed maxillary left first permanent molar. Their distribution and spacing were normal, with no evidence of developmental retardation. The distance between the periradicular bands in the root near the cement-enamel junction was also normal. We conclude that the dental age of C.C. was similar to her chronological age and that at death she was about 3 and not 9 years old. The reason that she was said to be nearly 9 when exhibited in England we believe was related to financial considerations, as people would be generally less impressed with a dwarf only 3 years old. The new age we give C.C. has implications on the diagnosis of her medical condition.
Subject(s)
Age Determination by Skeleton , Age Determination by Teeth , Dwarfism/history , Child, Preschool , Dental Enamel , Dentition , Female , History, 19th Century , Humans , Italy , Microscopy, Electron , Radiography , SkullABSTRACT
Polymeric carbons are produced by the carbonization of a wide range of organic polymeric systems. We have concentrated on the fabrication of two types of polymeric carbons, glassy carbon and carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon (CFRC), both involving phenolic resin precursors. We describe herein the technology which enables us to make dental implants and heart valves out of glassy carbon. We also show how carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon can be made in the form of rods and plates for orthopedic use and molded before firing to produce complex, rigid, individually sculptured shapes suitable for maxillofacial bone replacement. The mechanical properties will be discussed in relation to the structure of these various forms of polymeric carbon. The main purpose of the work is to show that the technology of polymeric-carbon manufacture is essentially simple and the manufacturing process is readily carried out in laboratories which have already been equipped to fabricate standard dental prostheses.
