November 5, 2024

Brighton Journal

Complete News World

An 'extraordinary' prosthesis made of gold, silver and wool helped an 18th century man survive with a cleft palate

An 'extraordinary' prosthesis made of gold, silver and wool helped an 18th century man survive with a cleft palate

Archaeologists have discovered a first-of-its-kind medical prosthetic in Poland: a nearly 300-year-old device that helped a man with cleft palate live more comfortably with the condition.

Nowadays, individuals who are born with A cleft palate may undergo surgery To correct the condition, which occurs when the roof of the mouth, known as the hard palate, does not close completely during pregnancy. The hard palate prevents substances in the mouth from entering the nasal cavity, and it also helps in swallowing, breathing and speaking, according to the study. Without access to modern surgery, this 18th-century man, who has died aged 50, found another way to deal with the condition: a prosthetic made of wool and precious metals, that fit into his nasal cavity.