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.
“This is probably the first discovery of its kind not only in Poland but also in Europe,” said the first author of the study Anna SpinkThe anthropologist at the Herzfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy in Poland told Live Science in an email. “There are no such devices in institutional and private collections (Polish and foreign).”
The “exceptional” prosthesis is 1.2 inches (3.1 cm) long, known as a palatal obturator, and weighs about 0.2 ounces (5.5 grams), according to the study published in the April issue of the journal Journal of Archaeological Sciences: Reports. It consists of a woolen pad sewn onto a metal plate.
Researchers found the prosthetic in a crypt in the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Krakow during archaeological excavations from 2017 to 2018. It was located between the jaws of a man with cleft palate, according to a physical examination and a CT scan. Computed tomography (CT) scan of its remains. When archaeologists removed the prosthesis, they noticed that the fiber pad they later identified as wool bore flecks of yellow (possibly gold) and green (possibly copper), which had been inadvertently removed during the preservation process. The wool pillow was likely covered with a thin layer of copper and then gold to help prevent infection by blocking secretions that could seep into the cloth.
Related: The “innovative” gold dental work done by a Frenchwoman in the 17th century was likely painful for her teeth
“Today, it is difficult to evaluate the fit of a plug or how tight a seal it provides,” the researchers wrote in the study. “However, contemporary patients with similar health problems describe the use of prosthetics that provide improvements in speech (which becomes clearer) and increased comfort when eating.”
To determine the composition of the prosthesis, the researchers analyzed it under a scanning electron microscope, which greatly magnifies the surface of the object, and using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, which analyzes the chemical composition of the sample. They found that the coins were largely made of copper, with large amounts of gold and silver. The wool bore traces of silver iodide, which may have been added for its antimicrobial properties.
Orofacial clefts, which include cleft palate and cleft lip, have a global prevalence of 1 in 1,000 to 1,500 births in the modern era and have been known since historical times. The Greek orator Demosthenes (384 to 322 B.C.) suffered from a cleft palate and is believed to have used pebbles to fill the gap, the study's authors wrote. Several works in the 16th century suggest using a mixture of cotton, wax, gold, silver, wool, and sponge to correct orofacial clefts. These rare devices were unique and specially designed by dentists. Spink said that because they are made of precious metals, only people from wealthier social classes can afford these devices.
“This research contributes to a better understanding of the evolution of human medical practices in the past, especially how developmental defects were managed to improve the quality of life of individuals.” James WatsonThe University of Arizona anthropology professor told Live Science in an email. No other pre-modern burials with similar prosthetic limbs are known.
“The precision of the prosthesis indicates great versatility,” said study co-author Marta CouricThe anthropologist at the University of Lodz in Poland told Live Science in an email. She emphasized that the prosthesis is made of very thin and delicate metals and is not as easy to handle as modern materials, yet it has been perfectly adapted to the defect.
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