About This Item
Title
Skull with Syphilitic Necrosis
Subject
Skull
Syphilis
Necrosis
Medical History, 19th Cent.
Description
This ravaged skull, from a 26-year-old woman, shows the effects of late-stage syphilis. The bones of the cranium, especially the frontal bone, are deeply invaded. The vomer (which forms part of the nasal septum) is partially destroyed. The alveolar processes (the ridges that hold the teeth) are so affected that most of the teeth were lost before death.
Generally, such an advanced case of syphilis would take several decades to develop; this young woman was particularly unlucky. As Georges Dieulafoy wrote in A Text-book of Medicine (1912) “…when we see the destruction wrought by syphilis upon the cranial vault, we ask how life could have been compatible with such lesions.”
Generally, such an advanced case of syphilis would take several decades to develop; this young woman was particularly unlucky. As Georges Dieulafoy wrote in A Text-book of Medicine (1912) “…when we see the destruction wrought by syphilis upon the cranial vault, we ask how life could have been compatible with such lesions.”
Contributor
Thomas Dent Mütter, MD
Identifier
1161.07
Coverage
19th Century
Original Format
Human skull, metal springs
Citation
“Skull with Syphilitic Necrosis,” The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Digital Library, accessed January 24, 2021, https://www.cppdigitallibrary.org/items/show/4371.