Paleopathological analysis on the skulls of 19th century Padua University Professors

In Padua there is world’s oldest permanent anatomical theatre, dated 1595. Next to the theatre there is the Hall of Medicine, a large hall where the future medical doctors have their final exam behind a sombre display of 8 skulls of noted University professors, testimony of the march of centuries. Between them there are five Padua University Rectors: Mabil (1752-1836), Gallini (1756-1836), Meneghelli (1765-1844), Dal Negro (1768-1839), and Caldani (1772-1836), who was the author of one of the most admired 19th century human anatomy atlas. Some of them were famous physicians, such as Santorio (1561-1636), who invented revolutionary instruments to measure body temperature and pulse frequency, Giacomini (1797-1849), and Signoroni (1796-1844), eminent surgeon. The last of the series is Conti (1802-1849), mathematician. A legend tells that these professors donated their body to science. The myth originates because these skulls were placed in a Medical Museum, and served for phrenological investigations during the 1800’s. An anthropological analysis, a historical study and a computed tomography scan (CT) have been recently performed on these skulls to acquire new information about the natural history of the skulls of these important scientists. Four of them, for instance, died during a cholera epidemic in 1836. Our research has allowed us to understand what is behind this myth: even if nobody of these professors explicitly donated their body to science, we can say that only nowadays this implicit donation serves the purpose of scientific investigation.