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Although otolaryngology became a subspecialty only since the middle of the nineteenth century, many diseases of ENT system, their clinical symptoms, universality and potential seriousness have been described since over 3000 years ago. Texts of the medical school of Cos and its founder Hippocrates (460–370 BC) collected in the Corpus Hippocraticum also contain multiple case reports and treatments for ear diseases. The aim of this study is to analyse an extract of one of Hippocrates’ treatise, which apparently describes the first case of cholesteotoma. We analysed a case from Epidemic by Hippocrates (VII, V, 1–9) from its English translation. Analysis of the description of symptoms allows us to diagnose a complicated cholesteatoma with facial palsy and neuro-meningitis manifestation. The meticulously detailed observations of the corpus give us a precious insight into the early perception of diseases and their evolution. The study of its history is of high interest to the fields of medicine, especially otorhinolaryngology. It also highlights the diseases and the suffering the diseases have inflicted on mankind since antiquity.

Surprisingly, Catholic hagiography can teach us a lot about medicine. As an example, we present here the history of Saint Roch who is considered, along with Saint Sebastian, one of the two main Saints who act as protectors against plagues and have often been invoked by Catholic people during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas Saint Sebastian is associated with plagues only symbolically, Catholic tradition considers Saint Roch to have had real contact with the bubonic plague. Indeed, during his pilgrimage to Rome, Saint Roch helped people suffering from the plague and was, subsequently, himself infected. He was then forced to retire in solitary confinement to avoid the plague’s spread and followed scrupulously the necessary restrictive measures. Saint Roch’s story provides useful lessons about the importance of social responsibility by respecting the restrictive rules during difficult times such as the COVID-19 epidemic.

International audience; Introduction: Autosomal recessive osteopetrosis (ARO) is a rare genetic disorder that is also called “malignant osteopetrosis” because it typically manifests within the first few months after birth and later manifests severe complications (blindness, deafness, facial palsy, dental caries, hypocalcemia) and medullary haematopoetic disorders. The aim of this study is to describe lesions and conclude hypothetical clinical symptoms by performing a CT-scan analysis on an early 19th century human skull preserved in the Dupuytren museum collection (Paris). Materials and methods: The dried skull was examined and described using classical methods of paleopathology. We conducted additional research using historical data on the skull and a CT scan was performed. Results: Screening of the archives from the museum allowed us to estimate the skull's origin as somewhere between 1850 and 1900, with an estimated age of six years. Several ducts and foramens of the skull and the facial bones were obstructed as a result of this disease, clinically corresponding to diffuse neurological (and also vascular) deficits. This devastating pathology led to many symptoms stemming from brain tissue damage and cranial nerve deficits, leading to the inevitable death of this child. These symptoms include headache, intracranial hypertension with vomiting, blindness, exophthalmos, deafness, oral breathing, eating disorder (suffocation), facial palsy, balance disorder (excessive weight, vestibulo-cochlear and cerebellar involvement). Conclusion: The study of this specimen from the 19th century confirms that the six-year old patient suffered from malignant osteopetrosis. CT-scan allowed confirmation of the diagnosis, as well as a complete description of the disease, and highlight a possible associated anaemia.

Resume Introduction Au sein de la consultation d’anthropologie medicale de l’hopital de Nanterre (France), destinee aux migrants et aux refugies, ont ete rapportes trois cas de « purification par les vierges » survenus dans des pays d’Afrique sub-saharienne. Observations Il s’agissait d’agressions sexuelles (2 viols et 1 attouchement) de sujets feminins immatures (fillettes) par des sujets porteurs d’infections sexuellement transmissibles (VIH, syphilis) esperant une guerison au decours de leur geste. Discussion Ces pratiques sexuelles hetero-agressives d’une particuliere atrocite, appuyees sur des pretextes magiques, presentent un caractere malheureusement universel et non attache a une culture specifique. Sur le plan anthropologique medical, la croyance en une purification par les vierges repond a la croyance que le malade est un sujet sale et impur. De la meme facon que des emetiques ou des laxatifs sont prescrits en cas de troubles intestinaux (pour « eliminer » la maladie), certains vont user de diuretiques pour des anomalies urinaires ou, litteralement, de « vagins (ou anus) propres » pour y eliminer leurs propres miasmes. L’actualite croissante des migrations de populations (dont certaines sont porteuses d’infections chroniques), de camps de refugies, d’incarcerations prolongees, etc. rend d’autant plus frequente l’observation de tels phenomenes. La croyance en la purification par les vierges (et ses funestes consequences) seront difficiles a eradiquer. L’education des populations et des professionnels de sante devrait permettre de promouvoir le respect absolu du corps de l’enfant, et de l’autre en general, d’autant plus qu’en cette periode d’intensification des flux migratoires, cette problematique risque de prendre une triste ampleur.

Resume Contexte L’accueil actuellement en pleine croissance de refugies d’origine proche-orientale et d’Afrique orientale (Soudan, Darfour, Erythree) expose le medecin clinicien (et notamment le medecin legiste) a l’observation de lesions cutanees atypiques, majoritairement de nature traumatique, mais pouvant s’ajouter a des lesions anciennes en rapport avec des pratiques ethniques. Observation On presente ici un cas de sequelles de torture chez un patient originaire du Darfour (Soudan) : a plusieurs reprises, des incisions cutanees auraient ete pratiquees sur des scarifications anciennes. Discussion La presentation clinique des lesions de scarification et celle des plaies cicatrisees de facon atypique (vraisemblablement un effet de l’inflammation suscitee par l’introduction de corps etrangers irritants : sable, sel, etc.) est nettement differente : dans tous les cas, elle indique une chronologie relative des faits que le medecin clinicien ne devra pas ignorer pour reconstituer le parcours du patient et les coups et blessures auxquels il aura ete soumis (d’ou l’appellation proposee de « cicatrice palimpseste », au sens ou le palimpseste est un manuscrit dont le parchemin, prealablement inscrit, a ete gratte pour y ecrire de nouveau). Ainsi, une « cicatrice palimpseste » constituerait une nouvelle cicatrice sur et pour cacher une autre cicatrice (rituelle) dans un contexte d’epuration ethnique. L’importance diagnostique et clinique vient de l’importance de bien differencier les lesions de type ethnique et celles induites par des violences et sevices corporels en contexte de guerre.

Paul Broca (1824-1880) is considered one of the founding fathers of modern neurology, mainly because of his major contribution to the anatomo-clinical method (Figure 1) (Sagan, 1979). He has also distinguished himself by his fascination with cranial measurements at the origin of modern physical anthropology and, unfortunately, racial theories based on cranial indices (facial angle and brain volume, mainly) (Gould, 1981).But what is less known is that Broca has been illustrated by particularly archaic and mutilating therapeutic practices, such as what is now considered to be female genital mutilation.

International audience; The supposed relics of "Mary-Magdalene" are preserved in Provence (France) in an ancient tradition. They consist of a dry skull and a lock of hair. For the first time, they were officially subjected to an extensive medico-surgical examination by photogrammetry, high-magnification binocular lenses, scanning electron microscope, and energy-dispersive X-ray elemental analysis, to propose a full computer-aided facial reconstruction. The preliminary results are presented here.

International audience; Background: Radiology has many uses other than clinical diagnosis or surgical planning. In museum settings, the use of X-rays is frequent for objects submitted to structural analysis (in that case, they are temporarily moved to hospitals or research centers for this special exam). Purpose: For the first time, we wanted to test the feasibility of a CT-scan (computed tomography) in-situ, i.e. in an international museum setting, with the help of a mobile CT-scan device. Results: Here we present the results of our study carried out at the quai Branly – Jacques Chirac museum (Paris, France) carried out on nearly 150 extra-european artifacts. Our study shows not only the feasibility of such a large-scale non-invasive CT-scan examination in a museum, but also the growing need for such an examination that opens the way to a new disciplinary field for radiology: CT-scan will become almost indispensable and systematic in museum research centers.

Background Work on human remains and old biological samples is a potential source of contamination by conventional or atypical infectious agents. Similarly, current and future environmental changes are a source of resurgence of ancient epidemic diseases. To what extent are anthropologists sorcerer apprentices (especially those working on ancient samples, i.e. paleo-anthropologists)? Are ancient skeletons, palaeosols and museum objects with a biological component at risk for current populations? Unless there are unfounded fears and undue risk… What can be learned from the recent scientific literature and the common sense of the researchers? Methods We have attempted to compile data from the literature and from our personal experience in the fields of anthropology, clinical medicine and epidemiology, in order to grasp the reality of the risk to the human population. Results It appears that the risk is real, but extremely limited. Specific and simple protective measures must be taken in terms of overall and individual health, both in the field and in the laboratory. Conclusion These data are important for the internist, due to the possibility of atypical infections, both in specialized workers and in populations at risk (environmental context).

We read with great interest the letter published by Raffaele Gaeta and colleagues1 describing a supposed concentration of cancer cases in the Renaissance court of Naples. However, this short report lacks important physiopathological and bibliographical data. First, more than five cases of malignant tumours have been published in the paleopathological literature.2 The authors focused exclusively on soft-tissue tumours in mummified human remains1, 3 without mentioning bone cancer cases,2 therefore giving a biased view of cancer frequencies in past populations.

In Greek mythology, Medea is the wife of the hero Jason and originated from Cholcide (in today's Georgia). She is a sorceress associated with the cult of Hecate, goddess of witchcraft, poisons and ghosts. In Seneca's play she kills her younger brother Apsyrtus and cuts him into pieces that she then