The mandible of Saint-Louis (1270 AD): Retrospective diagnosis and circumstances of death.

Authors :: Charlier P
Augias A
Benmoussa N
Rainsard P
Froesch P
Richardin P
Froment A
Bianucci R
Appenzeller O
Perciaccante A
Lippi D
Prades L
Source :: Journal of stomatology, oral and maxillofacial surgery [J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg] 2020 Apr; Vol. 121 (2), pp. 172-174. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Jun 08.
Publication Year :: 2020
Abstract: Introduction: Recent paleopathological cases have shown the usefulness of interdisciplinary odontological studies in the investigation of historical figures.<br />Observation: A macroscopic examination of the mandible of Saint-Louis (13th c. AD), conserved in the cathedral of Notre-Dame (Paris, France) was carried out, and compared with biographical data about the life and death of the King, and contemporaneous cases of infectious/inflammatory diseases. We found post-mortem tooth loss associated with moderate signs of infectious and inflammatory diseases, which precise diagnoses are discussed facing historical chronicles and sources: main diagnosis is scurvy, potentially associated with bacterial infection.<br />Discussion: Our results support the identification of the relics, and improve the knowledge about the saint's circumstances of death related to metabolic deficiencies and infections.<br /> (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

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