Weinstein, P. Palaeopathology by proxy: the case of Egil’s bones

• Author: Weinstein, P.
• Title: Palaeopathology by Proxy. The Case of Egil’s Bones
• Published in: Journal of Archaeological Science 32
• Year: 2005
• Pages: 1077-82
• E-text: ScienceDirect
• Reference: Weinstein, P. "Palaeopathology by Proxy. The Case of Egil’s Bones. Journal of Archaeological Science 32 (2005): 1077-82.

---

• Key words: medicine (læknisfræði)

Annotation

Egil’s bone deformities as described in Egils saga are consistant with skeletal fluorosis, and fluoride poisoning through drinking water contaminated by volcanic ash could explain why his face is described as being disfigured even at a relatively young age. The saga permits discussion of a range of possible diagnoses and illustrates the potential value of historical narrative (“excavating words”) in the field of human palaeopathology.

Lýsing

Afmyndun beina Egils, eins og henni er lýst í Egils sögu, kemur heim og saman við gadd í beinum og flúoreitrun sem stafar af því að menn drekka vatn sem er mengað eldfjallaösku. Þetta kann að skýra hvers vegna talað er um að andlit Egils sé orðið afmyndað tiltölulega snemma á ævinni. Sagan gefur manni þó svigrúm til að sjúkdómsgreina hann með ýmsum hætti og sýnir fram á hve dýrmætar sögulegar heimildir geti verið fyrir sögulega sjúkdómsfræði.

References

Chapter 88: glapnaði honum bæði heyrn og sýn : „Egil's deafness is consistent with new bone growth compressing the auditory nerve as it runs through a channel in the skull, from the brain to the ear. This symptom has been reported in endemic fluorosis“ (s. 1078)

Links

• Written by: Katelin Parsons
• Icelandic translation: Jón Karl Helgason