DISEASE

DISEASE
   The study of Etruscan skeletal remains, in spite of the wide availability of ancient human remains, has been relatively neglected, so it is difficult to infer reliable evidence about the prevalence of disease. Studies of the Ferrone cemetery seem to suggest longevity and little visible bone-related disease. More general studies confirm the level of infective disease of the bone, although tuberculosis may have been present. However, arthritis of the spine has been noted in some populations and indicators of stress on bones and teeth in others. Study of teeth at Tarquinia and Chiusi suggests low levels of caries, high levels of wear, and high levels of tooth loss during life, accompanied by arthritis of the jaw. There is some evidence for false teeth of gold (for example, at Tarquinia and Poggio Gaiella in Chianti) among the Etruscan elite, suggesting both tooth loss and ability to alleviate it. Some work has also been carried out on the age of death indicated by inscriptions; although this evidence needs to be read with caution if it is interpreted as a real age of death, the commemorated age of death averages in the forties, with peaks in the twenties and in ripe old age. Other work at Veii and Tarquinia has been carried out on life expectancy directly on human bones; these studies suggest a decline in life expectancy in the seventh to sixth century BC, the period of consolidation of urbanism.
   Malaria most probably developed as a major problem in the late Etruscan and early Roman period, once lagoon formation (in part a product of intensive agricultural activity) and levels of human populations combined with the spread of malaria-carrying mosquito populations. Etruscan drainage may have positively affected the occurrence of the disease by removing the lagoons. Evidence from Pontecagnano of a medical condition of the cranium, porotic hyperostosis, may indicate local occurrence of malaria in the seventh to sixth century BC, declining in the fifth to fourth century BC, perhaps after drainage.
   See also TRAUMA.

Historical Dictionary of the Etruscans. .

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую
Synonyms:
, , , , , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • disease — n Disease, disorder, condition, affection, ailment, malady, complaint, distemper, syndrome denote a de ranged bodily state usually associated with or amounting to a loss of health. Disease in its usual and broadest use implies an impairment of… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Disease — Dis*ease , n. [OE. disese, OF. desaise; des (L. dis ) + aise ease. See {Ease}.] 1. Lack of ease; uneasiness; trouble; vexation; disquiet. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] So all that night they passed in great disease. Spenser. [1913 Webster] To shield thee …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • disease — [di zēz′] n. [ME disese, inconvenience, trouble, sickness < OFr desaise, discomfort < des , DIS + aise, EASE] 1. any departure from health; illness in general 2. a particular destructive process in an organ or organism, with a specific… …   English World dictionary

  • Disease — Dis*ease , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Diseased}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Diseasing}.] 1. To deprive of ease; to disquiet; to trouble; to distress. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] His double burden did him sore disease. Spenser. [1913 Webster] 2. To derange the vital… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • disease — (n.) early 14c., discomfort, inconvenience, from O.Fr. desaise lack, want; discomfort, distress; trouble, misfortune; disease, sickness, from des without, away (see DIS (Cf. dis )) + aise ease (see EASE (Cf. ease)). Sense of sickness, illness in… …   Etymology dictionary

  • disease — I noun affliction, ailment, attack, bodily deviation from health, bout of sickness, breakdown, chronic disability, collapse, condition, contagion, defect, deterioration, disability, discomfort, disorder, distemper, epidemic, handicap, ill health …   Law dictionary

  • disease — [n] ailment, affliction ache, affection, attack, blight, breakdown, bug*, cancer, canker, collapse, complaint, condition, contagion, contamination, convulsions, debility, decrepitude, defect, disorder, distemper, endemic, epidemic, feebleness,… …   New thesaurus

  • disease — ► NOUN ▪ a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms. DERIVATIVES diseased adjective. ORIGIN Old French desaise lack of ease …   English terms dictionary

  • Disease — Human disease redirects here. For the Slayer song, see Soundtrack to the Apocalypse. Flare up redirects here. For the Transformers character, see Flareup (Transformers). Medical condition redirects here. For the descriptive terminology using… …   Wikipedia

  • disease — diseasedly, adv. diseasedness, n. /di zeez /, n., v., diseased, diseasing. n. 1. a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection,… …   Universalium

  • disease — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) Condition of ill health Nouns 1. disease, illness, sickness, ailment, ailing; morbidity, infirmity, ailment, indisposition; complaint, disorder, malady; functional disorder. 2. condition, affliction,… …   English dictionary for students

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”