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Contribution of Teeth to Confirm Diagnosis of Plague in Marseille, France (1720-1722)
Charlotte Mansuy1, Rémi Esclassan1, Michel Signoli2
1Ecole de Médecine Dentaire de Marseille, 27 boulevard Jean Moulin 13385 Marseille Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, EFS, ADES, Marseille, France.
Abstract:
Plague is an infectious disease caused by a Gram-negative bacterium, Yersinia pestis, and has affected human populations in different pandemics for at least 5000 years. The last plague epidemic in France occurred at the beginning of eighteenth century in Marseille, in southeast France. Marseille is today France's second largest city. It is the main French Port on the Mediterranean coast of Provence (southeast France) and it has been an important place of trade and passage since ancient times. Archives have shown that Marseille has been affected by the plague many times, but it was the last epidemic of 1720-1722 that left the most durable and hard memory.
Abstract:
In biological anthropology, teeth and especially dental pulp, provide useful material in paleomicrobiology to better understand the natural history of infectious diseases and their evolution. In these historical and anthropological contexts, the aim of this article was to remind the history of plague in Marseille and show how teeth are essential anthropological remains in the help of diagnosis of an epidemic disease and more generally to better understand the evolution of a disease over time.
Insights
This study reviews Marseille
Area of Science:
- Paleomicrobiology
- Biological Anthropology
- Medical History
Background:
- Plague, caused by *Yersinia pestis*, has impacted human populations for millennia.
- Marseille, France, experienced its last major plague epidemic from 1720-1722.
- Historical records indicate Marseille's long history with plague outbreaks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To recount the history of plague in Marseille.
- To highlight the significance of dental pulp in paleomicrobiology.
- To demonstrate the role of teeth in diagnosing epidemic diseases and understanding disease evolution.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical archives concerning plague in Marseille.
- Analysis of dental pulp as a source for paleomicrobiological study.
- Anthropological examination of teeth for disease diagnosis.
Main Results:
- The 1720-1722 plague epidemic left a significant historical impact on Marseille.
- Dental pulp offers valuable insights into the natural history and evolution of infectious diseases.
- Teeth serve as crucial anthropological evidence for diagnosing past epidemics.
Conclusions:
- Teeth, particularly dental pulp, are vital for paleomicrobiological research.
- Understanding historical epidemics like the Marseille plague aids in comprehending disease evolution.
- This research underscores the importance of anthropological remains in medical history.
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