HomePLANTS & ANIMALSArchaeologySkeleton found in Caribbean Island shows sign of leprosy

Skeleton found in Caribbean Island shows sign of leprosy

In the western hemisphere, researchers unearthed some skeletons on an uninhabited Caribbean Island. In some of the skeleton’s researchers found signs of leprosy. Researchers estimated that the skeleton s are from late 18th or early 19th century.

This research has published in International Journal of Paleopathology.

The skeletons were found in a rugged uninhabited island named Petite Mustique. The researchers found historical records that suggested the island was a leprosarium in the early 1800s, when people with leprosy were kept separately to prevent the spread of disease.

Few years ago, leprosy that started around the mid-17th century, has been documented in the Caribbean. But that report was incomplete. At that time archaeologists have found some skeletal evidence of the disease that have helped them to trace the pattern of the spreading of the disease. The new finding is very significant in view of the previous research.

Leprosy causes dramatic disfigurement in hands, feet and face and those disfigurement slowly show up in bones. The new found skeleton has deformation in the nose and upper jaw of the skull which implies that the person had suffered from leprosy.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Latest Science News Articles - PhysicsAlert.com

explore more