The bones of a soldier with leprosy who may have died in battle have been found in a medieval Italian cemetery, along with skeletons of men who survived blows to the head with battle-axes and maces. Studying ancient leprosy, which is caused by a bacterial infection, may help scientists figure out how the infectious disease evolved. The find also reveals the warlike ways of the semi-nomadic people who lived in the area between the sixth and eighth centuries, said study researcher Mauro Rubini, an anthropologist at Foggia University in Italy. The war wounds, which showed evidence of surgical intervention, provide a peek into the medical capabilities of medieval inhabitants of Italy.
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Upton Sinclair said: “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”
Yes, indeedy! But you have to admit he was a bit of a special case. Positional authority, and all that.
This guy seems to have been just a regular soldier; his disease must have been fairly advanced, and he was still in the fight. He probably chose his way out, as the advanced stages of Hansen's are really nasty.
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Upton Sinclair said: “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”
It would be interesting to find out the general life expectancy of an Avar warrior. Interesting that he even made it to that stage, I wonder how old he was.
