Cangrande della Scala (1291-1329), lord of Verona, suddenly died of acute diarrheic illness on 22 July 1329, after the conquest of the city of Treviso and of a large part of Northern Italy. Imaging (digital X-ray and CAT) and autopsy studies of the well-preserved natural mummy of Cangrande showed a good preservation of the internal organs and liver, as well as the feces in the rectum. Histology evidenced liver fibrosis and a severe irregular lung emphysema, with nodular fibrosis and massive anthracosis. Immunochemical analysis of extracts of feces and liver revealed the presence of toxic concentrations of digoxin and digitoxin, equivalent to several dozens of nanograms per gram, with presence of Digitalis pollen in the feces. Administration of a brew or foxglove decoction designed to cure or, more likely, to poison the prince, was almost certainly responsible for this acute and fatal intoxication.

The mummy of Cangrande della Scala Lord of Verona (1291-1329): a case of Medieval acute Digitalis intoxication

MARCHESINI, Marco;
2008

Abstract

Cangrande della Scala (1291-1329), lord of Verona, suddenly died of acute diarrheic illness on 22 July 1329, after the conquest of the city of Treviso and of a large part of Northern Italy. Imaging (digital X-ray and CAT) and autopsy studies of the well-preserved natural mummy of Cangrande showed a good preservation of the internal organs and liver, as well as the feces in the rectum. Histology evidenced liver fibrosis and a severe irregular lung emphysema, with nodular fibrosis and massive anthracosis. Immunochemical analysis of extracts of feces and liver revealed the presence of toxic concentrations of digoxin and digitoxin, equivalent to several dozens of nanograms per gram, with presence of Digitalis pollen in the feces. Administration of a brew or foxglove decoction designed to cure or, more likely, to poison the prince, was almost certainly responsible for this acute and fatal intoxication.
2008
9788461256471
natural mummy; Digitalis; poisoning; late Middle Ages; Cangrande della Scala; botanical analysis
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11392/1737927
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