Anthropology
Open Access

Abstract

One Month of Death in Venice. Mortality and Status of the Cadaver in an Early 20th c. Necroscopic Registry

Philippe Charlier, Stéphanie Cavard and Christian Hervé

The authors present the retrospective analysis of a necroscopic registry concerning all cadavers originating from Venice (northern Italy) inhumed within the cemetery island of San-Michele, between the 30th of August and the 28th of September 1917. Data concerning age, sex, place and cause of death are given (this last, determined by a medico necroscopo, i.e. a forensic practitioner), but also details concerning the status of the cadaver. Short-term delay between death declaration and extreme date for inhumation is explained by the extremely rare frequency of embalming processes in this chrono-cultural context. Early fetuses (3rd months in utero, for the youngest) have a complete place within the cemetery (even in the absence of any viability and/or vitality). Such a preliminary examination of this registry also highlights its great interest for the history of autopsy practice, and the evolution of diseases spread.