Palla Ákos szerk.: Az Országos Orvostörténeti Könyvtár közleményei 36. (Budapest, 1965)

N. P. Makletsova, V. V. Guinzburg, D. G. Rokhlin (Leningrád): Trepanation in Fossil Skulls found in the USSR Territory

most ancient barrow dates back to neolithic epoch, namely III millennium B. C, (Dniepropetrovsk district). One case dates to the VI—V centuries B. C. (Kahrah-Oba, Kazakhstan), and one case pertains to the X—XIII ce. A. D. (Pavlodar district, Kuibyshev region). In cases of partial healing, trepanation defects were of two kinds, either bevelled tapering inwards or similar in size in the two laminae. Skull (No 6285-4), found in Dniepropetrovsky district, Sinelnikovo region, belonged to a man aged 25—30. (Fig. 3). In the region of the left tuber frontale there is a circular defect 11x8 mm in size. A posthumous osseous defect is adjacent to the trepanation hole, diploë being partly closed and in some parts open. The patient must have lived about a year following operation. Anatomical and radiological examination of the skulls operated upon during the lifetime of their owners is unable to yield evidence as to the conditions for which trepanation was performed. No reactive changes in the structures with sclerotic changes prevailing, which is characteristic of osteomyelithic changes have been radiologically found. In 10 skulls trepanation holes has been made after death or not long before it. One should take into consideration, that it is impossible to distinguish between cases in which death occured during operation or immediately after it, and those made posthumously. Of the above 10, 6 skulls belonged to individuals aged from 30 to 50, 3 skulls to those about 18, and 1 to a 2 year old child. Of the same 10 skulls, 5 had single holes, 3 had 2 holes each, and in 2 skulls there were 3 holes. Defects were stiuated in the lefthand parietal bone in 5 skulls, in the righthand parietal bone in 4 skulls, in the frontal bone in the lefthand side in 2 skulls, and in the righthand side in 1 skull. 2 defects lay in the region of the sagittal suture, 2 were in the region of the coronary suture, and 1 was in the region of the occipital suture. Two skulls were from a barrow dating to the VIII —II millennium B. C, 1 skull dated to the I century B. C, 2 skulls dated to the I—IV ce. A. D., 1 skull dated to the VIII-X ce. A. D. Defects in the exterior lamina were greater in size than in the interior