Gaetano Corrado.A pioneer in ophthalmology, forensic medicine and... paleopathology

Abstract

Gaetano Corrado was born in Paglieta (central Italy) in 1858 and, after dealing with ophthalmology, became professor of forensic medicine at the Universities of Cagliari (1894) and Naples (1895). Forensic attitudes allowed him to carry out an extremely detailed study of the Cagliari mummy. After careful anthropological analyses he ascribed the mummy to a 50-60 year-old female, disproving the public rumour of a murdered pregnant woman. In analogy with other studies, he pointed out the role of acari in mummification process. By using a conservative anatomic approach, he paid attention to gross and histological identification of organs, as well as microbiologic and chemical analysis. His great talent was also expressed in anatomy, anthropology, rehabilitation of war cripples, public works planning and research for energy production. He died in Naples at the age of 76. We believe that his contributions, although done without a real paleopathological awareness, should not be forgotten.