E.J. Squire, P.P. Broka and V.A. Horsley as founders of paleoanthropology and paleopathology
https://doi.org/10.63769/1683-3295-2026-28-2-122-134
Abstract
Scientific interest in craniotomy arose only in the second half of the 19th century after a pre-Columbian trepanned skull brought from the expedition by E.D. Squier. The subsequent study of this find by the French surgeon P.P. Broca, taking into account his anthropological and medical knowledge, helped create an exciting atmosphere in which scientists reflected on what Neolithic and primitive people actually knew about the brain and surgery. V.A. Horsley postulated that trepanation originated as a way to treat pain and epilepsy caused by depressed cranial fractures. Like P.P. Brock before him, V.A. Horsley aroused scientific interest, prompting others in the late 1800s to research and write about ancient trepanations.
About the Authors
A. Yu. Ulitin
A.L. Polenov Russian Scientific Research Neurosurgical Institute – branch of the V.A. Almazov National Medical Research Center, Ministry of Health of Russia
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
12 Mayakovsky St., Saint Petersburg 191014
V. V. Ramensky
A.L. Polenov Russian Scientific Research Neurosurgical Institute – branch of the V.A. Almazov National Medical Research Center, Ministry of Health of Russia
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Vladislav Vladimirovich Ramensky
12 Mayakovsky St., Saint Petersburg 191014
N. E. Voinov
A.L. Polenov Russian Scientific Research Neurosurgical Institute – branch of the V.A. Almazov National Medical Research Center, Ministry of Health of Russia
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
12 Mayakovsky St., Saint Petersburg 191014
G. A. Ulitin
S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy of Ministry of Defense of Russia
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
lit. Ж, 6 Akademika Lebedeva St., Saint Petersburg 194044
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Review
For citations:
Ulitin A.Yu., Ramensky V.V., Voinov N.E., Ulitin G.A. E.J. Squire, P.P. Broka and V.A. Horsley as founders of paleoanthropology and paleopathology. Russian journal of neurosurgery. 2026;28(2):122-134. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.63769/1683-3295-2026-28-2-122-134
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