Archeometric detection of mercury: A paleopharmacological case study of skeletal remains of a child with vitamin deficiencies (Rouen, France, late 18-19th centuries).

Objective: The French medico-historical literature reports the common use of mercury-based treatments until the mid-19th century. An exploratory paleopharmacological approach is presented for detecting mercury in a child's skeletal remains suffering from vitamin deficiencies. This aims to corroborate written sources and provide a way to better understand disease therapeutic management.

Materials: This study focuses on a 3-4-year-old child showing signs of rickets and possible scurvy from "rue Thubeuf" cemetery (Rouen, late 18-19th centuries). Analysis was carried out on a thoracic vertebral body and the right second deciduous mandibular molar.

Methods: Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) and cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy (CV-AAS) provided mercury detection and quantification. Micro-CT analysis was implemented to detect the interglobular dentine potentially related to vitamin D deficiency.

Results: The ED-XRF spectrum showed a mercury peak for the vertebra, none for the molar. The vertebra CV-AAS analysis revealed a high mercury rate of 9.373 mg/kg.

Conclusions: The individual was likely exposed to high mercury levels originating from therapeutic treatment, potentially for vitamin deficiencies, in the last months of life.

Significance: Paleopharmacological analysis is an important tool in the analysis of medical treatment in the past.

Limitations: Soil analysis could contribute to improved knowledge of contamination sources.

Further Research: This approach should be expanded to more individuals to better assess the treatment frequency of vitamin deficiency diseases during industrialization.