Brief communication: The Galler Collection: A little-known historic Swiss bone pathology reference series

• Published in: American journal of physical anthropology Vol. 121; no. 1; pp. 15 - 18
• Main Authors: Rühli, Frank J., Hotz, Gerhard, Böni, Thomas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.05.2003
• Subjects: Anthropology; autopsy; Bone Diseases - history; Forensic Anthropology; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; human; Humans; medicine; Morphology; Museums - history; Pathology; Pathology - history; Physical anthropology; skeletal; Specimen Handling; Switzerland; Switzerland
• ISSN: 0002-9483; 1096-8644
• DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.10219

The aim of this article is to briefly present the Galler Collection, a little‐known historic Swiss bone reference series of high value for paleopathological research. The Galler Collection consists of approximately 600 mostly dry‐bone specimens of many major bone diseases dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Clinical information and autopsy reports are available for the majority of specimens. Rarely documented conditions represented in the collection include: severe forms of myositis ossificans progressiva, kyphoscoliosis, endemic cretinism, hypo‐ and hyperparathyroidism, and phosphorus‐induced bone necrosis. At present, the Galler Collection is located at the National History Museum in Basel (Augustinergasse 2, 4001 Basel, Switzerland, Telephone: +41612665500, Fax: +41612665546). Am J Phys Anthropol 121:000–000, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.