A Unique Case of Stroke and Upper Limb Paralysis in a Mid-18th Century Natural Mummy.

Despite its globally acknowledged importance in the clinical setting, the history of stroke has to date only been reconstructed through historical descriptions, whereas no clear palaeopathological evidence has ever been adduced. Here, a unique case of a naturally mummified body from the mid-18th century is shown to have a high degree of contracture of the upper left hand, whereas coeval documentary sources clearly indicate that the patient experienced a stroke in the last phase of his life that left him disabled. This example highlights how a combination of historical research and traditional palaeopathology can help in the reassessment of the presence of cerebrovascular diseases in the past.