Stable Carbon And Nitrogen Isotope Analysis Of Hair Suggests Undernourishment As A Factor In The Death Of A Mummified Girl From Late 19th Century San Francisco, California
September 2017
in “
PLoS ONE
”
Studysummary This study hypothesizes that a mummified 19th Century girl in San Francisco died of severe undernourishment potentially due to a bacterial-borne disease, highlighting historical health challenges mitigated by modern sanitation and medicine. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
The study analyzed carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in the hair of a mummified girl from late 19th century San Francisco, revealing dietary patterns and health status in her last 14 months. Initially, her diet was omnivorous with minimal marine or C4 plant intake. However, a significant increase in δ15N levels, particularly in the last two months of her life, indicated severe undernourishment or starvation. This finding, combined with historical records of high child mortality due to infectious diseases, suggested that she likely succumbed to a prolonged illness. The study underscored the significant improvements in health and lifespan brought about by modern sanitation and medicine since the 1800s.
