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 A $200 donation buys the preservation of one of 139 skulls dating
back to the 19th century in a collection at the Mütter Museum of the
College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
Subtle vibrations from footsteps of museum patrons have caused the
skulls, which have been on continuous display for more than 100
years, to lose or crack their teeth, said curator Anna Dhody.
"They need help," she said. "They need saving."
Money raised through the Save Our Skulls campaign will be used to
build better mounts.
The skulls were amassed by 19th-century Viennese scientist Josef
Hyrtl to debunk the study of phrenology, the belief that the shape
of a skull determines a person's moral caliber and that different
races are actually different species.
"By collecting predominantly Caucasian skulls, he showed the vast
degree of variation," Dhody said.
In doing so, she said, he was able to prove that sweeping statements
based on skull shape were not accurate. "For that he was forced into
early retirement."
Hyrtl's skulls were collected by means that today would be
considered unethical, including employing body snatchers who stole
them from graves, according to historical documents. They came
from a wide geographic area, including Egypt, the Balkans, Germany
and what is now Italy. He sold them to the museum in 1874.
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Donors can choose a specific skull to sponsor from a list on the
museum's website. Still available is the one from Stef Milanovic, a
24-year-old who died while imprisoned in a fortress.
In exchange, donors or their loved ones receive a photograph of the
sponsored skull, a plaque, and their name shown next to the display
for 12 months.
The museum, initially designed for medical students, is now open to
the general public. Visitors can see an extensive collection of
19th-century medical oddities, including a massive human colon.
Besides its historical significance, the Hyrtl collection has
contemporary uses. Scans of the skulls appear in research databases
used for medical purposes, identify human remains and aid in
designing bicycle helmets, Dhody said.
(Editing by Barbara Goldberg and Lisa Von Ahn)
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