Restoration and preservation of the anatomical specimens of the Museum of Pathological Anatomy at the University of Pisa

The recent establishment of the University Museum System, whose aim is to promote and enhance the University collections, encouraged the rearrangement of the Museum of Pathological Anatomy, currently not operating, because its precious pieces are stored in a warehouse. The economic support of the “Fondazione Pisa” permitted, in the last year, to begin the recovery and restoration of a part of the specimens. The collection consists in 1500 human and animal pathological specimens of great scientific relevance, some of which dated back to the Granducal period. The remains consist in pathological changes and congenital anomalies detected on human and animal bodies and organs, preserved in formaldehyde or dry. In particular, the Museum includes: a collection of 50 human bladder stones dating back to the first half of the 19th century; a collection of malformed human newborns documenting 25 rare congenital malformations, dating back to the end of 19th and the beginning of 20th century; a collection of animal teratology; a collection of helminthic parasitology. In the last 30 years, the Museum was then enriched with a collection of pieces from pathological autopsies, such as lung, cardio-vascular, renal, and brain diseases. The recovery was initially addressed to restore the wet preparations preserved in formaldehyde that required an urgent emergency. In fact, in many cases the evaporation of the liquid has determined the deterioration of the specimens; moreover, formalin was replaced with alcohol because it has been declared toxic and the new Museum dispositions require impose the substitution with not dangerous preserving liquids. In the GiPaleo Meeting a selection from over 100 artifacts restored will be exhibited.