The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-14


following results:-The chest was of such rude
workmanship as to render 1t evident that it had
been made by person wholly unskIlled in the
art of carpentry; one of the sides measured IT'S
centimetres, while the opposite side, witch
should have been of the same length, only mea-
sured 74'S centimetres. The two inscriptions
were not cut in the centre of the superdcies of
the sides OF the chest, but were placed in rregu-
gular positions. That on the outside is as fol-
lows:-
DANTIs ossA
A NE FIRE. ANTONIO sANTI
PosITA
ANo 1877 DIE l8 oCToBRIs.
The other inscription within the chest runs
thus:-
DANTIs ossA
DENUPEB (s1c) REvIsA 3a IUNU.
1917.
The first inscription is in larger characters
than the second but the letters are not so deeply
cut; both inscriptions however, have evidently
been craven by the same nand. The characters
oil the two inscriptions were also found to be,
in almost all respects, similar to those IN
book written by the same Ere. Antonio Sant
preserved in the archives OF the municipality.
The identity OF the characters Is very apparent
in the small as well rs large latters. but espe-
cially in the cadital Dis, which in the book as
well as in the inscriptions within and without
the chest, consist, so to speak, OF three por-
tlons, being, according TO three persons from
Bologna, BelgaIno, and Ravcnna sKtlleu in
writing, the work ct the same hand.
Thus we have the strongest evidence that ltalyis
indebted to this Frate Santl ior the preservation
OF Dante's remains; for he it was who, at time
OF impending danger, had placed the precious
bones in a locality where they would be sa e.
The Commissioners were, therefore, very
naturally extremely deSlrous of ascertalning
who this FTate Santi was. Their researches
which were long and laborious, showed that his
parents we're Leonardo and Elisabetta Ingolt;
that he was born on The Sd August, l644, in
Ravenna; became member OF the Frau Minor,
and that in 1877, when he placed the chest
within the wall, he was Chancellor of the Con-
vent of San Francisco. The archives OF this
establishment contain his official signature as
Chancellor to capltuary documents between
1872 and 1879. Subsequently Frate Santi was
elected guardian or head OF his convent.
The commissioners draw especial attention TO
the fact, that between the 10Th May and goth
June, 1917, and between the Sd and goth October
OF the same year, there are no official records
showing thai The chapter of the convent met
during those periods, and they deduce from this
TACT the inference, that the abstraction OF Danta's
remains from .heir original sepulchre, and
placing them in their new restng-place, was
secret known only to Santl and few other per-
sons; the more likely to be kept as 10 meetings
OF the chapter were held at the time when the
poets remains were removed.
We now come to one of the most interesting
parts of the report-the examination OF the
bones found in the chest. This appears to have
been made with great care and skill, the Com
missioners having had the assistance OF the
highest anatomical authorities
The bones, they state are those of robust
teriorly, they are rather black, presenting the
| appearance that homes generally have when long
| enclosed in metallic, MARBLE or wooden recep-
| tacles. Their texture has not undergone any
| remarkable alteration, and what is even more
surprising is the fact that with the exception of
| the round headed artculations at the extremity
OF certain long bones and in some localities OF the
Uranium, no important change from time or
damp Is apparent.
| 1t was found that the bones, compared with q
| perfect human skeleton, wanted precisely those
| portions which were found in the original seoul
| chre; and 1t was further noticed that the hue OF
| the surface of those phalanges was similar to
| that OF the bones fouud in Frate Santis wooden
| chest. The length of the skeleton was one metre
| and ffty-fve centimetres. If to this length be
added that of the soft parts, such as the carti.
lages ETC., of the human subject when living, it
| follows that the bones were those of a man OF
middle stature. The weight of the bones, with
| out the head, was four kiogrammes and l5C
| grammes; the Uranium weighed 730 grammes.
Examination OF the skeleton of the trunk,
and of the four eXtremjties, showed that tht
clavicles were considerably curved-due TO the
| resistance of the humerl and scapulars-as were
also the bones of the thigh, legs, and feet. The
sacrum was found Joined to the first portion Of
the coccyX. The temurs were torty-four cent?
metres and five millimetres long.
As might be expected, the portion of thPs(
osseou5 remains which engaged the creates
attention, and were snbject to the most detailed
examination, was the Cranlum, which in al
human skeletons must be considered the mos
noble portion, as being The seat of the brain
always regarded by anatomists as closely cen
nected with the thinking organs OF man. Ii
In order to ascertain the probable weight o
this organ, the cavity which enclo ed the brair
was filed with grams OF rice, which weighed
one kilogramme and 420 grammes, equal Il
3'l3l9 pounds avoirdupOis. Very accurate mea
suTemente were made of various parts of th
Uranium, the principal only OF which are sub
joined. The diameter from the occiput to thu
frontal bone was thirty.one centimetres ant
seven millimetres; the Transverse diameter
taken between the ears, thirty-one centim etre
and eight millimetres; and the vertical diamete
fourteen centimetres.
The periphery OF the Uranium. measured
along two lines starting respec lively from
points ON each side OF the most projecting par
of the occipital protuberance, and terminatin!
at the nasal protuberance was fiitytwo cent
metres and five nillimetres.
Particular attention is drawn in the Report t.
the Circumstance that the upper jaw had beel
furnished with only Cwo incisors (the centra
incisors) instead of four, and that the rig ht las
| molar tooth had not been naturally developed
Various pTommences were extremely con
spicuous on Dante's skull; one in particular wa
remarkable Tor its great size. 1t was stuate
! near the MIDDLE and upper part OF the fronta
bone and was OF longitudinal form. Thougl
not acknowledging themselves TO be disciples o
Gall or SpurZheim, the Commissioners draw
particular attention TO these prominences, ant
stale that, according to the laws OF phrenology
Dante largely possessed the organs Of benevo
lence, religion, Veneration, independence, sell
| | esteem, prde conscientiousness mechanics
design, sculpture, and architecture.
Finally, the Commissioners declare with u
} tifabe PRIDE that Dante's skull denotes tn
highest order of brain power, being precsel
| similar in conformation to the skulls OF thos
individuals who have held supreme dominic
over the minds Of men, and have been the tru