Anatomical and pathological terms in Akkadian: Part IV

Abstract

It is known that the worderimmaturefers to an ornament of beads which is worn round the neck. It sometimes appears in medical prognostic texts, and it is here proposed that such passages refer to a skin lesion, although Labat was unable to identify the actual disease.The ZÁ.NUNUZ.MEŠ (erimmatu) is closely associated in these texts with general symptoms of illness and may well be an integral part of the disease. Although it is never actually referred to as a disease, its close association with descriptive terms used in omen texts concerned with the exta, does suggest an abnormal tissue. The description of the lesion affecting the region of the neck is characteristic of that which occurs in pellagra, and is referred to as the “necklace of Cajal”. A deficiency of the vitamin niacin in the diet causes pellagra. There is increased pigmentation, roughening and thickening of the skin, particularly in the exposed areas around the neck, on the backs of the hands and on the dorsum of the feet.