Abstract
Simple SummaryHistorical pharmacies are cultural and scientific assets, and 482 of them have been catalogued thus far in Italy. The Navarra-Bragliani Pharmacy in Ferrara has valuable wood furniture dating back to the 18th century. In order to monitor and preserve it, a study on biodeteriogenic insects was carried out for the first time on the furnishing of this pharmacy, collecting insect samples and examining them by stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The presence of three species of Coleoptera was detected—the first one specialised to attack wood materials, the second one polyphagous, and the third one feeding on materials of animal origin. In addition to their use in the preservation of the precious furnishing of the Navarra-Bragliani Pharmacy, the results of this study could be useful for similar studies on other ancient pharmacies, in order to protect these valuable cultural and scientific assets.Historical pharmacies are valuable artistic, cultural, and scientific assets. In Italy, 482 historical pharmacies have been catalogued thus far, among which is the Navarra-Bragliani Pharmacy in Ferrara, whose wood furniture dates back to the 18th century. A study on insects causing biodeterioration was carried out for the first time on this valuable asset in order to monitor and preserve it. Insect samples were collected during surveys and examined by stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, using taxonomical keys for identification. The results revealed the presence of three species of Coleoptera—the first one specialised to attack wood materials, the second one polyphagous, and the third one feeding on materials of animal origin. The data obtained in this investigation may be useful for the preservation of the precious furnishing of the historical Navarra-Bragliani Pharmacy for performing similar studies on other ancient pharmacies aimed to protect these valuable cultural and scientific assets.
Highlights
According to data provided by Accademia Italiana di Storia della Farmacia (AISF) (Italian Academy of History of Pharmacy), 482 historical pharmacies have been catalogued until July 2021 in the Italian territory, and of these, 260 have been described in detail in the ‘Calendari’
The ‘Calendari’ are annual Special Issues published by AISF, cataloguing and describpharmacies known to date back to the 18th century is the Farmacia Navarra-Bragliani ing each year by text and images 13 Italian historical pharmacies [1]
The surveys conducted on the equipment and furniture of the historical NavarraBragliani Pharmacy confirmed the presence and activity of biodeteriogenic insects
Summary
Loren Anna Palazzo 1 , Chiara Beatrice Vicentini 1 , Maria Gabriella Marchetti 1 , Marilena Leis 1 , Milvia Chicca 1 , Chiara Scapoli 1 , Teresa Bonacci 2 and Marco Pezzi 1, *. Simple Summary: Historical pharmacies are cultural and scientific assets, and 482 of them have been catalogued far in Italy. The Navarra-Bragliani Pharmacy in Ferrara has valuable wood furniture dating back to the 18th century. The presence of three species of Coleoptera was detected—the first one specialised to attack wood materials, the second one polyphagous, and the third one feeding on materials of animal origin. In addition to their use in the preservation of the precious furnishing of the Navarra-Bragliani Pharmacy, the results of this study could be useful for similar studies on other ancient pharmacies, in order to protect these valuable cultural and scientific assets
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