[An orbital exostosis, the history of its removal and didactic presentation in the XIXth century and today ...].

During a meeting on Paleopathology an anatomic piece dating back to 1853 was presented by Dr Thillaud. It consisted of a right hemiskull, the orbital cavity of which was entirely filled by a bone tumour, which was considered as benignant according to all macroscopic paleopathological and radiological criteria. The situation of the tumour in the skeleton was surprising, considering the report in the Dupuytren Museum catalogue which mentioned its removal and a long survival of the patient after the operation. After some research, it was possible to find out all details of the case history, of the removal of the tumour and of its aberrant presentation in the skull which was solely done in a didactic purpose, as far back as 1853. This observation is a further proof of the interest of written documents in Paleopathology and of the evident connexion of this discipline with the History of Medicine.