16 • Susan Pfeiffer 



This evidence has been used to some good effect to predict 

 environmental conditions under which tuberculosis is likely 

 to be most virulent. It could be used in a similar fashion to 

 elucidate the etiology of other conditions such as otitis me- 

 dia, congenital hip dysplasia, and low peak bone mass. Pal- 

 eopathological evidence is consistent with preliminary ob- 

 servations of low bone density in modern natives and is 

 predictive of future osteoporosis. Finally, a retrospective 

 study of bone metabolism through paleopathological evi- 

 dence could be very helpful in understanding the metabolic 

 pathway underlying the New World Syndrome. 



Thus, paleopathology can be of some predictive utility, 

 and can help us improve the health of contemporary Indians 

 and Inuit. It can be more useful in the future if: (a) a racial 

 (biological) component is acknowledged where present and 

 quantified in ethnic disease ditTerences, (b) paleopathologi- 

 cal studies are designed with specific contemporary health 

 problems in mind, (c) such studies are pursued using an 

 epidemiological approach, and (d) paleopathologists convey 

 their relevant knowledge directly to practitioners and health 

 professionals. 



Acknowledgment 



This work benefited from comments offered by A. Herring 

 and M. Mahaney, who read an earlier version of the manu- 

 script. 



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