The distinguished surgeon Bertrand Bécane (1728-1802?) and the syphilitic theory of cancer.

Bertrand Bécane, Professor of surgery in Toulouse Medical School, is considered an eminent precursor of oncology, influencing the 18th century medicine with his syphilitic theory of cancer.

The quarrel between iatromechanists and animists about the cause of cancer: lymph's role in oncogenesis.

In the 17th century, iatromechanists based to the solidist theory for the lymphatic system and lymph established a new speculation for the essential role of lymph in oncogenesis, while animists gave their own views in relation to the cause of cancer. Gradually, with the rise of pathological anatomy, new more rational theories have emerged.

The breast: from Ancient Greek myths to Hippocrates and Galen.

This is a historical article about Ancient Greek literature from mythological times until the first centuries AD with regard to the female breast. We endeavoured to collect several elegant narratives on the topic as well as to explore the knowledge of Ancient Greek doctors on the role, physiology and pathology of breast and the treatment of its diseases. We identified such descriptions in myths regarding Amazons, Hercules, Zeus, Hera and Amaltheia. Furthermore, descriptions on the topic were also found in the work of Hippocrates, Aristoteles, Soranos, Alexander of Aphrodisias, Celsus, Archigenis, Leonides, Galen and Oribasius. We may conclude that some of today's medical knowledge or practice regarding the breast was also known in the historical period.

Lithotomy by empirical doctors in the 19th century: a traditional surgical technique that lasted through the centuries.

PURPOSE: Lithotomy is an ancient surgical procedure, well-known in the history of urology. We describe the method as it was performed by empirical doctors in Greece during the 19th century and compare it to older techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The original Greek text of a doctor's autobiography includes a description of a lateral perineal cystotomy performed by empirical doctors in 1818. The technique is compared with that described by Celsus and Byzantine medical writers. RESULTS: A study of the sources revealed that the 2 itinerant doctors who specialized in lithotomy used a lateral perineal cystotomy to remove stones from the bladder. Consent was obtained from the parents of the patient. The patient adopted the standard lithotomy position, the surgeon located the stone with his finger via the anus and immobilized it, and made a lateral perineal incision to remove it. A newly killed fowl was then placed on the wound. CONCLUSIONS: The ancient surgical lithotomy technique seems to have been passed on almost unchanged from father to son and has influenced urology in Europe since the time of Celsus (1st century AD) and the Byzantine surgeon Paul of Aegina (7th century AD). Postoperative therapy is similar to that of other Byzantine techniques, and it is interesting that written informed consent was obtained, signed in the presence of witnesses.

Semen and the diagnosis of infertility in Aristotle.

Aristotle (384-322bc) was one of the leading intellectual figures of all time. In his work he systematised a massive amount of knowledge on a diverse range of subjects, including medicine. This article discusses the observations and hypotheses of this great philosopher on semen and infertility, as they are presented in his work Generation of Animals. This is combined with an evaluation of his positions in relation to those of the Hippocratic Corpus on the same subject. An extensive review of Aristotle's work Generation of Animals was performed with particular focus on his perspectives about semen and infertility. Publications referring to this work were also reviewed. According to Aristotle, semen is that which contains the principles that come from both parents when they unite. He believed that semen was formed by the secretion of nutriments by the body, developing his theories of sterility on this basic principle. A lack of fertility is attributed to genetic or acquired causes. He proposed methods for diagnosing sterility, primarily the 'water test' for men and the 'pessary' method for women. Even if his observations contain clear mistakes, such as attributing only secondary functions to male testicles and the identification of menses as women's 'seed', Aristotle's views also contain keen observations and exceptional thinking, both on the characteristics of semen and the causes of sterility (infertility).