[THE BLADDER STONE OF CARDINAL PIETRO BASADONNA (1617-1684) IN THE WORDS OF HIS PHYSICIAN ROMOLO SPEZIOLI (1642-1723)]. / DURA LA SORTE, S'ELLA É DI PIETRA: LA CALCOLOSI VESCICALE DEL CARDINALE PIETRO BASADONNA (1617-1684) NELLE PAROLE DI ROMOLO SPEZIOLI (1642-1723), SUO MEDICO CURANTE.

At the death of Cardinal Pietro Basadonna in 1684, his personal physician Romolo Spezioli wrote a report describing the disease, circumstances of death and autopsy findings of the illustrious prelate. This document, kept in the Biblioteca Civica at Jesi, is a significant attestation of the medical terminology and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures of the time. Even with the constraints that interpretation of a clinical account dating back over 300 years inevitably imposes, perusal of this report suggests that Cardinal Basadonna's demise could have been due to septic shock, consequent to a urinary infection caused by a bulky bladder stone.

Management of the bladder in traumatic injuries of the spinal cord during the First World War and its implications for the current practice of urology.

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Prior to the First World War, traumatic injuries to the spinal cord rapidly led to death from severe infections of the bladder. During the Second World War, Ludwig Guttmann resurrected the use of intermittent catheterisation at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, by meticulous attention to detail and was so successful, that this method was introduced into general urological practice. Historical review of the management of the bladder in patients with spinal injuries. Spinal injury patients--literature review--personal experience at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Review of the different methods of catheterisation from the 19th century to today. Methods learned from the management of the bladder of spinal injuries patients were adopted into mainstream urology.

Inicio de la docencia urológica en la universidad española. Dr. Alberto Suárez de Mendoza / The start of urological teaching in the Spanish University. Dr. Alberto Suárez de Mendoza

OBJETIVO: Presentamos la semblanza del Dr. Suárez de Mendoza, uno de los primeros urólogos formado en Urología en el Hospital Necker, de París, junto al Dr. Guyon, que abrió el campo a la creación de la especialidad en España y el primer profesor oficial de la asignatura en la Facultad de Medicina de Madrid. MÉTODO: Hemos revisado su expediente académico en el Archivo Histórico Nacional y buscado datos en la Facultad de Medicina y en el Colegio de Médicos madrileño sobre su presencia en España. Extraído de los Reales Decretos información sobre la escuela libre de Medicina y la creación de las especialidades médicas en los planes de estudios universitarios y, por último, analizamos su obra escrita. RESULTADO/CONCLUSIÓN: Consideramos al Dr. Suárez de Mendoza una de las personalidades que dieron entidad a la Urología en nuestro país, por su formación, por su amplitud de saberes y por su vasta experiencia, como profesor de la asignatura en la Universidad española, como autor de un gran número de trabajos publicados y como inventor por sus aportaciones al desarrollo de la anestesia y de la Urología. Su tratado, el primero en español que recoge con detalle las primeras innovaciones en los medios de exploración urológicos, nos permite conocer y valorar el progresivo avance y evolución del conocimiento que presenta la Urología

OBJECTIVES: We present a biographical sketch of Dr. Suarez de Mendoza, one of the first urologists trained as so in the Necker Hospital in Paris with Dr. Guyon, who opened the field to the creation of this speciality in Spain, and first official professor of the subject of in the Faculty of Medicine of Madrid. METHODS: We reviewed his academic expedient in the National Historical Archive and search for data about his presence in Spain in the Faculty of Medicine and Medical College of Madrid. From the Royal Decrees we obtained information about the Free School of Medicine, and the creation of medical specialities in the University study plans; finally, we analyzed his written works. RESULTS /CONCLUSIONS: We consider Dr. Suarez de Mendoza one of the personalities giving entity to Urology in our country, for his education, for the amplitudeof his knowledge, and for his wide experience, as professor of the subject in the Spanish University, as author of a great number of published works, and as inventor of his contributions to the development of anesthesia and urology. His treaty, the first in Spanish coveringin detail the innovations in urological examination methods, enables us to know and value the progressive advance and evolution of knowledge in urology

El magisterio del profesor D. Francisco Romero Aguirre / The teaching of Dr. Romero Aguirre

Objetivo: Con ocasión del fallecimiento del profesor D. Francisco Romero Aguirre (Zaragoza, 7.IV.1918-28.VI.2006) queremos poner de manifiesto su gran vocación docente, para lo que recorremos su vinculación a la Universidad desde el comienzo de sus estudios hasta su magisterio como primer catedrático de Urología de la Licenciatura en la Universidad española (1961), y su labor al frente de la Escuela Profesional de postgrado en Urología de la Universidad de Zaragoza. Métodos: Revisamos su biografía, su obra editada y las publicaciones de la Cátedra de Urología de la Universidad de Zaragoza y extraemos cuantas referencias encontramos de su actividad docente. Resultado: Desde el inicio de su formación académica mantuvo una constante unión con la Universidad y colaboró en todas las disciplinas con las que tuvo relación hasta lograr ser responsable de la enseñanza de la Urología. Su talante universitario y su gran preparación hicieron ver al catedrático de Patología Quirúrgica la conveniencia de separar la Urología del tronco común de la Cirugía, propuesta que, aceptada por el claustro de la Facultad de Medicina de Zaragoza y elevada al ministerio, dio lugar a la designación de la Urología como asignatura independiente en la Licenciatura de Medicina. Su labor como responsable estuvo marcada por el trabajo y constantes logros en las clases, por numerosas publicaciones, por realización de cursos de doctorado y monográficos de Urología y por la dirección de tesis y memorias, todo lo cual permitieron la creación de la Escuela profesional de especialización urológica con la que culminaron sus más de cuarenta años de dedicación al magisterio universitario. Conclusión: Encontramos en el profesor Romero una vida dedicada íntegramente entregada a la Universidad y a su magisterio. Su gran formación urológica y propedéutica hicieron que fuese la persona que reunía las condiciones y las aptitudes necesarias para hacerse cargo y desempeñar satisfactoriamente el puesto, en la Facultad de Medicina de Zaragoza, de responsable de la enseñanza de la Urología, que, gracias a su virtud y buen hacer, fue elevada por vez primera en la Licenciatura española al rango de asignatura (AU)

Objectives: After the death of Professor Francisco Romero Aguirre (Zaragoza 6/7/1918-6/28/2006) we want to make known his great teaching vocation, so that we covered his link with University from the start of his studies to his professorship as first professor in urology in the Spanish University (1961), and his work at the chairmanship of the Professional Postgraduate School of Urology in the University of Zaragoza. Methods: We reviewed his biography, his edited works and publications of the Urology Chair at the University of Zaragoza, and obtained as many references as we found about his teaching activity. Results: From the start of his academic training he kept a constant union with University and cooperated in all disciplines he had relation with before he got the responsibility of teaching urology. His university spirit and great formation had the chairman of surgical pathology see the convenience of separating urology from the common trunk of surgery, a proposal that, being accepted by the staff meeting of the Faculty of Medicine of Zaragoza and submitted to the Ministry resulted in the designation of urology as an independent subject in the degree of medicine. His labour as responsible was marked by work and continuous achievements in his classes, many publications, doctorate and urological monographic courses carried out, thesis and memories directed, all of which enabled him to create to the Professional Urological Specialization School, the culmination of more than 40 years dedicated to teaching in the university. Conclusions: We find Prof. Romero’s life completely dedicated to University and teaching. His wide urological and propedeutical formation made him a person who joined the necessary conditions and abilities to take the responsibility and carry out a satisfactory performance as responsible of teaching urology in the school of medicine of Zaragoza, a subject which thanks to his virtue and good performance was for the first time elevated to the level of independent subject (AU)

Management of urinary tract infections: historical perspective and current strategies: Part 1--Before antibiotics.

PURPOSE: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) have plagued mankind long before bacteria were recognized as the causative agents of disease and before urology became an established medical specialty. To our knowledge a comprehensive review of the recorded medical history of UTI from its first description in ancient Egyptian papyri through today has not been attempted until now. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Numerous resources were used to collect the information described in this review. Older textbooks from the school of medicine library at our institution were used to collect information on UTI in ancient times. Medical texts from the 19th century contains information regarding the treatment of UTI during that era. Early volumes of the Journal of Urology from the beginning of the 20th century are rich with information on the first attempts at chemotherapy for UTI. MEDLINE searches were used to collect appropriate information after 1969. RESULTS: The Ebers papyrus from ancient Egypt recommended herbal treatments to ameliorate urinary symptoms without providing insight into pathological mechanisms. Hippocrates believed that disease was caused by disharmony of the 4 humors and accordingly diagnosed urinary disorders. Roman medicine further expanded the conservative approach (bed rest, diet, narcotics and herbs) advocated by Greek physicians, while also improving invasive techniques (surgical lithotomy for stones and catheterization for retention). The Arabian physician Aetius refined uroscopy and created a detailed classification and interpretation of urinary disease based on this technique. During the Middle Ages no major advances occurred, although existing therapies were refined and treatments for gonococcal urethritis were well described. The early 19th century provided vivid and detailed descriptions of UTIs without the knowledge that they were caused by microorganisms. Management included hospitalization, bed rest, attention to diet, plasters, narcotics, herbal enemas and douches, judicious bleeding (direct bleeding, cupping and leeches), and surgery for stones, abscess and retention. The discovery of microorganisms as the etiological agents of infectious diseases in general and inflammation associated with urinary diseases in particular provided an impetus for physicians critically to examine management approaches and develop evidence based strategies for UTI treatment. Various antibacterial agents, such as hexamine, mercurochrome and others (hexylresorcinol, methylene blue, pyridium, acriflavin and mandelic acid), showed promise in laboratory studies but their efficacy in clinical investigations was disappointing. CONCLUSIONS: Treatments for UTI until the discovery of antibiotics were largely palliative because the bacterial origin of UTI was not recognized and no specific antimicrobial therapies were available.

Goethe almost died of urosepsis.

In the year of 1805, Goethe almost died of urosepsis. His urological problems were not diseases arising from full health but a new variation in a life accompanied by illnesses. Some sources date the first colics he experienced to the year 1795 and others say 1805. The most dramatic period in the course of his illness was in February, when he suffered from fever of such an extent that one could speak of urosepsis. Recovery took place slowly and was accompanied by minor relapses. Nothing about this is written down in his work. On the advice of his doctors, Goethe undertook a cure in Lauchstädt in July and August. The report of his consultant, Professor Johann Christian Reil, on his problems in the field of urology remained undiscovered until 1937. Professor Reil recommended treatment with thermae carolinae, aqua calcis, soap soda crystallisata, herbae subastringentes, and uva ursi, among other measures. With increasing age, Goethe's colics disappeared. The passing of a stone has never been described. Whereas Goethe hinted about medical problem other than those reported herein, the urological problems discussed in this article were left unmentioned. Nonetheless, literature that deals with Goethe's diseases is interesting from the aspect of both the history of medicine and the history of culture.

Reed Nesbit and pediatric urology.

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the pediatric urology experience and contributions of Reed Nesbit, a urologist known primarily as an educator, transurethral resectionist, and prostate expert. METHODS: The writings of Nesbit and appropriate background references were analyzed. RESULTS: Nesbit's contributions to pediatric urology, particularly the Cabot-Nesbit orchidopexy, the buttonhole preputial transposition, the dorsal tunical tuck for chordee, and the elliptical anastomosis were significant. CONCLUSIONS: Nesbit's contributions to pediatric urology were innovative and enduring.