Constantinos Trompoukis | University of Crete (original) (raw)
Papers by Constantinos Trompoukis
Clinics in Dermatology, 2016
Journal of B.U.ON. : official journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology
While conventional treatment of penile cancer consists of total penile amputation and bilateral l... more While conventional treatment of penile cancer consists of total penile amputation and bilateral lymphadenectomy, recently a more conservative strategy comprising penile-preserving surgery and selective lymphadenectomy has been applied in order to preserve the penis and to minimize unnecessary inguinal lymphadenectomy. A thorough literature survey was performed to see what was already known of the surgical treatment of penile tumours in ancient times. In the Byzantine period, surgery appeared to have been highly developed, as one may conclude from the surgical material included mainly in the works of Oribasius of Pergamus and Paul of Aegina. Being aware of cancer, they described in their medical encyclopaedias malignant and benign tumours of the prepuce and glans penis, as well as their surgical and non-surgical management. After local excision of malignant tumours, they strongly recommended burning to prevent relapse, whereas they discouraged simultaneous removal of external and int...
Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology
In distant eras, mythology was a form of expression used by many peoples. A study of the Greek my... more In distant eras, mythology was a form of expression used by many peoples. A study of the Greek myths reveals concealed medical knowledge, in many cases relating to the eye. An analysis was made of the ancient Greek texts for mythological references relating to an understanding of vision, visual abilities, the eye, its congenital and acquired abnormalities, blindness, and eye injuries and their treatment. The Homeric epics contain anatomical descriptions of the eyes and the orbits, and an elementary knowledge of physiology is also apparent. The concept of the visual field can be seen in the myth of Argos Panoptes. Many myths describe external eye disease ("knyzosis"), visual disorders (amaurosis), and cases of blinding that, depending on the story, are ascribed to various causes. In addition, ocular motility abnormalities, congenital anomalies (cyclopia), injuries, and special treatments, such as the "licking" method, are mentioned. The study of mythological refer...
Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology
Trachoma is an ancient disease that has survived until the present day and represents the most co... more Trachoma is an ancient disease that has survived until the present day and represents the most common cause of infectious blindness globally. This study reviews the main Greek medical sources of the period from the 1st to 7th century AD and presents the medical knowledge relating to trachoma, including its definition, clinical features, diagnosis, complications, and treatment. It was widely accepted that trachoma was a disease of the palpebral conjunctiva, and the different stages of trachoma were described in detail. However, it is unclear whether the stages of trichiasis and pannus were identified as trachoma complications. The extensive references to the treatment of trachoma during the Byzantine period provide a strong argument for the case that trachoma was one of the most serious and common eye diseases. Both surgical and pharmaceutical treatments were often applied at the same time. Occasionally, surgical treatment could be rather dramatic, involving the use of stiff fig leav...
ANZ Journal of Surgery, 2015
Although current progress in surgical instruments is oriented towards stapler devices, minimally ... more Although current progress in surgical instruments is oriented towards stapler devices, minimally invasive instrumentation and advanced cautery tools, it definitely seems intriguing to determine what instruments were used in antiquity and to appraise their use. Most adequate information can be retrieved from manuscripts of early medical authors, of whom Paul of Aegina (AD 625-690), also being a most important surgeon, is the most recent. The aim of this study is to present surgical instruments used in his practice. Surgical instruments mentioned in the original Greek text of his monumental work named Epitome of Medicine were sought using computer software. Further, similar research was performed on other significant manuscripts of earlier Greek medical writers to determine whether some of the instruments were exclusively mentioned by Paul of Aegina. In total, 121 different surgical instruments were identified and described in detail in the Epitome of Medicine. Thirty-three instruments (27%) were exclusively reported by Paul of Aegina. In antiquity a large number of surgical instruments were already being used. Paul of Aegina described in detail a large variety of fine, as well as a substantial number of, original surgical instruments, which he himself used in a wide spectrum of surgical operations.
Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 2010
Nowadays, as in the past, much attention is paid to aesthetic operations in women, while only inf... more Nowadays, as in the past, much attention is paid to aesthetic operations in women, while only infrequently have such operations been referred to in males. Generally, male aesthetic surgery was introduced to surgical practise during the 19th century. In this study, we analysed the practise of such operations in Byzantine times and in other ancient cultures with surgical knowledge, i.e. ancient India and China The sixth book of Paul of Aegina's "Epitome of Medicine" was studied for description of aesthetic operations in males in the Byzantine period, since this book is completely devoted to surgery and is generally considered to be the most important reference for surgery in Byzantine times. The original text and its excellent translation by Francis Adams were used. References concerning aesthetic operations for males were identified. Accordingly, historical work and reviews on plastic surgery in ancient India and China were studied. Mainly, two aesthetic surgical procedures for males in the Byzantine period were identified. These two procedures comprise gynaecomastia and rhacosis (scrotal relaxation). Two different techniques were reported for the surgical management of gynaecomastia, through sub-mammary or supra-mammary access. Two procedures were noted for rhacosis, for which Paul of Aegina reproduced the respective chapters from Leonides' and Antyllus' works. Evidence supporting male aesthetic surgery in ancient India and China or elsewhere was not found. Despite the dubious aesthetic result, the existence of different aesthetic surgical techniques in males substantiate the advanced level of surgery achieved by physicians in the Byzantine period.
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 2011
The earliest reports on removal of the entire tonsil using a method of careful dissection came in... more The earliest reports on removal of the entire tonsil using a method of careful dissection came in the early 1900 s by American and British otorhinolaryngologists. These descriptions are credited as the first of the so-called modern tonsillectomy. In this report we present a technique of tonsillectomy conceived by Nikolaos Taptas, a Greek physician and citizen of the Ottoman Empire, which was introduced at the same period with the ones previously mentioned. Taptas practiced his technique in the very early 1900 s. He used his own instruments and reported excellent post-operative results with very few complications. He should therefore be considered among the pioneers of modern tonsillectomy.
Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology, 2007
Background: In distant eras, mythology was a form of expression used by many peoples. A study of ... more Background: In distant eras, mythology was a form of expression used by many peoples. A study of the Greek myths reveals concealed medical knowledge, in many cases relating to the eye. Methods: An analysis was made of the ancient Greek texts for mythological references relating to an understanding of vision, visual abilities, the eye, its congenital and acquired abnormalities, blindness, and eye injuries and their treatment. Results: The Homeric epics contain anatomical descriptions of the eyes and the orbits, and an elementary knowledge of physiology is also apparent. The concept of the visual field can be seen in the myth of Argos Panoptes. Many myths describe external eye disease ("knyzosis"), visual disorders (amaurosis), and cases of blinding that, depending on the story, are ascribed to various causes. In addition, ocular motility abnormalities, congenital anomalies (cyclopia), injuries, and special treatments, such as the "licking" method, are mentioned. Interpretation: The study of mythological references to the eye reveals reliable medical observations of the ancient Greeks, which are concealed within the myths.
Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology / Journal Canadien d'Ophtalmologie, 2007
Trachoma is an ancient disease that has survived until the present day and represents the most co... more Trachoma is an ancient disease that has survived until the present day and represents the most common cause of infectious blindness globally. This study reviews the main Greek medical sources of the period from the 1st to 7th century AD and presents the medical knowledge relating to trachoma, including its definition, clinical features, diagnosis, complications, and treatment. It was widely accepted that trachoma was a disease of the palpebral conjunctiva, and the different stages of trachoma were described in detail. However, it is unclear whether the stages of trichiasis and pannus were identified as trachoma complications. The extensive references to the treatment of trachoma during the Byzantine period provide a strong argument for the case that trachoma was one of the most serious and common eye diseases. Both surgical and pharmaceutical treatments were often applied at the same time. Occasionally, surgical treatment could be rather dramatic, involving the use of stiff fig leaves or a chisel. Nevertheless, the prognosis was always poor, and the disease developed over the years until it threatened the cornea.
Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Medical Ethics Law and History, 2002
Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 2013
Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, 2003
The goal of this report is to describe the therapeutic methods and surgical techniques used by Hi... more The goal of this report is to describe the therapeutic methods and surgical techniques used by Hippocrates (5th century BC) in the treatment of nasal injuries. We studied the original Greek texts of the (generally considered genuine) Hippocratic book Mochlicon and, especially, the analytical On Joints. We identified the treatments and techniques applied to the restoration of injured noses. We found that Hippocrates classified nasal injuries, from simple contusions of soft tissues to complicated fractures. Hippocrates provided detailed instructions for each case, from poultice application and bandaging to reconstruction and reshaping of the nasal bones in cases of fractures and deviation. Hippocrates' texts reflect the interest of the classical period in nasal injuries, a common enough accident in athletics. Hippocratic conservative and surgical management for each form of injury was adopted by later physicians and influenced European medicine.
The Laryngoscope, 2003
To report on the career of Professor Nicolas Taptas of Constantinople (1871-1955) and his contrib... more To report on the career of Professor Nicolas Taptas of Constantinople (1871-1955) and his contribution to the development of an artificial larynx. Historical review. The unpublished documents of Taptas's family archives and one of his papers, describing his own original technique for voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomies, were studied. In his texts, Taptas described the application of external laryngeal prostheses in one of his patients who underwent total laryngectomy. Taptas meticulously recorded his own first successful attempt in a woman with cancer of the larynx. He was one of the first scientists who, at the end of the 19th century, devised an external laryngeal prosthesis, which had the advantage of rehabilitating a sufficiently strong whispering voice; by using a prototype valve, he avoided problems of aspiration of liquids and food to the bronchi. Nicolas Taptas's contribution to the development of the artificial larynx was vital because he devised and applied one of the first external laryngeal artificial prostheses with satisfactory functional results.
Journal of medical biography, 2003
A medical school was founded in Constantinople in 1827. Greek medics were involved with the new s... more A medical school was founded in Constantinople in 1827. Greek medics were involved with the new school right from its foundation, mainly because they had studied in Europe and knew other European and Asian languages. This paper reviews the lives of five of them: Stefanos Caratheodory; Constantinos Caratheodory; Sarantis Archigenis; Spyridon Mavrogenis; and Marco Pitsipio (Apostolidi Pasha), who was appointed a director of the Medical School. A few of the other Greek professors are also briefly discussed.
Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 2008
Pregnancy and labour are holy moments in a woman&... more Pregnancy and labour are holy moments in a woman's life. Even in Greek mythology we can find descriptions of them. We searched in the Greek myths to find descriptions of labours of ancient heroes and gods. We identified descriptions of extracorporeal fertilization, superfecundation, ectopic pregnancy, preterm labour, prolonged pregnancy and Caesarean section. The use of imagination could help the reader to find similarities in present or future developments in the field of obstetrics. It could be concluded that various aspects of modern obstetrical practice are described in Greek mythology.
The Journal of Urology, 2007
Lithotomy is an ancient surgical procedure, well-known in the history of urology. We describe the... more 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. 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. 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. 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.
History of Psychiatry, 2008
Although psychiatry was the last among the major branches of medicine to be recognized, taught an... more Although psychiatry was the last among the major branches of medicine to be recognized, taught and practised as a separate speciality, it is commonly accepted that even in antiquity there was a clear desire to study and understand mental illnesses, although they were not seen as distinct from physical diseases. Melampous is a figure balanced between historical reality and myth.
Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 2007
Headache makes up a major chapter in the writings of the great medical authors of the Byzantine p... more Headache makes up a major chapter in the writings of the great medical authors of the Byzantine period (324 to 1453 CE). This important period was the natural link between antiquity and the Renaissance, one that is greatly appreciated by researchers of the history of medicine. A detailed analysis was made of the original Greek medical texts, of the most important Byzantine physicians in order to relate their descriptions to the recent classification according to the International Headache Society criteria. The "Byzantine Classification" of headache follows the ancient tradition, adopting the main classifications already described. Byzantine authors passed on the earlier knowledge, adding some subcategories and some more descriptions and therapeutic options. In many cases, subcategories and descriptions are reminiscent of the modern classification and corresponding criteria.
Clinics in Dermatology, 2016
Journal of B.U.ON. : official journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology
While conventional treatment of penile cancer consists of total penile amputation and bilateral l... more While conventional treatment of penile cancer consists of total penile amputation and bilateral lymphadenectomy, recently a more conservative strategy comprising penile-preserving surgery and selective lymphadenectomy has been applied in order to preserve the penis and to minimize unnecessary inguinal lymphadenectomy. A thorough literature survey was performed to see what was already known of the surgical treatment of penile tumours in ancient times. In the Byzantine period, surgery appeared to have been highly developed, as one may conclude from the surgical material included mainly in the works of Oribasius of Pergamus and Paul of Aegina. Being aware of cancer, they described in their medical encyclopaedias malignant and benign tumours of the prepuce and glans penis, as well as their surgical and non-surgical management. After local excision of malignant tumours, they strongly recommended burning to prevent relapse, whereas they discouraged simultaneous removal of external and int...
Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology
In distant eras, mythology was a form of expression used by many peoples. A study of the Greek my... more In distant eras, mythology was a form of expression used by many peoples. A study of the Greek myths reveals concealed medical knowledge, in many cases relating to the eye. An analysis was made of the ancient Greek texts for mythological references relating to an understanding of vision, visual abilities, the eye, its congenital and acquired abnormalities, blindness, and eye injuries and their treatment. The Homeric epics contain anatomical descriptions of the eyes and the orbits, and an elementary knowledge of physiology is also apparent. The concept of the visual field can be seen in the myth of Argos Panoptes. Many myths describe external eye disease ("knyzosis"), visual disorders (amaurosis), and cases of blinding that, depending on the story, are ascribed to various causes. In addition, ocular motility abnormalities, congenital anomalies (cyclopia), injuries, and special treatments, such as the "licking" method, are mentioned. The study of mythological refer...
Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology
Trachoma is an ancient disease that has survived until the present day and represents the most co... more Trachoma is an ancient disease that has survived until the present day and represents the most common cause of infectious blindness globally. This study reviews the main Greek medical sources of the period from the 1st to 7th century AD and presents the medical knowledge relating to trachoma, including its definition, clinical features, diagnosis, complications, and treatment. It was widely accepted that trachoma was a disease of the palpebral conjunctiva, and the different stages of trachoma were described in detail. However, it is unclear whether the stages of trichiasis and pannus were identified as trachoma complications. The extensive references to the treatment of trachoma during the Byzantine period provide a strong argument for the case that trachoma was one of the most serious and common eye diseases. Both surgical and pharmaceutical treatments were often applied at the same time. Occasionally, surgical treatment could be rather dramatic, involving the use of stiff fig leav...
ANZ Journal of Surgery, 2015
Although current progress in surgical instruments is oriented towards stapler devices, minimally ... more Although current progress in surgical instruments is oriented towards stapler devices, minimally invasive instrumentation and advanced cautery tools, it definitely seems intriguing to determine what instruments were used in antiquity and to appraise their use. Most adequate information can be retrieved from manuscripts of early medical authors, of whom Paul of Aegina (AD 625-690), also being a most important surgeon, is the most recent. The aim of this study is to present surgical instruments used in his practice. Surgical instruments mentioned in the original Greek text of his monumental work named Epitome of Medicine were sought using computer software. Further, similar research was performed on other significant manuscripts of earlier Greek medical writers to determine whether some of the instruments were exclusively mentioned by Paul of Aegina. In total, 121 different surgical instruments were identified and described in detail in the Epitome of Medicine. Thirty-three instruments (27%) were exclusively reported by Paul of Aegina. In antiquity a large number of surgical instruments were already being used. Paul of Aegina described in detail a large variety of fine, as well as a substantial number of, original surgical instruments, which he himself used in a wide spectrum of surgical operations.
Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 2010
Nowadays, as in the past, much attention is paid to aesthetic operations in women, while only inf... more Nowadays, as in the past, much attention is paid to aesthetic operations in women, while only infrequently have such operations been referred to in males. Generally, male aesthetic surgery was introduced to surgical practise during the 19th century. In this study, we analysed the practise of such operations in Byzantine times and in other ancient cultures with surgical knowledge, i.e. ancient India and China The sixth book of Paul of Aegina's "Epitome of Medicine" was studied for description of aesthetic operations in males in the Byzantine period, since this book is completely devoted to surgery and is generally considered to be the most important reference for surgery in Byzantine times. The original text and its excellent translation by Francis Adams were used. References concerning aesthetic operations for males were identified. Accordingly, historical work and reviews on plastic surgery in ancient India and China were studied. Mainly, two aesthetic surgical procedures for males in the Byzantine period were identified. These two procedures comprise gynaecomastia and rhacosis (scrotal relaxation). Two different techniques were reported for the surgical management of gynaecomastia, through sub-mammary or supra-mammary access. Two procedures were noted for rhacosis, for which Paul of Aegina reproduced the respective chapters from Leonides' and Antyllus' works. Evidence supporting male aesthetic surgery in ancient India and China or elsewhere was not found. Despite the dubious aesthetic result, the existence of different aesthetic surgical techniques in males substantiate the advanced level of surgery achieved by physicians in the Byzantine period.
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 2011
The earliest reports on removal of the entire tonsil using a method of careful dissection came in... more The earliest reports on removal of the entire tonsil using a method of careful dissection came in the early 1900 s by American and British otorhinolaryngologists. These descriptions are credited as the first of the so-called modern tonsillectomy. In this report we present a technique of tonsillectomy conceived by Nikolaos Taptas, a Greek physician and citizen of the Ottoman Empire, which was introduced at the same period with the ones previously mentioned. Taptas practiced his technique in the very early 1900 s. He used his own instruments and reported excellent post-operative results with very few complications. He should therefore be considered among the pioneers of modern tonsillectomy.
Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology, 2007
Background: In distant eras, mythology was a form of expression used by many peoples. A study of ... more Background: In distant eras, mythology was a form of expression used by many peoples. A study of the Greek myths reveals concealed medical knowledge, in many cases relating to the eye. Methods: An analysis was made of the ancient Greek texts for mythological references relating to an understanding of vision, visual abilities, the eye, its congenital and acquired abnormalities, blindness, and eye injuries and their treatment. Results: The Homeric epics contain anatomical descriptions of the eyes and the orbits, and an elementary knowledge of physiology is also apparent. The concept of the visual field can be seen in the myth of Argos Panoptes. Many myths describe external eye disease ("knyzosis"), visual disorders (amaurosis), and cases of blinding that, depending on the story, are ascribed to various causes. In addition, ocular motility abnormalities, congenital anomalies (cyclopia), injuries, and special treatments, such as the "licking" method, are mentioned. Interpretation: The study of mythological references to the eye reveals reliable medical observations of the ancient Greeks, which are concealed within the myths.
Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology / Journal Canadien d'Ophtalmologie, 2007
Trachoma is an ancient disease that has survived until the present day and represents the most co... more Trachoma is an ancient disease that has survived until the present day and represents the most common cause of infectious blindness globally. This study reviews the main Greek medical sources of the period from the 1st to 7th century AD and presents the medical knowledge relating to trachoma, including its definition, clinical features, diagnosis, complications, and treatment. It was widely accepted that trachoma was a disease of the palpebral conjunctiva, and the different stages of trachoma were described in detail. However, it is unclear whether the stages of trichiasis and pannus were identified as trachoma complications. The extensive references to the treatment of trachoma during the Byzantine period provide a strong argument for the case that trachoma was one of the most serious and common eye diseases. Both surgical and pharmaceutical treatments were often applied at the same time. Occasionally, surgical treatment could be rather dramatic, involving the use of stiff fig leaves or a chisel. Nevertheless, the prognosis was always poor, and the disease developed over the years until it threatened the cornea.
Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Medical Ethics Law and History, 2002
Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 2013
Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, 2003
The goal of this report is to describe the therapeutic methods and surgical techniques used by Hi... more The goal of this report is to describe the therapeutic methods and surgical techniques used by Hippocrates (5th century BC) in the treatment of nasal injuries. We studied the original Greek texts of the (generally considered genuine) Hippocratic book Mochlicon and, especially, the analytical On Joints. We identified the treatments and techniques applied to the restoration of injured noses. We found that Hippocrates classified nasal injuries, from simple contusions of soft tissues to complicated fractures. Hippocrates provided detailed instructions for each case, from poultice application and bandaging to reconstruction and reshaping of the nasal bones in cases of fractures and deviation. Hippocrates' texts reflect the interest of the classical period in nasal injuries, a common enough accident in athletics. Hippocratic conservative and surgical management for each form of injury was adopted by later physicians and influenced European medicine.
The Laryngoscope, 2003
To report on the career of Professor Nicolas Taptas of Constantinople (1871-1955) and his contrib... more To report on the career of Professor Nicolas Taptas of Constantinople (1871-1955) and his contribution to the development of an artificial larynx. Historical review. The unpublished documents of Taptas's family archives and one of his papers, describing his own original technique for voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomies, were studied. In his texts, Taptas described the application of external laryngeal prostheses in one of his patients who underwent total laryngectomy. Taptas meticulously recorded his own first successful attempt in a woman with cancer of the larynx. He was one of the first scientists who, at the end of the 19th century, devised an external laryngeal prosthesis, which had the advantage of rehabilitating a sufficiently strong whispering voice; by using a prototype valve, he avoided problems of aspiration of liquids and food to the bronchi. Nicolas Taptas's contribution to the development of the artificial larynx was vital because he devised and applied one of the first external laryngeal artificial prostheses with satisfactory functional results.
Journal of medical biography, 2003
A medical school was founded in Constantinople in 1827. Greek medics were involved with the new s... more A medical school was founded in Constantinople in 1827. Greek medics were involved with the new school right from its foundation, mainly because they had studied in Europe and knew other European and Asian languages. This paper reviews the lives of five of them: Stefanos Caratheodory; Constantinos Caratheodory; Sarantis Archigenis; Spyridon Mavrogenis; and Marco Pitsipio (Apostolidi Pasha), who was appointed a director of the Medical School. A few of the other Greek professors are also briefly discussed.
Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 2008
Pregnancy and labour are holy moments in a woman&... more Pregnancy and labour are holy moments in a woman's life. Even in Greek mythology we can find descriptions of them. We searched in the Greek myths to find descriptions of labours of ancient heroes and gods. We identified descriptions of extracorporeal fertilization, superfecundation, ectopic pregnancy, preterm labour, prolonged pregnancy and Caesarean section. The use of imagination could help the reader to find similarities in present or future developments in the field of obstetrics. It could be concluded that various aspects of modern obstetrical practice are described in Greek mythology.
The Journal of Urology, 2007
Lithotomy is an ancient surgical procedure, well-known in the history of urology. We describe the... more 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. 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. 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. 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.
History of Psychiatry, 2008
Although psychiatry was the last among the major branches of medicine to be recognized, taught an... more Although psychiatry was the last among the major branches of medicine to be recognized, taught and practised as a separate speciality, it is commonly accepted that even in antiquity there was a clear desire to study and understand mental illnesses, although they were not seen as distinct from physical diseases. Melampous is a figure balanced between historical reality and myth.
Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 2007
Headache makes up a major chapter in the writings of the great medical authors of the Byzantine p... more Headache makes up a major chapter in the writings of the great medical authors of the Byzantine period (324 to 1453 CE). This important period was the natural link between antiquity and the Renaissance, one that is greatly appreciated by researchers of the history of medicine. A detailed analysis was made of the original Greek medical texts, of the most important Byzantine physicians in order to relate their descriptions to the recent classification according to the International Headache Society criteria. The "Byzantine Classification" of headache follows the ancient tradition, adopting the main classifications already described. Byzantine authors passed on the earlier knowledge, adding some subcategories and some more descriptions and therapeutic options. In many cases, subcategories and descriptions are reminiscent of the modern classification and corresponding criteria.