Gangrene historical perspective

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Edzel Lorraine Co, D.M.D., M.D.

Overview

Gangrene originated from a Greek word "sphacelus" that meant mortification of a human body part. It was first used as a noun in the British Isles during the 16th century. Surgeons most often used it to refer to the cure of external human conditions.

Historical Perspective

• Gangrene originated from a Greek word "sphacelus" that meant mortification of a human body part.
• It was first used as a noun in the British Isles during the 16th century.
• Surgeons most often used it to refer to the cure of external human conditions.
• In the 17th century, this word was passed on from one person to another, until a metaphorical meaning was given by Shakespeare in Coriolanus:

                               "The service of the foote
                                Being once gangren'd, is not then respected
                                For what it was before." 

• Pathology became a new profession in the 19th century, and has made gangrene as a taxonomical umbrella with a myriad of species flourished.
• In 1915, gangrene was described by surgeon D'Arcy Power in his book Wounds of War:

 The wound generally becomes more or less emphysematous and discharges a thin brownish, offensive fluid, which contains bubbles of gas...
    The ineffective process continues after death and the swelling may rapidly become so great as to make the corpse unrecognizable.

Some Personalities With Significant Historical Contribution to the Discovery of Gangrene

• Table 1 lists the famous people who had contracted gangrene.

Table 1.Personalities With Significant Historical Contribution to the Discovery of Gangrene.

Name	Image	Description
Jean Baptiste Lully	Jean Baptiste Lully. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia)	French Baroque composer who had gangrene in January 1687. While performing in his Te Deum, he stabbed his toe with a pointed material, which caused the spread of infection in his leg. He refused amputation of his leg.
French King Louis XIV	French King Louis XIV. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia)	He died due to gangrene on September 1, 1715.
Sebald Justinus Brugmans	Sebald Justinus Brugmans. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia)	A professor at Leyden University, Brugsman became the lead expert against hospital-gangrene. In 1814, he made a treatise on gangrene, and later on established the contagious property of this disease.
John M. Trombold		He was a surgeon during the American Civil War. He studied hospital gangrene and was able to come up with a revolutionary treatment for this (debridement and the use of intravenous and topical bromide solutions on infected wounds.
Father Camille Bulcke	Father Camille Bulcke. (Image courtesy of Wikipedia)	He died on August 17, 1982 due to gangrene.