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.[1][2] 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. [2]

Historical Perspective

  • Gangrene originated from a Greek word "sphacelus" that meant mortification of a human body part. [1][2]
  • It was first used as a noun in the British Isles during the 16th century. [2]
  • Surgeons most often used it to refer to the cure of external human conditions. [2]
  • In the 17th century, this word was passed on from one person to another, until Shakespeare began to give metaphorical meaning to it in Coriolanus:
                               "The service of the foote
                                Being once gangren'd, is not then respected
                                For what it was before." [2]
  • In the 19th century, pathology was considered as a new profession, and has made gangrene as a taxonomical umbrella with 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 unrecognisable.


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.
French King Louis XIV
French King Louis XIV.
(Image courtesy of Wikipedia)
Sebald Justinus Brugsman
File:Sebald Justinus Brugsman.jpg
Sebald Justinus Brugsman.
(Image courtesy of Wikipedia)
  • A professor at Leyden University, Brugsman became the lead expert against hospital-gangrene.
John M. Trombold
File:John M Trombold.jpg
John M Trombold.
(Image courtesy of Wikipedia)
  • He is a surgeon during the American Civil War.
Father Camille Bulcke
File:Father Camille Bulcke.jpg
Father Camille Bulcke.
(Image courtesy of Wikipedia)

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Christopoulou-Aletra H, Papavramidou N (2009). "The manifestation of "gangrene" in the Hippocratic corpus". Ann Vasc Surg. 23 (4): 548–51. doi:10.1016/j.avsg.2009.02.002. PMID 19540438.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Lawrence C (2005). "Gangrene". Lancet. 366 (9498): 1689. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67683-0. PMID 16291052.

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