John Watson (1807-1863) and his Pioneer Work On the Surgery of Esophagus.

Backround. John Watson (1807-1863) was the first surgeon in USA who performed and published his results on esophagotomy. Methods. His pioneer surgical work was a gold standard reference for the later surgeons. Results. Watson was a devoted surgeon and his innovative operating techniques secured him a place in the hall of fame of the history of medicine.

Professor William Macewen (1848-1924): The Scottish Pioneer of Surgery.

Professor William Macewen (1848-1924) is one of the most important figures in world's surgery during 18th and early 19th century. He managed to provide numerous innovative techniques and instruments in various fields of surgery such as general surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and thoracic surgery. His innovations had a great impact after his time and constituted the fundaments for further surgical developments. He also was a pioneer in clinical photography with the creation of a huge archive. During his surgical career, he received many honors.

Paul of Aegina (ca 625-690 ad): Byzantine Surgeon and Pioneer of Surgical Management of Congenital Atresia of the External Auditory Canal.

Diseases of the ear have been recorded and treated since ancient times. Ex-votos have been offered to heal deafness. Noninvasive treatments have evolved into minor, and later more advanced, surgical techniques to treat head and neck issues. Paul of Aegina (ca 625-690 ad) perfected his medical skills in the School of Alexandria in Egypt. His medical encyclopedia, Medical Compendium, described a broad series of surgical operations, including a chapter "On the atresia of the auditory canal," which vividly described a surgical technique to open the ear canal. This surgery is particularly interesting, as it exceeds the limits of resection and amputation known at that time and describes a novel surgical technique. His innovative methods paved the way for future surgeons.

Mathieu Jaboulay (1860-1913) and His Innovations in Vascular and General Surgery.

Mathieu Jaboulay (1860-1913) was an inventor in vascular and general surgery. He fabricated many new surgical techniques and instruments such as Jaboulay method for vascular sutures, Jaboulay anastomotic button, and Jaboulay amputation, known also as hemipelvectomy. In addition, he was a pioneer in heterologous transplantation and sympathectomy. He found death suddenly in a terrible train crash. He was a reputable Professor of Surgery at Lyon Faculty of Medicine with prestigious students in vascular surgery.

Fedor Krause (1857-1937) and His Innovations in Neurosurgery.

Although Ernst von Bergmann (1837-1907) is considered the father of neurosurgery in Germany, Fedor Krause (1857-1937) should be considered as its main founder. He was principally a general surgeon but he had a special interest in neurosurgery, a field in which he introduced many new techniques. He also fabricated innovative surgical methods for the treatment of patients with epilepsy.

Heart cancer in the writings of the anatomo-clinical School members.

In the 19th century medicine flourished in Paris thanks to the advent of the anatomo-clinical School which introduced new methods of clinical examination and diagnosis. Pathology, auscultation and percussion became a routine in medical practice and paved the way for the rising of specialties such as cardiology and oncology. Heart cancer cases were meticulously described by several physicians and by the end of the century heart carcinoma was a well studied and known entity.

Le "canceur des fumeurs" in 19th century: the contribution of the French surgeon Étienne-Frédéric Bouisson (1813-1884).

At the beginning of the 19th century, the alarming rise in tobacco consumption and its consequences in health preoccupied physicians. Several medical authors pointed out the harmful effects of smoking, enumerating related disorders. In 1821, the hygienist Alexandre Parent du Châtelet (1790-1835) and the chemist Félix d'Arcet (1814-1847), studied the effects of tobacco in health and concluded that it was a relatively healthy habit providing also a kind of immunity from contagious diseases. The tobacco controversy opened up and continued for almost 40 years. In 1861, the professor of surgery and politician Étienne-Frédéric Bouisson (1813-1884) in his work entitled: "Tribut à la chirurgie ou mémoires sur divers sujets de cette science" (Tribute to surgery or dissertations on various topics of this science) related for the first time tobacco consumption to oral cancer, applying medical statistics and analyzing meticulously all the available data.

The distinguished Greek born, French ophthalmologist Photinos Panas (1832-1903) and his views on ocular cancer.

Photinos Panas (1832-1903) was one of the world's most important ophthalmologists in the second half of the 19th century. In his leading work entitled, Traité des maladies des yeux (Treatise of ophthalmic diseases), he made an in depth analysis of the various types of ocular cancer. His ideas on the subject were important for their tutorial character, their connection to the clinical work and very helpful for the everyday clinical practice of physicians of that time.

The eminent gynaecologist Richard Wesley TeLinde (1894- 1989) and his contribution to diagnosis of cervical cancer.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the relation of carcinoma in situ of the cervix to the invasive cancer was poorly understood, resulting in misdiagnosis of the disease and inappropriate treatment. The work of Richard Wesley TeLinde, chairman of Gynaecology at Johns Hopkins University for almost 21 years, contributed to delineate the diagnosis of cervical carcinoma, providing suggestive evidence that carcinoma in situ often precedes invasive cervical cancer.

The distinguished Austrian ophthalmologist Ernst Fuchs (1851-1930) and the "sarcom des uvealtractus".

Born in Vienna, in mid 19th century, Ernst Fuchs became an innovative ophthalmologist and is currently considered as the father of modern ophthalmology. Conditions like heterochromic uveitis and endothelial dystrophy were discovered by Fuchs and a series of ocular diseases are named after him. His work dealing with eye pathology, entitled: "Textbook of Ophthalmology", became known as the masterpiece of the 19th century ophthalmology. In ocular oncology, Fuchs introduced first the "sarcom des uvealtractus" (uveal sarcoma), known today as uveal melanoma. His treatment approach by enucleation was in vogue for more than 100 years, while his theory for hepatic metastasis of ocular cancer remains valid.

Cervical cancer in the work of the unconventional Samuel Pozzi (1846-1918), pioneer of modern gynaecology.

Advocate of Lister's antiseptic techniques, promoter of anesthesia, professor of the first chair of gynaecology in Medical School of Paris, academician, successful politician, art collector, friend and lover of the famous, Samuel Pozzi lived a fascinating life. His book "Treatise of clinical and surgical gynaecology" published in 1890 became the gold standard in medical practice while his approach in the treatment of cervical cancer, including cases of pregnant women, remained in vogue for almost fifty years.

George Critchett (1817-1882) and His Son George Anderson Critchett (1845-1925).

George Critchett (1817-1882) and his son George Anderson Critchett (1845-1925) have influenced the development of ophthalmology and ocular surgery for about a century. They presented new ocular operations such as Critchett's advancement operation, Critchett's corneal staphyloma operation, and Critchett's keratoconus operation, and they invented new surgical instruments such as Critchett's cataract knife, Critchett's scissors, and Critchett's fixation forceps. Both were delicate ocular surgeons managing complex and difficult surgeries.

Louis-Léopold-Xavier-Édouard Ollier (1830-1900): An Innovative Orthopedic Surgeon.

Louis-Léopold-Xavier-Édouard Ollier (1830-1900) was a pioneer in orthopedics considered as the founder of modern orthopedic surgery. He was a skillful and experimenter surgeon. He invented many new surgical techniques in orthopedic surgery and many new surgical instruments. His most known discovery is Ollier's disease.

A historical overview of laryngeal carcinoma and the first total laryngectomies.

Laryngeal cancer was a well known entity since antiquity and its treatment evolved through several phases. The lack of knowledge in anatomy and pathology as well as the absence of anesthesia and proper instrumentation made the treatment almost impossible. Ancient physicians were performing laryngotomy or tracheotomy in an attempt to prevent the suffocation symptoms produced by tumoral masses. In 19th century the invention of laryngoscope and the advent of pathology and anesthesiology encouraged surgeons to operate on man. In 1873 Theodor Billroth (1829-1894) performed the first laryngectomy followed by several other colleagues among which Enrico Bottini (1837-1903) and Themistocles Gluck (1853-1942). Thanks to their contribution a new era came in laryngeal cancer treatment: the conservation laryngeal surgery.

Treating the incurables: Cancer asylums in 18th and 19th century.

For centuries several hypotheses were formulated on cancer's pathogenesis such as contagiousness, melancholy, heredity and sexuality. In the 18th and 19th century, despite the advent of medical thought and practice, cancer was considered an incurable and contagious disease. Hospitals were refusing to treat cancer patients while the social stigma which followed the disease made primordial the need for the establishment of special institutions. In our article we will present the cancer asylums which counterbalanced the prejudices of the time and contributed to the establishment of modern cancer hospitals.

Hallmarks in the evolution of gynaecological cancer surgery: the famous pioneers in children.

At the beginning of the 19th century, gynaecological cancer, mainly cancer of the uterus and cervix was a dreadful, incurable affection. However, the popularization of the three fundamentals in surgery, anesthesia, asepsis and haemostasis, ushered the golden age of operative gynaecology. During that period distinguished surgeons/gynaecologists such as Friedrich Benjamin Osiander (1759-1822), Elias von Siebold (1775-1828) and Joseph-Claude-Anthelme Récamier (1774-1852) contributed to the development of the operative techniques, providing a therapeutic solution in gynaecological cancer.

Hallmarks in history of esophageal carcinoma.

Esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest cancers due to its aggressive behavior and poor survival. It was mentioned in the works of ancient Chinese and Arabo-islamic physicians, centuries before the recognition of high incidence in the Asian esophageal cancer belt. Till the 19th century the disease was considered incurable and the main goal of the proposed treatments was to alleviate dysphagia and pain. The introduction of esophagoscope in 1868 by Adolf Kussmaul (1822-1902) contributed to the observation of the living esophagus and to the diagnosis of esophageal pathologies, paving the way for new therapeutic approaches. In 1877, Vincenz Czerny (1842-1916) performed the first successful resection of the cervical esophagus for carcinoma, followed by Franz Torek (1861-1938) who carried out in 1913 the first successful subtotal thoracic esophagectomy and Tohru Ohsawa (1882-1984) who performed the world's first esophagectomy with an intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis. Nowadays, despite the advent of biomedical technology and the development of operation techniques, the surgical treatment of esophagus still remains a challenge.

Louis de Wecker (1832-1906) and His Innovations in Ocular Surgery.

Louis de Wecker (1832-1906) was a famous French ophthalmologist and was considered one of the greatest ophthalmologists of his time with worldwide reputation. He introduced many innovative surgical techniques such as his method for iridotomy, "anterior sclerotomy," and the so-called "de Wecker's capsular advancement" for the treatment of strabismus. He also invented surgical instruments such as "de Wecker's pince-ciseaux" and "de Wecker's double advancement hook."

Popular palliative cancer treatments in 18th--mid 19th century.

In the 18th century cancer was an incurable disease and the only therapeutic approach was surgery which was accompanied with several life threatening complications. In the absence of effective cancer treatment, palliative approach was proposed by physicians. Compression, ligation, "cura famis" and treatment by cold were four popular treatments in the 18th century provoking an outbreak of therapeutic illusions in cancer patients and physicians, before being lost in oblivion.

Melancholy as a risk factor for cancer: a historical overview.

In antiquity, physicians related depression or melancholic humour to cancer's pathogenesis. Galen (130-201 AD), sustained that melancholy could give rise to a tumour and his theory was repeated by the Byzantine and Arab physicians. In the 19th century, malignancy and depression became synonymous and people attributed their cancer to sadness. In 1893, the London surgeon Hebert Snow (1847-1930), performed an epidemiological study in order to clarify that link. The results revealed a probable connection. His work was followed by several large scale prospective studies some of which identified depression as a risk factor for cancer where others found no association. However, a possible explanation could be given by our current knowledge in immunology: inflammation and nonspecific immune activation play a role in the pathophysiology of depression and cancer growth.