Treatment of hip fracture of Pope Innocent XII by Marcello Malpighi with bed rest.

Marcello Malpighi (1628-1694), who is referred to as the father of microscopical anatomy, histology, physiology and embryology was an Italian biologist and physician, well known for his discoveries on microscopical anatomy of kidney, circulating and lymphatic systems. As well as being a brilliant anatomist, Malpighi was also a valued physician so far as to became the personal physician of Pope Innocent XII (1615-1700). On 23 August 1691, one month after his election, the Pope fell to the ground hitting his left hip. Malpighi, as his personal physician, was immediately called and diagnosed a hip fracture. At that time fractures were generally treated by surgeons, barbers and sawbones, while physicians were mainly concerned with internal diseases. Despite that, Marcello Malpighi cured Pope Innocent XII's hip fracture by applying some modern traumatologic concepts. This article analyses how Malpighi treated this hip fracture, comparing it with the current approach.

History of surgical treatments for hallux valgus.

In the nineteenth century, the prevalent understanding of the hallux valgus was that it was purely an enlargement of the soft tissue, first metatarsal head, or both, most commonly caused by ill-fitting footwear. Thus, treatment had varying results, with controversy over whether to remove the overlying bursa alone or in combination with an exostectomy of the medial head. Since 1871, when the surgical technique was first described, many surgical treatments for the correction of hallux valgus have been proposed. A number of these techniques have come into fashion, and others have fallen into oblivion. Progress in biomechanical knowledge, and improvements in materials and supports have allowed new techniques to be developed over the years. We have developed techniques that sacrifice the metatarsophalangeal joint (arthrodesis, arthroplasties), as well as conservative procedures, and one can distinguish those which only involve the soft tissues from those that are linked with a first ray osteotomy.

Injuries of the spine and of the spinal cord in the Hippocratic Corpus of medicine.

The purpose of this review article is to summarize the views presented in the Hippocratic Corpus of Medicine regarding injuries of the spine, their effect on the spinal cord and the optimal treatment modulus. It is shown that the treatment dilemmas of ancient times in these injuries remain modern since Hippocrates suggested that conservative treatment and letting nature take its course is preferable over a devastating surgical treatment if the spinal cord structural integrity is not compromised. There is also a detailed account of the conservative treatment suggested in the Hippocratic Corpus concerning devices and method of closed spinal relocations.

[Murphy's Law]. / Appendicitis, appendectomie en de wet van Murphy.

Non-surgical treatment of acute phlegmonous appendicitis has been receiving increasing attention in recent years, representing a reversal of policy. The appendectomy came into vogue at the beginning of the 20th century. It is true that prompt surgical intervention in all patients with appendicitis or an indication thereof almost guarantees success, but it gradually came to be forgotten that this intervention was not always necessary. In this article we will document the historical development of this disease and its treatment, and return to the original reports made by pathologist Reginald Fitz and the internist William Osler to show that their opinion was not black and white. Many surgeons in the Netherlands were also initially more restrained. In the course of time recognition of the natural progression of the disease vanished, until new developments placed this more sharply in the limelight.