Rhabdomyolysis in antiquity. From ancient descriptions to scientific explication.
Humans; Animals; *Quail; Foodborne Diseases/complications/*history; Hemlock/poisoning; Meat/history/poisoning; Rhabdomyolysis/etiology/*history; History; Ancient; Plants; Medieval; Toxic
Rutecki G W; Ognibene A J; Geib J D
The Pharos of Alpha Omega Alpha-Honor Medical Society. Alpha Omega Alpha
1998
1905-06
Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
"Like a virgin": Absence of rheumatoid arthritis and treponematosis, good sanitation and only rare gout in Italy prior to the 15th century.
Humans; *Fossils; Gout/epidemiology/*history; Italy; Sanitation/*history/standards; Treponemal Infections/*history; History; Ancient; Arthritis; Medieval; Rheumatoid/*history
OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to test several hypotheses: 1. That rheumatoid arthritis and syphilis were New World diseases, only transmitted to the Old World subsequent to the passages of Christopher Columbus; 2. To indirectly test the hypothesis that lead poisoning was prevalent in Roman Italy by looking for its byproduct, gout; 3. To test the hypothesis of compromised sanitation in ancient Italy, on the basis of spondyloarthropathy frequency; and 4. To assess variation of trauma frequencies in ancient Italy, by examining frequency of focal periosteal reaction. METHODS: Skeletons from sites ranging from the Bronze Age to the Black Plague epidemic of 1485-1486 were macroscopically evaluated for focal periosteal reaction and for the cardinal signs of rheumatoid arthritis, treponemal disease, gout and spondyloarthropathy. RESULTS: Examination of 688 individuals revealed low frequency of focally distributed periosteal reaction (bumps) in sites dated from the 3400-700 years before present, sharply increasing in the 15th century. Diffuse periosteal reaction was present only as isolated occurrences secondary to hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and sabre shin reaction was notably absent. Erosive disease was uncommon and always oligoarticular in distribution. No marginal erosions were present, with the exception of an isolated metatarsal with classic overhanging edge sign of gout. Subchondral erosions, peripheral joint fusion and axial skeletal involvement identified spondyloarthropathy frequencies of 1-3%, independent of the antiquity of the site. CONCLUSIONS: Italy, prior to Columbus was like a virgin. Rheumatoid arthritis and treponemal disease (specifically syphilis) were not present, further supporting the contention that they are New World-derived diseases. Periosteal signs of minor trauma were rare prior to fifteenth century plague times. This suggests a potential role of domestic (as opposed to outside environment activities) in is development. The hypothesis for a role of lead poisoning in the demise of the Roman Empire is falsified by the rarity of gout. The frequency of spondyloarthropathy was significantly below that found in sanitarily challenged populations, suggesting high standards of hygiene in ancient Italy.
Rothschild B M; Coppa A; Petrone P P
Reumatismo
2004
2004-03
Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.4081/reumatismo.2004.61" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.4081/reumatismo.2004.61</a>
A medieval physician: Amirdovlat Amasiatsi (1420-1495)
15th Century; Amirdovlat Amasiatsi; Anatolia; Armenia; Armenian; Herbal Medicine; History; Manuscripts; Mashtots Matenadaran; Medical as Topic; Medieval; Medieval; Ottoman Empire; Physicians; Turkey
We aimed to acquaint the reader with a medieval physician, Amirdovlat Amasiatsi, who lived and practiced in the 15th century Anatolia. Amirdovlat wrote several books on medicine mainly focusing on phytotherapy and pharmacology using medicinal plants, animal-derived products and minerals. All his works were written in Middle Armenian, spoken Armenian language of the time. In his writings, Amirdovlat described unique recipes that represent a portrayal of medical knowledge and practice at the time in Anatolia where he lived and worked. He discussed the physical and therapeutic properties as well as geographic distributions of various plants and minerals, using different languages, mainly Turkish, Greek, Arabic, French and Persian. Amirdovlat's works not only enhanced our understanding of Armenian medical practices but also provided great deal of information on those of Ancient Greco-Roman as well as Islamic world, demonstrating close relationship of Armenian medicine with Greco-Roman and Islamic medicine. Amirdovlat accomplished this by amalgamating the past and contemporary practices of his time. In this regard, Amirdovlat's works, in particular "Useless for the Ignorant", are very unique playing a significant role in preserving traditions and heritage of different cultures.
Gurunluoglu Aslin; Gurunluoglu Raffi; Hakobyan Tatevik
Journal of Medical Biography
2019
2019-05
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1177/0967772016682726" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1177/0967772016682726</a>
A medieval physician: Amirdovlat Amasiatsi (1420-1495).
Amirdovlat Amasiatsi; Anatolia; Armenian; Mashtots Matenadaran; medieval
We aimed to acquaint the reader with a medieval physician, Amirdovlat Amasiatsi, who lived and practiced in the 15th century Anatolia. Amirdovlat wrote several books on medicine mainly focusing on phytotherapy and pharmacology using medicinal plants, animal-derived products and minerals. All his works were written in Middle Armenian, spoken Armenian language of the time. In his writings, Amirdovlat described unique recipes that represent a portrayal of medical knowledge and practice at the time in Anatolia where he lived and worked. He discussed the physical and therapeutic properties as well as geographic distributions of various plants and minerals, using different languages, mainly Turkish, Greek, Arabic, French and Persian. Amirdovlat's works not only enhanced our understanding of Armenian medical practices but also provided great deal of information on those of Ancient Greco-Roman as well as Islamic world, demonstrating close relationship of Armenian medicine with Greco-Roman and Islamic medicine. Amirdovlat accomplished this by amalgamating the past and contemporary practices of his time. In this regard, Amirdovlat's works, in particular "Useless for the Ignorant", are very unique playing a significant role in preserving traditions and heritage of different cultures.
Gurunluoglu Aslin; Gurunluoglu Raffi; Hakobyan Tatevik
Journal of medical biography
2016
2016-01
Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1177/0967772016682726" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1177/0967772016682726</a>