Diseases in the Byzantine World with Special Emphasis on the Nephropathies

Abstract

Using medical manuscripts and texts from the Byzantine period (330-1453), this article describes various, to date little discussed, aspects of Byzantine nosology, public health and therapeutics. Many diseases in the Byzantine era were widespread and had a high morbidity such as respiratory diseases, various kinds of anaemia, pestilential diseases (e.g. quartan fever, plague, dysentery and cholera), parasitic diseases, orthopaedic, rheumatic and psychiatric disorders, trachoma and alcoholism. Other very serious and relatively frequent conditions included leprosy, mania, gout, cancerous tumours and ulcers. Important elements of nephrology and various renal diseases were described and investigated, such as acute and chronic renal failure, acute and chronic nephritis, pyelonephritis, necrotic renal diseases, crush syndrome, and ulcers of the kidneys, i.e. tuberculosis or renal tumours. The microhistology and physiology of the kidneys were first studied by Oribasius, who discerned the existence of the capillaries – τpiχoΕiδη – some centuries before Malpighi. He also correctly described the blood circulation, general and pulmonary, as a precursor to Harvey. The first hospitals were organised during the Byzantine period, and the practice of Byzantine medical science and its social applications were regulated by a special medical legislation and deontology. Byzantine medicine was fruitfully connected with the Christian faith and developed the supreme model of the saints unmercenary – ávápγυpoi -physicians such as Cosmas and Damian (3rd century), Panteleemon (3rd-4th centuris) and the women physicians and miracle-worker saints, Zenais and Philonilla (1st century), the ‘friends of peace’, and Hermione (lst-2nd centuries).

A paleopathological case of pituitary tumor, Eagle’s syndrome and ossifying fibroma

“…: radiographic imaging) may uncover a wide array of paleopathological lesions that were thought to be absent, tumors are an example but one. Many diseases in the Byzantine period were widespread and had a high morbidity [42]. Contrary to the typical believe that the rural life of the Byzantine people in Jordan was of poor quality, the people had better health and more wealth [43][44].…”

Kidney Disease in Byzantine Medical Texts

“…Aetius recommended clysters with mallow, peeled barley, linseed oil, dill, camomile and reed. At the next polyuric phase diuretics were recommended: parsley, cinnamon, amaranth and a diet of bread, birds, sea urchins, egg, vegetables, fennel, celery and carrots [12].…”

Η Στοματική Και Γναθοπροσωπική Χειρουργική Στο Βυζάντιο

“…ην ηαηξηθφ ηνπ έξγν πεξηιακβάλεηαη ε ρξήζε ππξαθησκέλνπ ζηδήξνπ ζηε ρεηξνπξγηθή, ε έξεπλα ηεο νπξηθήο αξζξίηηδαο, ησλ «δενπζψλ θιεγκνλψλ ησλ πνδψλ», ηεο βξνγρίηηδαο, ηεο λεπξαιγίαο θαη ηεο εκηθξαλίαο, ελψ νη θαξκαθνινγηθέο ηνπ επηηεχμεηο ζπλίζηαληαη ζηε ρξεζηκνπνίεζε θαξκάθνπ θαηά ηνπ βήρα, αιιά θαη θαηά ηεο πνδάγξαο απφ ιεπθφ θεξί, ξφδα θαη απγά, φπσο θαη ζηε ρξήζε ηνπ πνψδνπο θπηνχ θνιρηθνχ ηνπ θζηλνπψξνπ (απφ ην νπνίν πξνέξρεηαη ε θνιρηθίλε) γηα ηελ αλαθνχθηζε απφ ηα άιγε ηεο νπξηθήο αξζξίηηδαο, θαζψο επίζεο θαη ζηε θαξκαθεπηηθή αληηκεηψπηζε ηεο εκηθξαλίαο θαη ησλ λεπξαιγηψλ, κε εληξηβή κε ρακνκήιη, καιάμεηο, πγξή δίαηηα, αιιά θαη εληξηβέο κε ηελ αινηθή «βξσκίλε», ε νπνία απνηεινχληαλ απφ θαζηφξην (έθθξηκα ηνπ θάζηνξα ηζρπξήο νζκήο), ηεξπεληίλε, ιηλαξφζπνξν, ειαηφιαδν θαη ιίπνο 11,13,171 . επήξνο ν ηαηξνζνθηζηήο Ηαηξφο πνπ αζρνιήζεθε θαη" εμνρήλ κε ην γλσζηηθφ αληηθείκελν ηεο νθζαικνινγίαο, ελψ επίζεο αλαθέξζεθε ζηελ ζεξαπεπηηθή αληηκεηψπηζε ηνπ αιιεξγηθνχ shock απφ θάξκαθα, ηνπ πζηεξηθνχ shock ησλ γπλαηθψλ, ηεο αξζξίηηδαο, ησλ εμαλζεκάησλ, ηεο λεθξίηηδαο θαη ηεο ηζρηαιγίαο, κε ηελ δηελέξγεηα ζεξαπεπηηθψλ ππνθιπζκψλ 13,171,185 . Αμηνζεκείσηε είλαη θαη ε αλαθνξά ηνπ ζηα ηαηξηθά εξγαιεία πνπ ρξεζηκνπνηνχληαη ζηηο δηάθνξεο ρεηξνπξγηθέο επεκβάζεηο 171 .…”