The history of calculus mendax and the following surgery on the prostate

Abstract

In this paper we would like to present probably the first surgery performed on the prostate gland followed by microscopic analysis of the obtained tumor tissue sample. We based on the existing correspondence between Ludwig von Hammen and Johann N. Pechlin, and their successors in this field as well. Von Hammen seems to be a pioneer in the area of not only urological surgery but in directing this part of medical practice from "lithotomists" to physicians, much better educated than barbers in physiology but first of all in anatomy. This 17th century physician from Gdansk tried to set new standards both for surgical medical practice but histopathological examination of the excised material as well. Due to the change of the operational skills and procedures von Hammen's work got almost forgotten, but remains remembered due to the work of historians of the medicine from following centuries.

Heritage of Stanislaw Ciechanowski (1869‐1945)—Discoverer of pathogenesis of prostatic hyperplasia‐passionis insignia signis fulgent mirificis

“…The pathology of the prostate was at the core of numerous academic and scientific explorations. In a way, etymology of term prostate favors it to be a leading topic of interest particularly in male population, as in ancient Greece “prostatēs” meant literally “president.” However, prostate was in the centre of medical attention due to commonly experienced obstruction of urinary outflow and insufficiency of urinary bladder, which was caused—for instance—by calculi in as early medical reports as XVII century descriptions and lots of subsequent ones, for example, publication by eminent urologist Oswald Lowsley (1884‐1955) in 1917 . Professor of anatomic pathology, Stanisław Ciechanowski (1869‐1945) was the first to describe correctly pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (Figure ) .…”

From magnifying glass to operative microscopy – the historical and modern role of the microscope in microsurgery

“…This was, possibly, one of the first post-surgical microscopic tissue examinations ever performed; von Hammen L De herniis dissertatio Academica. Accedunt [18].…”