HF01-19 FRANCISCO DIAZ: THE FORGOTTEN FATHER OF UROLOGY

Abstract

You have accessJournal of UrologyHistory of Urology Forum I (HF01)1 Sep 2021HF01-19 FRANCISCO DIAZ: THE FORGOTTEN FATHER OF UROLOGY Randy Casals, and Matvey Tsivian Randy CasalsRandy Casals More articles by this author , and Matvey TsivianMatvey Tsivian More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000001992.19AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Francisco Diaz’s 1588 Treatise on all the Diseases of the Kidneys, Bladder, of Growths on the Penis, and of Urine, was the first written work focused on the diagnosis and treatment of genitourinary disease. It is arguably the origin of urology as a field, yet Diaz is largely forgotten outside his native Spain. We argue that he deserves international recognition for his role as the “Father of Urology.” METHODS: The authors searched for sources focused on the life of Francisco Diaz via PubMed, Google Scholar, and internal searches through the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library of Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the Coy C. Carpenter Library of Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Sources were omitted if in a language other than English or Spanish. RESULTS: Diaz was born in Spain in the early 16th century and had an illustrious career. He was awarded the degree of Surgeon to His Majesty, King Philip II of Spain and held the post until his death. Diaz wrote the Compendio de Chirugia in 1575 prior to writing the Treatise on all the Diseases of the Kidneys, Bladder, of Growths on the Penis, and of Urine in 1588. It was the first written work dedicated to what would become the field of urology and compiled all urologic knowledge to that point. He made the noteworthy decision at the time to publish it in Spanish, which made this knowledge accessible to average physicians and surgeons who could not read most medical texts at the time written in Latin. In it, he addressed known treatments as well as describing techniques and surgical instruments that he invented, including what is the first known urethrotome, his cisorio, and the speculum pudenda, a device to capture urethral calculi. He was a close friend of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, who paid tribute to Diaz by writing him a sonnet after treatment for renal colic. His royal court appointment led him to be questioned on whether a transgender male surgeon Eleno de Cespedes was a cisgender man, which he initially confirmed, allowing Cespedes to live and practice in peace. However, during a retrial, Diaz was forced to admit this supposed “mistake”. CONCLUSIONS: Francisco Diaz began the history of urology by writing its first text. Though he is honored in Spain, he deserves more worldwide recognition as one of the founders of our field and a shining example of the best parts of urology: innovative, well-rounded, and humanistic. Source of Funding: None © 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 206Issue Supplement 3September 2021Page: e235-e235 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2021 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Randy Casals More articles by this author Matvey Tsivian More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Loading ...