P1842THE HISTORY OF VETERINARY RENAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NOSOLOGY IN ANCIENT AND MIDDLE AGES GREEK TEXTS

Abstract

Abstract ackground and Aims Background and Aims: To present the ideas of Ancient and Byzantine Greek authors about the renal anatomy, physiology and nosology of mammals, birds, insects and fishes. Method Method: We searched for the appropriate passages in the works of Aristotle, Aristophanes Byzantius, Galen, Cladius Aelianus, Alexander Aphrodisiensis, Basilius Caesariensis, Gregorius Nyssensus, Nemesius Emesenus, Hippiatrica Berolinensia, Hippiatrica Parisiana, Hippiatrica Cantabergiensia, Michael Ephesius and Michael Glycas. These texts extended from the 4th cent. BC until the 12th cent. AD. Results Aristotle elaborates on the varied number of kidneys in several animals and on the abundance of perirenal fat. The last tissue is essential for protecting and warming the animal but, in excess, it may be lethal, as in the case of sheep. He then describes the multilubular kidneys of some animals and the supposed lack of a bladder in birds and marine animals, with the exception of the sea turtle. Aristophanes adds the issue of the deer’s ectopic kidneys and their number in canines. Basilius and Gregorius elaborate on the minute details of some animals’ organs, like the kidneys and feathers of flying ants and the moral rationale of all these. Nemesius discusses the possibility of some animals surviving without kidneys. The monumental work “Hippiatrica” deals exclusively with horse health and refers, inter alia, to kidney afflictions. It describes the clinical signs of what it calls “nephritis”, with oedema and predominating neurological symptoms. For treatment it recommends several methods of causing renal hyperaemia, like massaging, ointments, warm rooms, heated irons, but also bloodletting. Michael Ephesius returns on the absence of proper kidneys in birds and their substitution with kidney-like organs called “nephroids”. Glycas “justifies” the lack of bladder and kidneys in birds as useless because they secrete their excess water via the feathers, a long flying time and watery stools. Conclusion The Ancient and Byzantine Greek authors had understood well several topics of the anatomy, physiology and nosology of the veterinary renal system but they also made some very great mistakes. We will present the above conclusions in length.