Abstract
In 1581 Rembert Dodoens wrote “Medicinalium observationum exempla rara, recognita et aucta” a Latin book about the diagnosis and treatment of disorders with a low prevalence.
Highlights
The “orphan drug-movement” is believed to have been initiated only recently with the Orphan Drug Act of 1983 in the United States of America, which was intended to stimulate research and commercialization of medicinal products (“orphan drugs”) intended for the in-vivo diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases with a low prevalence (“rare diseases”)
Syndromes Without a Name (SWAN) are mentioned such as Memoria amisa ac recuperate (“he lost his memory and recovered it”), Respirandi difficultas and De pedis tumore quem Arabes Elephantiam appellant”
For surgical procedures Dodoens called upon his local barber-surgeons or stone-cutters
Summary
The “orphan drug-movement” is believed to have been initiated only recently with the Orphan Drug Act of 1983 in the United States of America, which was intended to stimulate research and commercialization of medicinal products (“orphan drugs”) intended for the in-vivo diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases with a low prevalence (“rare diseases”). After a general introduction and a list of cited authors (including Vesalius and Fracastorius), Rembert Dodoens gives extensive list of some 200 rare diseases in the 16th century such as Aneurisma, Calculus in vesica (stone in the bladder), Catalepsis (seizure), Diabetes, Dysenteria, Gemini pueri (twins), Lapides in vessica fellis (gall stones), Mania cum Melancholia affinitatem habet (mania with melancholia) Scorbutus, Tetanos, Vermis in vesica (worms in the bladder) and Vomitus sanguinis (vomiting blood). For surgical procedures Dodoens called upon his local barber-surgeons (amputatio) or stone-cutters (lithotomia).
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