1473 AVICENNA, [Abū ʿAlī al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Sīnā] (980 – 1037); GERARD OF CREMONA, (Gerardus Cremonensis) (1114 – 1187)

Canon medicinae [Latin] (Lib I-V) (Tr: Gerardus Cremonensis) (5 vols.)

Avicenna is said to have written more than 100 books, most of which have perished. He wrote on the etiology of epilepsy and described diabetes, noticing the sweetish taste of the urine. His Canon is one of the most fa…

GMN 43 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8764

1674 –1675 WILLIS, Thomas (1621 – 1675)

Pharmaceutice rationalis sive diatriba de medicamentorum operationibus in humano corpore. 2 vols.

Willis’s last work deals with the anatomy and physiology of the thoracic and abdominal organs, and contains the first description of the superficial lymphatics of the lungs, the first clinical and pathological account…

GMN 3926 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5095

1683 BRUNNER, Johann Conrad (1653 – 1727)

Experimenta nova circa pancreas.

Brunner came near to discovering pancreatic diabetes. His experiments on the dog represent pioneer work on internal secretion. Following excision of the pancreas, he recorded extreme thirst and polyuria. Translated in…

GMN 3927 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5100

1684 WILLIS, Thomas (1621 – 1675); PORDAGE, Samuel (1633 – 1691)

Dr. Willis's practice of physick.

The only complete edition of Willis's works in English, translated by the poet Samuel Pordage. It contains the translations of all his works except his Affectionum quae dicuntur hystericae (1671). The collection inclu…

GMN 1311 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/10280

1776 DOBSON, Matthew (1731 – 1784)

Experiments and observations on the urine in a diabetes.

Dobson proved that the sweetish taste of diabetic urine was produced by sugar, an observation following on Willis’s discovery of the sweetness of diabetic urine. He also discovered hyperglycemia.

GMN 3928 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5105

1788 CAWLEY, Thomas

A singular case of diabetes, consisting entirely in the quality of the urine; with an inquiry into the different theories of that disease.

Cawley was the first to suggest a relationship between the pancreas and diabetes, observing that the disease may follow injury to that organ.

GMN 3929 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5108

1794 FRANK, Johann Peter (1745 – 1821)

De curandis hominum morbis epitome. Liber V.

Frank was the first to define diabetes insipidus (pp. 38-67).

GMN 3879 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5309

1797 ROLLO, John ( – 1809); CRUICKSHANK, William ( – 1810)

An account of two cases of the diabetes mellitus: With remarks, as they arose during the progress of the cure. To which are added, a general view of the nature of the disease and its appropriate treatment, including observations on some diseases depending on stomach affection; and a detail of the communications received on the subject since the dispersion of the notes on the first case....And some observations on the nature of sugar by William Cruickshank. 2 vols.

Rollo reported the success of a meat diet in the treatment of diabetes. He was the first to take Matthew Dobson's discovery of glycosuria in diabetes mellitus and apply it to managing metabolism.[He was a pioneer in t…

GMN 3930 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5117

1815 CHEVREUL, Michel Eugène (1786 – 1889)

Note sur le sucre de diabètes.

Chevreul proved that the sugar in diabetic urine is glucose.

GMN 3931 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5120

1822 –1823 MARCET, Alexander John Gaspard (1770 – 1822)

Account of a singular variety of urine, which turned black soon after being discharged; with some particulars respecting its chemical properties.

Alkaptonuria described.

GMN 3912 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5014

1841 TROMMER, Carl August (1806 – 1879)

Unterscheidung von Gummi, Dextrin, Traubenzucker, und Rohrzucker.

Trommer’s test for glucose in urine.

GMN 3932 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5124

1846 –1848 GARROD, Sir Alfred Baring (1819 – 1907)

Several specimens of cystine exhibited, with the particulars of two cases in which this deposit occurred in the urine.

Cystinuria described.

GMN 3912.1 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5016

1850 BERNARD, Claude (1813 – 1878)

Chiens rendus diabétiques.

By experimental puncture (piqûre) of the fourth ventricle of the brain, Claude Bernard produced temporary glycosuria.

GMN 3933 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5128

1856 SCHIFF, Moritz (1823 – 1896)

Bericht über einige Versuche, um den Ursprung des Harnzuckers bei künstlichem Diabetes zu ermitteln.

Schiffs important experiments on the production of artificial diabetes.

GMN 3934 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5141

1856 ARETAEUS OF CAPPADOCIA, (Ἀρεταῖος Καππάδοκος) (80 – 140); ADAMS, Francis (1796 – 1861)

Тα ∑ωζομενα. The extant works of Aretaeus, the Cappadocian. Edited and translated by Francis Adams.

Aretaeus left many fine descriptions of disease; in fact Garrison ranks him second only to Hippocrates in this respect. In the printed editions of this bibliography, before the present online version, the Adams editio…

GMN 22 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8934

1857 PETTERS, Wilhelm (1824 – 1889)

Untersuchungen über die Honigharnruhr.

Petters discovered acetone in diabetic urine.

GMN 3935 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5144

1859 BOEDEKER, Carl Wilhelm (1815 – 1895)

Lieber das Alcapton; ein neuer Beitrag zur Frage: welche Stoffe des Harns können Kupferreduction bewirken?

Excretion of homogentisic acid (in alkaptonuria) first described.

GMN 3913 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5024

1862 PAVY, Frederick William (1829 – 1911)

Researches on the nature and treatment of diabetes

Pavy devoted many years to the study of diabetes. He concluded that there was a definite relationship between the degree of hyperglycemia and glycosuria.

GMN 3936 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5149

1863 BANTING, William (1779 – 1878)

Letter on corpulence; address to the public.

Banting, a prominent English undertaker, and formerly obese, was the first to popularize a weight loss diet based on limiting intake of refined and easily digestible carbohydrates. He changed his diet at the suggestio…

GMN 3914 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5027

1865 TROUSSEAU, Armand (1801 – 1867)

Glycosurie, diabète sucré. In his Clinique médicale de l’Hôtel-Dieu, 2me. éd., 2, 663-98.

First description of hemochromatosis.

GMN 3915 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5031

1865 GERHARDT, Carl Adolph Christian Jacob (1833 – 1902)

Diabetes mellitus und Aceton.

Gerhard’s iron-chloride reaction for aceto-acetic acid in acetonaemic urine.

GMN 3937 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5153

1869 NOYES, Henry Dewey (1832 – 1900)

Retinitis in glycosuria.

First investigation of retinitis accompanying glycosuria.

GMN 3938 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5158

1874 KUSSMAUL, Adolf (1822 – 1902)

Zur Lehre vom diabetes mellitus.

Kussmaul explained diabetic coma as being due to acetonemia. He described the air-hunger (“Kussmaul’s respiration”) present in this condition. Partial English translation in No. 2241.

GMN 3939 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5162

1875 BOUCHARDAT, Apollinaire (1806 – 1886)

De la glycosurie ou diabète sucré; son traitement hygiénique.

Bouchardat used the fermentation test, polariscope and copper solutions for the detection of diabetes; he substituted fresh fats for carbohydrates, advised the avoidance of milk and alcohol, invented gluten bread and …

GMN 3940 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5166

1875 LEBER, Theodor (1840 – 1917)

Ueber die Erkrankungen des Auges bei Diabetes mellitus.

A record of Leber’s important studies on the disorders of the eye in diabetes.

GMN 3941 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5175

1877 BERNARD, Claude (1813 – 1878)

Leçons sur le diabète et la glycogenèse animale.

Bernard showed that in diabetes there is primarily glycemia followed by glycosuria.

GMN 3942 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5178

1877 LANCEREAUX, Étienne (1829 – 1910)

Notes et reflexions à propos de 2 cas de diabète sucré avec altération du pancreas.

Lancereaux was the first definitely to claim a causal relationship between lesions of the pancreas and diabetes.

GMN 3943 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5182

1881 EBSTEIN, Wilhelm (1836 – 1912)

Ueber Drüsenepithelnekrosen beim Diabetes mellitus mit besonderer Berücksichtigung des diabetischen Coma.

“Ebstein’s disease”, hyaline degeneration and necrosis of the epithelial cells of the renal tubules, sometimes seen in diabetes mellitus.

GMN 3944 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5185

1883 STADELMANN, Ernst (1853 – 1941)

Ueber die Ursachen der pathologischen Ammoniakausscheidung beim Diabetes mellitus und des Coma diabeticum.

Stadelmann studied ammonia excretion in diabetes and noted an acid substance in the urine, which Minkowski (No. 3947) showed to be ß-oxybutyric acid. Stadelmann recognized that diabetic coma was the result of the incr…

GMN 3945 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5189

1884 ARNOZAN, Charles Louis Xavier (1852 – 1928); VAILLARD, Louis (1850 – 1935)

Contribution à l’étude du pancreas du lapin. Lésions provoquées par la ligature du canal de Wirsung.

Arnozan and Vaillard showed that blockage of the pancreatic ducts caused atrophy of the pancreas but not diabetes.

GMN 3946 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5192

1884 MINKOWSKI, Oscar (1858 – 1931)

Ueber das Vorkommen von Oxybuttersäure im Harn bei Diabetes mellitus.

Discovery of ß-oxybutyric acid in diabetic urine.

GMN 3947 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5196

1885 JAKSCH, Rudolf von (1855 – 1947)

Ueber Acetonurie und Diaceturie

An important investigation concerning acetone in diabetic urine.

GMN 3948 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5200

1886 MERING, Joseph von (1849 – 1908)

Ueber experimentellen Diabetes.

Mering was able to produce experimental diabetes by means of phloridzin.

GMN 3949 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5204

1888 –1889 DERCUM, Francis Xavier (1856 – 1931)

A subcutaneous connective tissue dystrophy of the arms and back, associated with symptoms resembling myxoedema.

First description of adiposis dolorosa (“Dercum’s disease”).

GMN 3917 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5038

1890 MERING, Joseph von (1849 – 1908); MINKOWSKI, Oscar (1858 – 1931)

Diabetes mellitus nach Pankreasextirpation.

Minkowski produced experimental diabetes by removing the pancreas of a dog. This proof of the role of the pancreas in diabetes was of the first importance; previous experiments on similar lines had attracted attention…

GMN 3950 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5206

1895 SALKOWSKI, Ernst Leopold (1844 – 1923)

Ueber die Pentosurie, eine neue Anomalie des Stoffwechsels.

Pentosuria first described.

GMN 3918 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5041

1895 NOORDEN, Carl Harko von (1858 – 1944)

Die Zuckerkrankheit und ihre Behandlung.

Noorden’s extensive studies on diabetes greatly advanced our knowledge of the subject. He made many observations regarding metabolism in diabetes.

GMN 3951 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5209

1898 NAUNYN, Bernhard (1839 – 1925)

Der Diabetes mellitus.

Naunyn devoted his life to the study of metabolism in diabetes and in diseases of the liver and pancreas. This is his most significant work. He was a co-founder of the Archiv für experimentelle Pathologie.

GMN 3952 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5212

1899 MAGNUS-LEVY, Adolf (1865 – 1955)

Die Oxybuttersäure und ihre Beziehungen zum Coma diabeticum.

GMN 3953 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5214

1900 –1910 NOORDEN, Carl Harko von (1858 – 1944)

Sammlung klinischer Abhandlungen über Pathologie und Therapie der Stoffwechsel- und Ernährungsstörungen. 9 pts.

Noorden succeeded Nothnagel at Vienna. He made important studies of metabolism and its disorders. His section on obesity was translated into English as Obesity: the indications for reduction cures. Part 1 of Clinical …

GMN 3919 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5045

1900 –1901 OPIE, Eugene Lindsay (1873 – 1971)

On the relation of chronic interstitial pancreatitis to the islands of Langerhans and to diabetes mellitus.

GMN 3955 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5220

1900 –1901 OPIE, Eugene Lindsay (1873 – 1971)

The relation of diabetes mellitus to lesions of the pancreas. Hyaline degeneration of the islands of Langerhans.

Mering and Minkowski had focused attention upon the pancreas as the seat of diabetes, Opie’s work was another important step forward; he established the association between failure of the islets of Langerhans and the …

GMN 3956 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5223

1901 MAGNUS-LEVY, Adolf (1865 – 1955)

Untersuchungen über die Acidosis im Diabetes melitus und die Säureintoxication im Coma diabeticum.

Magnus-Levy studied the relationship of ß-oxybutyric acid and diabetic coma.

GMN 3954 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5217

1902 SOBOLEW, Leonid Wassilyevitch [SOBOLEFF; SSOBOLEW] (1876 – 1919)

Zur normalen und pathologischen Morphologie der inneren Secretion der Bauchspeicheldrüse. (Die Bedeutung der Langerhans’-schen Inseln.

Sobolew found that ligation of the pancreatic excretory ducts led to atrophy of the acinous tissue, the islets of Langerhans remaining intact.

GMN 3957 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5227

1903 ABDERHALDEN, Emil (1877 – 1950)

Familiäre Cystindiathese.

Cystinosis described.

GMN 3920 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5048

1905 FROMMER, Viktor

Neue Reaktion zum Nachweis von Aceton, samt Vemerkungen über Acetonurie.

Frommer’s test for acetone in urine.

GMN 3958 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5230

1906 DE WITT, Lydia Maria Adams (1859 – 1928)

Morphology and physiology of areas of Langerhans in some vertebrates

Lydia De Witt ligated the pancreatic ducts and obtained extracts from the islets of Langerhans in cats, noting their glycolytic qualities.

GMN 3959 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5233

1908 ROTHERA, Arthur Cecil Hamel (1880 – 1915)

Note on the sodium nitro-prusside reaction for acetone.

Test for acetone bodies in urine

GMN 3960 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5235

1908 ZUELZER, Georg Ludwig (1870 – 1949)

Ueber Versuche einer specifischen Fermenttherapie des Diabetes.

Zuelzer succeeded in isolating the pancreatic extract which contained what we now know as insulin; serious hypoglycaemic reactions sometimes followed its use, however, and led to its abandonment. Preliminary paper in …

GMN 3961 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5237

1909 GARROD, Sir Archibald Edward (1857 – 1936)

Inborn errors of metabolism.

Garrod established chemical individuality as a paradigm of Mendelian variation. His study, which he began around the turn of the 20th century, coincided with the rediscovery of Mendel's laws of inheritance in 1900. He…

GMN 244.1 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5049