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
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
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
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
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
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 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 –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
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 MACCALLUM, William George (1874 – 1944)
On the relation of the islands of Langerhans to glycosuria.
MacCallum suggested a relationship between lesions of the islands of Langerhans and the glycosuria of diabetes.
GMN 3962 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5240
1909 MAGNUS-LEVY, Adolf (1865 – 1955)
Das Koma diabeticum und seine Behandlung.
Magnus-Levy is remembered for his work on the treatment of diabetic coma.
GMN 3963 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5244
1912 CUSHING, Harvey Williams (1869 – 1939)
The pituitary body and its disorders.
The first clinical monograph on the hypophysis. Cushing, outstanding neurological surgeon of the early 20th century, added much to our knowledge of the pituitary body and its disorders. The above work includes a descr…
GMN 3896 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/4960
1912 FRANK, Alfred Erich (1884 – 1957)
Ueber Beziehungen der Hypophyse zum Diabetes insipidus.
Frank was the first definitely to connect the posterior lobe of the pituitary with diabetes insipidus.
GMN 3897 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/4962
1916 JOSLIN, Elliot Proctor (1869 – 1962)
The treatment of diabetes mellitus, with observations upon the disease based upon one thousand cases.
Joslin was the first physician in the United States to specialize in the treatment of diabetes; this was the first textbook on the subject in the English language. The book underwent its 12th edition in 1985. Digital …
GMN 11820 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/14022
1920 BARRON, Moses (1884 – 1974)
The relation of the islets of Langerhans to diabetes with special reference to cases of pancreatic lithiasis.
Barron confirmed the experimental work of Sobolew. It was whilst reading the above paper that Banting first formulated the hypothesis upon which he based his successful experiments.
GMN 3964 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5247
1921 –1922 BANTING, Sir Frederick Grant (1891 – 1941); BEST, Charles Herbert (1899 – 1978)
The internal secretion of the pancreas.
This paper reports the isolation of insulin. An extract from the pancreas of a dog, removed after ligation of the excretory duct, was found to exercise a reducing influence on the percentage of sugar in the blood. Dig…
GMN 1205 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/1847
1921 ACHARD, Émile Charles (1860 – 1944); THIERS, Joseph (1885 – )
La virilisme pilaire et son association à l’insuffisance glycolytique (Diabète des femmes à barbe).
“Achard–Thiers syndrome”. These writers established as a definite syndrome the combination of hirsutism with diabetes.
GMN 3870 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/4923
1921 PAULESCO, Nicolas Constantin (1869 – 1931)
Recherches sur le rôle du pancréas dans l’assimilation nutritive.
Paulesco isolated the anti-diabetic hormone of the pancreas before Banting and Best. He named it “pancréine”.
GMN 3965 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5251
1922 BANTING, Sir Frederick Grant (1891 – 1941); BEST, Charles Herbert (1899 – 1978); MACLEOD, John James Rickard (1876 – 1935)
The internal secretion of the pancreas. (Abstract).
A preliminary one-page communication regarding the isolation of insulin, made to a meeting of the American Physiological Society in December 1921. Digital facsimile from insulin.library.utoronto.ca at this link. In 19…
GMN 3966 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/5253
![AVICENNA, [Abū ʿAlī al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Sīnā] (980 – 1037)](/media/portraits/9572)
