1. Laurette Geldenhuys Dalhousie University CDHA, Halifax
Laboratory Medicine and Its Contribution to Clinical Care; A Historical Perspective
Laurette Geldenhuys
Dalhousie University
CDHA, Halifax

2. Declaration of Conflict of Interest
None

3. Objectives
At the end of the presentation participants will have an enhanced understanding of
The historical development of laboratory medicine, including
Surgical Pathology
Cytopathology
Autopsy Pathology
The important role of laboratory medicine in the advancement of clinical care over the last century

4. Egyptian Era Edwin Smith Papyrus – 17th century BCE
Papyrus Ebers – BCE
Bone injury
Trachoma
Ulcerating lumps – cancer?
Parasites

5. Greek Era Hippocrates of Cos – 460 – 370 BCE
Humoural theory of the nature of disease
Crab-like growth of cancer
Inflammation
Haemorrhoids
Malaria
Tuberculosis

6. Roman Era Cornelius Celsus – 30 BCE – 38 CE
De Re Medicina – – first medical book ever printed
“Notae vero inflammationis sunt quatuor, rubor et tumor, cum calore et dolore”

7. Roman Era Galen 129 – 201 CE Pergamus, Asia Minor Temple of Asclepius
500 books
Seats of Disease; Abnormal Tumours
Sarcoma – raw meat
Bloodletting
Fifth sign of inflammation – loss of function/throbbing

8. Humoural theory Four elements and humours Four qualities
Fire – yellow bile
Earth – black bile
Water – phlegm
Air – blood
Four qualities
Hot, dry, wet, cold

9. Arab Medicine Avicenna – 980 – 1037 CE Canon Medicinae
Influenced by Galen

10. Europe
Monasteries
Italian universities

11. Pathology as a Specialty
Antonio Benivieni – – 1502
Florence
Case histories, autopsies
De Abditis Nunnullis ac Mirandis Morborum et Sanctionum Causis – About the Hidden Causes of Disease

12. Terms “Pathology” and Physiology”
Jean Fernel – 1497 – 1558
Paris
Morbis Universalibus

13. Blood circulation William Harvey – 1578 – 1657
De Motu Cordis et Sanguinis
Demise of humoural theory

14. Microscope Hans and Sacharias Janssen – 1580 – 1638
Robert Hooke – – 1703 – cell
Antony van Leeuwenhoek – – 1723

15. Giovanni Batista Morgagni
1682 – 1771
De Sedibus et Causis Morborum per Anatomen Indagatis – About the Seats and Causes of Disease Through Anatomical Investigation
640 autopsies, clinicopathologic correlation
Colposcopy
Sinus of Morgagni; Columns of Morgagni; Foramina of Morgagni; Hydatid of Morgagni; Morgagni's hernia