[Gerontology and endocrinology at the beginning of the 20th century: Dr. Voronoff (1866-1951)]

Rejuvenation by monkey testicle transplanting was terribly fashionable in Paris, between years 1925-1930. The manual miracles done by a group of very well-known surgeons, in Paris, (especially Serge Voronoff and Dartigues) rooted in the head of a too credulous public the idea according to it was possible to be made scientifically younger by genital graftings. The "Etude sur la vieillesse et la rajeunissement par la greffe" (1926), written by Voronoff, provided the clinical, histological and iconographical proofs of a such rejuvenation. The paper analyses that was put forward as "proofs", situated in the scientific and cultural context of the time. A possible link between youth, sexual vigour and animality sends back to a mythic history of gerontology and endocrinology, two medical fields which however became scientific specialties in the beginning of the twentieth century.

Intermediate care--a challenge to specialty of geriatric medicine or its renaissance?

The specialism of geriatric medicine has developed considerably in the last half of the twentieth century. In Great Britain it has emerged from its sombre beginnings in Victorian poor law institutions to become one of the largest specialities in medicine encompassing a wide range of disciplines and interests. More recently, there has been a parallel development in "intermediate care" a sweeping phrase that encompasses a wide diversity of practices in a plethora of venues. Although there is considerable attraction in minimising the duration of hospital stay by older people, there is a real risk of intermediate care being used as a euphemism for indeterminate neglect. For older people to benefit from appropriate treatment and care, the lessons learnt by earlier generations of geriatricians, and supported by the international evidence base should not be disregarded. Elderly people need a full multi-disciplinary assessment (comprehensive geriatric assessment) and continued involvement of skilled and trained personnel in their continuing care (geriatric evaluation and management). The recommendations of the British Geriatrics Society on intermediate care are commended and should be adhered to by all planners and providers of intermediate care. There is considerable logic in developing ways in which the two developments can be integrated to build upon the best features of both.

[The scientific career of V. M. Dil'man]

The life and research career of Prof. V.M. Dilman, who would have been 75 in July, 2000, are briefly outlined. V.M. Dilman had been on the staff of the N.N. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology for many years. He contributed much to the development of oncology, endocrinology and gerontology. Among the basic features of the ontogenetic model of development and aging put forward by V.M. Dilman are the age-associated emergence of hormonal-metabolic factors of increased risk for cancer and relevant measures to be taken to retard this process.

[The elderly yesterday, today and tomorrow. Aspects of cohort differences and prevention of the manifestations of aging]

Larger and different groups of elderly persons will meet us in the next few decades. This review describes cohort differences during a couple of decades from the gerontological and geriatric population studies in Göteborg, Sweden (H 70), regarding for example anthropometry, hearing, cognitive function, dietary habits and oral health. The sometimes great cohort differences have an obvious impact on for example planning of health care. Preventive possibilities are dealt with within the fields of nutrition and physical activity.

Changing concepts of health and disease during the 20th century

Sir Christopher Booth looks at the major medical achievements of the 20th century, from the discovery of vitamins to the eradication of smallpox, and asks where scientific development might lead physicians in the new millennium.

The roots of geriatric medicine: care of the aged in Byzantine times (324-1453 AD)

BACKGROUND

The search for the roots of geriatric medicine, which has been considered a relatively new branch.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the study is the research of the original Byzantine medical texts and the contemporary historical sources so as to bring to light knowledge about ancient medical care.

METHODS

The medical texts of Byzantine physicians were studied and analysed, as well as the Histories and Chronicles of their contemporary writers, so as to locate the extracts in the texts concerning geriatric care from the scientific point of view and that of the 'vox populi' which the historians and chroniclers express.

RESULTS

The problems of old age occupied physicians from earliest Byzantine times. They had dealt with the characteristics, symptoms and accompanying diseases of the aged and endeavoured to confront all the medical problems faced by the elderly, providing a special healthy regimen for the third age and taking steps for the prevention of diseases of this age group and their treatment. Parallel to this, the research of contemporary historical texts proves the concern of all society for the special problems of the aged and the significant impact of scientific geriatric medicine on the population.

CONCLUSION

The study and analysis of the original medical and historical texts of the Byzantine period (324-1453 AD), written in Greek language, prove that the roots of medical care of old age could be traced from ancient Greek and Byzantine medicine.

In the steps of giants: the early geriatrics texts

This article briefly reviews some of the major early geriatric textbooks of the last two centuries. Among the more important are books by George Day, Charcot, Nascher, Worcester, and Cowdry. Lord Amulree's book Adding Life to Years has become a watchword of modern geriatrics. It is of interest that during this time period the basic plea for high touch care of older patients and the lament that physicians have little knowledge of the needs of older patients has remained remarkably constant.