History of modern dermatology

The Hebrew Bible of 2700 years ago describes dermatologic diseases and therapies, suggesting that disorders were of divine inflection. Avicenna (980-1037) a Persian scholar in his book The Canon of Medicine laid stress on the pores of skin as a route to eliminate the excess of humours for cure of diseases.

After the crusade wars (1095-1291), nee nursing and hospital orders were developed. The order of Lazarus, which was devoted to the care of the lepers, was found at the beginning of the 12th century. The first book committed to skin diseases was published in 1572 in Venice. It reported the oral lessons of Italian physician, Girolamo Mercuriali (1530-1606).

In A Treatise of Diseases Incident to the Skin, written in English and published in 1714, Daniel Turner (1667-1741) mentions crust and scabies in infants.

Robert Willan (1757-1812)

Robert Willan (1757-1812) and his talented pupil Thomas Bateman (1778-1821) created clinical dermatology by giving precise description of elementary lesions, a concept created in 1776 by Joseph Plenck (1735-1807). Joseph Plenck the Viennese protodermatologist is considered to be the forerunner of modern European dermatology. Plenck introduced the systematization of dermatovenereological diseases, based on their paradigmatic differences.

Dermatology in the United States began in the 1830s with Henry Daggett Bulkley and Noah Worcester.

Henry Daggett Bulkley (1804-1872) a Yale graduate in return from Paris, established the first dispensary for the treatment of skin and venereal diseases, the Broome Street Infirmary for Skin disease. He also developed and presented the first series of lectures on dermatology in North America.

Noah Worcester (1812-1847) a Dartmouth graduate after studying in the Parisian clinics joined the faculty of the newly founded Medical School of Ohio. Dr Noah Worcester wrote the first American dermatology textbook on skin diseases in 1845, Disease of the Skin.
History of modern dermatology

1300 BC Egyptians Doctor

1300 BC Egyptians Doctor
Egyptians medicine reached a very high standard, and its reputation spread to neighboring countries. A student doctor learned from an established physician, perhaps his father, but there also seem to have been medical schools attached to the temples, and there was at least one school for midwives.

Many ancient Egyptian doctors were ‘general practitioners’ working in the community, but specialized in one part of the body. Medical texts that have survived give clues to the extent of the Egyptians’ knowledge. There were specialist books about every part of the body, texts specifically on gynaecology, books for surgeons, dentists, and vets, and books giving recipes for medicines.

Doctors were instructed that when making a diagnosis they should, first observe the patient closely, then ask questions, inspect, smell, feel and probe. If they were then confident they could cure the patient they would say ‘An ailment I will treat’: if it was a more difficult case with an uncertain outcome they would say ‘An ailment with which I will contend’.
1300 BC Egyptians Doctor