CHAPTER 6: History and Milestones

KIDNEY AND PANCREAS

In Hebrew tradition, the kidneys were:^1–5

• Together with the heart, considered the most important internal organs

• The seat of:

  • The human spirit

  • Secret thoughts

  • Deep desires

  • Wisdom

  • Secret advice

  • Emotions

  • Prudence

  • Temperament

  • Vigor

• Associated with inspiration, moral discernment, and reflection

In the Bible, the kidneys (always addressed in the plural form kelayot) are:⁵

• Described as being examined by God as a way of judging an individual

• Mentioned as the site of divine punishment for transgressions

• Addressed when giving specific instructions on how to proceed with the organs of sacrificial animals

The Talmudic corpus describes that:⁵

• One kidney provides good advice

• The other kidney provides bad advice

The kidneys are mentioned once in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, together with the heart.⁵

Eventually, the kidneys were replaced as the center of life by the concept of soul, mind, and brain.^1,5

Galen (131–200 CE) proved that the kidneys produce urine.⁵

Historical individuals reported to have had kidney disease, among many others, include:⁴

• Emily Dickinson, Buffalo Bill Cody, Ida B. Wells, George Bernard Shaw, Cole Porter, Douglas MacArthur, Howard Hughes, Alfred Hitchcock.

MILESTONES^6,7

• 3rd Century

  • First (unverified) reported transplant

  • Transplantation of a lower extremity

  • Cosmas and Damian (sainted twin Arab physicians)

• 1954

  • First kidney transplant to successfully avoid rejection

  • Joseph E. Murray

• 1966

  • First simultaneous pancreas/kidney transplant

  • Richard Lillehei, William Kelly

• 1967

  • First liver transplant

  • Thomas E. Starzl

• 1968

  • First isolated pancreas transplant

  • Richard Lillehei

REFERENCES