Abstract
There has been a continuous debate about the origin and early detection of rheumatoid arthritis. The strongest evidence suggesting recent onset is the absence of the disease in Egyptian mummies. Other rheumatological diseases such as osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout and chondrocalcinosis are well represented in Egyptian bone specimens and this appeared to be convincing evidence to Professor Watson Buchanan from Glasgow that rheumatoid arthritis was a disease of recent onset which appeared in the last two centuries (Buchanan and Kean 2001).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Aceves-Avila FJ, Medina F, Fraga A. The antiquity of rheumatoid arthritis: a reappraisal. J Rheumatol. 2001;28:751–7.
Aceves-Avila FJ, Delgadillo-Ruano MA, Ramos-Remus C, Gomez-Vargas A. The “Hospital Real de San Josef de Los Naturales” and the rheumatic conditions found in New Spain during the sixteenth century. Reumatismo. 2002;54:62–6.
Buchanan WW, Kean WE. Rheumatoid arthritis: beyond the lymphocyte. J Rheumatol. 2001;28:691–2.
Bywaters E. Historical aspects of the aetiology of rheumatoid arthritis. Br J Rheumatol. 1988;27 Suppl 2:110–5.
Caughey DE. The arthritis of Constantine IX. Ann Rheum Dis. 1974;33:77–80.
Dequeker J. Arthritis in Flemish paintings. Br Med J. 1977;1:1203–5.
Dequeker J. Siebrandus Sixtius: evidence of rheumatoid arthritis of the robust reaction type in a seventeenth century priest. Ann Rheum Dis. 1992;51:561–2.
Rashid T, Ebringer A. Rheumatoid arthritis is linked to Proteus – the evidence. Clin Rheumatol. 2007;26:1036–43.
Snorrason E. Landré-Beauvais and his “Goutte Asthénique Primitive.” ACTA Med SCAND. 1952; 142, Suppl. 266:115–8.
Thould AK, Thould BT. Arthritis in Roman Britain. Br Med J. 1983;287:1909–11.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer-Verlag London Limited
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ebringer, A. (2011). History of the Attempts to Find the Cause of RA. In: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Proteus. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-950-5_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-950-5_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-85729-949-9
Online ISBN: 978-0-85729-950-5
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)