A History of Splenectomy

Abstract

Historically, more functions have been attributed to the spleen than to any other parenchymatous organ. Ancient writings described the spleen as an organ which inhibited the running capacity of horses and men. Talmudic reference is made to the spleen as the seat of laughter. In ancient Greece it was known as the organ which produced black bile, the cardinal humor of melancholy. To this, Galen added the concept of the spleen as a filter. In Shakespeare and other authors, literary allusions abound with the spleen as the seat of conflicting emotions such as joy, anger, spite, whim, malice, impetuosity, among others.