Phlebology: History and epidemiology

Abstract

It may be that anatomic research on the veins, and especially on the valves in the veins, is responsible for all of the advances of the Twentieth Century in Cardiovascular Medicine and surgery. It is agreed that the studies and subsequent illustrations of the venous valves by Fabricius led Harvey to create his mental conception of the circulation. Before that, the Ebers Papyrus had described certain serpentine windings, which, were not to be operated upon lest that lead to head on the ground. Clearly, experience had taught that incision into varicosities could be fatal.