The History of Calculus Mendax and the Following Surgery on the Prostate Adam Szarszewski 1 and Jacek Gulczy nski 2 * 1 Department of History and Philosophy of Medical Sciences, Medical University of Gda nsk,Gda nsk, Poland 2 Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, Medical University of Gda nsk,Gda nsk, Poland In this paper we would like to present probably the first surgery performed on the prostate gland followed by microscopic analysis of the obtained tumor tissue sample. We based on the existing correspondence between Ludwig von Hammen and Johann N. Pechlin, and their successors in this field as well. Von Hammen seems to be a pioneer in the area of not only urological surgery but in directing this part of medical practice from “lithotomists” to physicians, much better educated than barbers in physiology but first of all in anatomy. This 17th century physician from Gdansk tried to set new standards both for surgical medical practice but histopathological examination of the excised material as well. Due to the change of the operational skills and procedures von Hammen’s work got almost forgotten, but remains remembered due to the work of historians of the medicine from following centuries. Prostate 74:1465–1470, 2014. # 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. KEY WORDS: prostate surgery; von Hammen; Pechlin; calculus mendax; pathology; microscope In an era of advanced technological developments in the field of science it would be hard to imagine diagnostics and therapy without corresponding tech- nical backup. As technological progress has become part and parcel of medical advances, “technical way of thinking” is becoming commonplace among those practicing medicine. Operating advanced equipment has become both useful and, to some extent, enjoyable. This reliance on modern technology can be compared to a visit to a supermarket—the pure joy of shopping is quickly followed by sheer desire to buy even more. Such attitude, so common today, has not always been part of medicine. In the past, introduction of various research instruments meant breaking taboos, since it signified novel, out-of-ordinary ways of practicing medicine. Understanding the mentality of the 16 th or the 17 th century physicians is challenging at best, as they were individuals deeply rooted in science with solid and unchangable foundations; they were individ- uals for whom even the slightest deviation from fixed methods posed an intellectual as well as emotional challenge; and finally, they were individuals who had been taught since early childhood that the education they were receiving was legitimate just because its foundations had not changed for centuries. For the 17 th century man, today’s constant search for new solutions in medicine—necessitating not just referencing up to date new textbooks, not just leafing through new journals, but frequently turning to the internet for answers, almost in statu nascendi—would —have been utterly puzzling. Novelty was viewed as potentially hazardous because it could not be validat- ed, while ancient, classical knowledge from thousands of years ago seemed straightforward and clear. One simply knew what to expect of it. Nowadays the knowledge from ten or even from five years back may prove useless. The discrepancy between physicians’ understanding of the concept of time in medicine today and physicians’ understanding the same con- cept in the 17 th century would constitute a mental barrier impossible to overcome in trying to build mutual collaboration. Ã Correspondence to: Jacek Gulczy nski, Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, Medical University of Gda nsk, ul. De ’ binki 7, 80-210 Gda nsk, Poland. E-mail: jgulczynski@gumed.edu.pl Received 17 June 2014; Accepted 1 July 2014 DOI 10.1002/pros.22864 Published online 23 August 2014 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). The Prostate 74:1465^1470 (2014) ß 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.