The beginning of the XX century and the XV congress of Russian surgeons: scientific priorities

The development of surgery at the beginning of the XX century is analyzed. The main achievements of the «Golden age» surgery were noted. Scientific priorities of the XV Congress of Russian surgeons are presented and the main program issues are highlighted. One of the most important topics discussed at the Congress was the question of pathogenesis and treatment of spontaneous gangrene of the lower extremities (obliterating endarteritis). It is noted that the attention of surgeons and therapists was attracted by the reports made at the XV Congress of surgeons by Professor V.N. Shevkunenko and his staff on the program issue of anatomy, pathology and vascular system clinic. The statements put forward in these reports about the presence of main and loose types of vascular branching made us think whether the differences in the resistance of different organisms to diseases are not related to these differences in the structure of the vascular network. It was found that the innervation of the vascular system differs in an individual feature, since the place of approach to the vessel wall of the sources of nerve supply and the territory of distribution of vascular nerves in different individuals are not the same. Much attention was paid to the variability of organs and systems of the human body, associated with the influence of the external environment, labor processes. At the same time, it was pointed out that the doctrine of variability can be very fruitful if we study not only the differences in the structure of organs and systems, but also the features of functions that are characterized by differences in the structure of these formations. In addition to the program questions, there were reports on intestinal inversion, gallstone disease, liver abscesses, treatment of purulent wounds without tampons, as well as urology issues that aroused the lively interest of the participants of the Congress.