The first leg transplant for the treatment of a cancer by Saints Cosmas and Damian.
The most renowned of all medically inclined saints must have been St. Cosmas and St. Damian. They became the special patrons of surgery, due to their miraculous operations. On one occasion, they amputated a cancerous leg and replaced it with another, taken from a Moor who had just died. This dramatic cure was meat and drink for artists, and has been portrayed many times.
Department of History of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. Lyon48@otenet.gr
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D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000637:transplantation*; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000266:history*