John and William Hunter on aneurysms.

John and William Hunter made important contributions to vascular surgery that have prevailed until today. Their studies of aneurysm formation, pathology, and treatment laid the foundation for many modern surgical concepts. In the Great Wind mill School of Anatomy, and subsequently at St George's Hospital, London, the Hunters defined true and false aneurysms. William Hunter, in addition, was the first to describe the arteriovenous aneurysm or fistula. Later, John Hunter developed a successful operation for popliteal aneurysm based on his meticulous laboratory investigations. These Scots showed a unique experimental and clinical genius rarely present in late 18th-century medicine.