Ancient Greek Medicine Abdulwahab Al-Qurtas 7-4

Table of Contents Introduction. Ancient Greek Medicine. Asclepieia. Hippocrates “Father of Medicine.” The Hippocratic Oath. Other Contributors to Greek Medicine. Greek Contribution to Modern Medicine. Conclusion. Bibliography.

Introduction Did you know: The first who had medicine as a profession were the Greeks? The first who made the doctors take an oath are the Greeks? This oath was called the “The Hippocratic Oath”. The Greeks were the first to look for what caused human diseases?

Ancient Greek Medicine Greeks used four humors to help them identify sickness: blood, black bile, yellow bile, and phlegm (boogers). To be healthy all four humors should be balanced in the human body.

Asclepieia Temples dedicated to the healer-god Asclepius. Functioned as centers of medical advice and healing (hospitals).

Hippocrates “Father of Medicine” Born on the Greek island of Kos and Lived between 460 – 370 BC. Learned medicine from his father and grandfather. Took lessons from the Thracian physician Herodicus of Selymbria. Hippocrates and his followers were first to describe many diseases and medical conditions.

Hippocrates “Father of Medicine” Hippocrates began to categorize illnesses as acute, chronic, endemic and epidemic. The first documented chest surgeon and his findings are still valid. He didn’t allow doctors to start their career straight after training, they had to say an oath “Hippocratic Oath”. He died in Larissa at the age of 90 years.

Ancient Greek Version: The Hippocratic oath Ancient Greek Version: Modern Version I swear to keep the patients information private. I swear to do the best of my ability. I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure. I swear by Apollo, the healer I will use the gods as my witness. I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.

Other Contributors to Greek Medicine. Aristotle (384 – 322 BC): Categorized animal species. Said that the soul was responsible for intelligence. Herophilus of Chalcedon (330–260 BC): The first medical teacher at Alexandria. Corrected Aristotle, placing intelligence in the brain. Distinguished between veins and arteries.

Other Contributors to Greek Medicine. Erasistratus of Chios (304 - 250 BC) : Herophilus and Erasistratus researched the role of veins and nerves. Performed their experiments upon criminals given to them by their kings. They dissected these criminals alive and observed them while they were still breathing .

Greek Contribution to Modern Medicine Hippocrates was the first to reject superstitions that credited supernatural or divine forces with causing illness. The Hippocratic Corpus contains textbooks, lectures and research on various subjects in medicine still valuable at the present time.

Conclusion The Greeks were the first to diagnose diseases which helped the modern medicine. We would never have the Hippocratic Oath and doctors would not be truthful in their practice.

Bibliography: Websites: http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/science/medicine/ http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/medicine_and_ancient_greece.htm http://www.fjkluth.com/gmed.html Books: “Hippocrates”, Encyclopedia Britannica . 15th Ed. Vol. 8. Chicago: William Benton, 1980. 942-943. “Aristotle”. Encyclopedia Britannica . 15th Ed. Vol. 1. Chicago: William Benton, 1980. 1162-1171.

Ο άρρωστος που όρισε ως κληρονόμο του το γιατρό, ποτέ δε θα γίνει καλά Ο άρρωστος που όρισε ως κληρονόμο του το γιατρό, ποτέ δε θα γίνει καλά. The patient who set his doctor as his heir, will never get better.