2010, Number 2
An Med Asoc Med Hosp ABC 2010; 55 (2)
Medicine in ancient cultures. Analizing Histories of Herodotus
Romero HA, Ramírez BJ, López SR, Lepe LAK, Tapia PC, Jiménez AV
Full text
Language: Spanish
References: 15
Page: 102-110
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ABSTRACT
Background: Herodotus (480–430 B.C.) from Helicarnasus, develops his life during the V century B.C., being the «Medic Wars» the central issue of his work becomes enriched with the knowledge from journeys and his relationships with geniuses such as Pericles, Sophocles, Anaxagoras and Hippocrates who had great influence on him. Method: An historiographic analysis of his book Histories emphasizing his contribution to medicine. Results: His Histories constitute a more complete narration; his method and spirit of critique allow him to collect extraordinary information and to begin a new art based on the examination of truth. His work mentions aspects of the magic-religious model of the health-disease process which ruled; sexually transmitted diseases and some paraphilias, a number or surgical procedures; Egyptian embalmments, highlighting particularly their advances in medicine such as ophthalmology, proctology, gastroenterology, and therapeutic substances. He describes psychiatric and neurological diseases such as psychosis and epilepsy, toxic manias such as alcoholism and related degenerative diseases, congenital problems, and writes about leprosy and plague. Conclusions: His work marks the limit between the epic narratives of Homer and the beginning of scientific history, brilliantly combining the art of narration with the science of his investigations.REFERENCES