Treating Anal Fistulae; On Fistulae, Hippocrates

 Why you might read On Fistulae?

On Fistulae is a very specific work, it covers exactly what it says. Its interest value though is still there for those interested in early greek medicine.

In my Self Education project, this is a work that, while informative, is mainly there to round out the corpus.

Content of On Fistulae

Hippocrates barely deals with what is a Fistulae. Instead, he spends this short work detailing many cures for it. These start with when to cut it open before treating and when to treat it as it is. Generally, he recommends not to cut if it has gone septic. All his remedies include some sponge or other foreign object being introduced. This is either with or after a wash or tincture has been applied.

Reflections on On Fistulae

I had never heard of the term Fistulae before and as Hippocrates does not seriously define the term. I found I needed to google it just to understand what he was treating. If your wondering it is a tube that forms between two hollow organs or one hollow organ and the skin. In this case, he is only dealing with tubes from the anus to the skin. Hippocrates does mention that untreated they can cause death.

What others have to say about On Fistulae

"Hippocrates was the first to use this technique where he inserted horsehair with lint in the fistula tract and then periodically tightened it. It is used almost for all types of anal fistulae and is showing a high healing rate between 80–100%." From Longterm outcome of anal fistula – A retrospective study

Comparisons to other texts

It reminds me of On Hemorrhoids. The treatments are similar, while not the same. Hippocrates generally packs the anus with a sponge or other object.

Unlike Instruments of Reductions, this text only mentions death once in passing. By contrast, Instruments of Reductions, details how lack of reduction can cause maiming or death.

Conclusion

On Fistulae is a short text covering many ways to treat anal fistulae. Hippocrates does not do a good job at defining his terms. He is, however, thorough in covering possible treatments. Some of his techniques still have cognates today. Also, this is the second time we have dealt with issues of the anus and how to treat them. 

Have you read On Fistulae? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read On Fistulae but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of On Fistulae.

Arcite is untrue to queen Anelida; Anelida and Arcite, Geoffrey Chaucer

 Why you might read Anelida and Arcite?

Anelida and Arcite is a quick read and a lot easier than previous works of Chaucer. None the less it is still part of the works of Chaucer. It is worth a read especially as it is a little more straight forward. 

In my Self Education project it helps to form a rounded understanding of Chaucer. It also serves as a lesson in Middle English before the pronunciation shift.

Story of Anelida and Arcite

Anelida and Arcite is a poem that ends abruptly and is likely to be incomplete. Anelida is the queen of her town and Arcite is a traveling Knight of Thebes. She falls in love with him and he acts like he loves her too. But he is false and quickly leaves her for other women. She is heart broken but he just laughs at her when she confronts him. The poem then goes on to detail he complaint against him in the form of a strophe and anti strophe. The poem returns to the story for a few lines and then ends.

Reflections on Anelida and Arcite

It is interesting that Chaucer chooses a story from around the time of Thebes as a great city. Yet his characters are more Italian or French that Greek. His knights are from his own period as is his understanding of a queen. She is cast as more helpless than we see the queens be in the Greek plays set at similar times.

The basic deception of Arcite is quite intense. He never loves her and you have to wonder if he only was with her to be with a queen. That being said he doesn't seem to take power over the city as we would expect in Greek times.

What others have to say about Anelida and Arcite

"The simple story tells of the faithlessness of Arcite to Queen Anelida." From Oxford reference

Comparisons with other texts

This is the first work of Chaucer so far that has not included dream sequences. We see these dreams in the House of Fame and The Book of Duchess. This poem therefore feels much more solid and set in reality. Even if it is still a story. 

While it is set at the height of Thebes' power it is a very different story than what we see in the Iliad. This is also in poetic form but it is a very different style. Th Iliad focuses on the men and the daring deeds where as here Chaucer is focused on a woman and her mans lack of virtue.

Conclusion

Anelida and Arcite is a short poem that is most likely incomplete. It covers the courtship of the two and the subsequent unfaithfulness of Arcite. It is the first work we have seen without a dream sequence. It also is very different from the likes of the Iliad. Though they are set in similar time periods. They treat there subject matter very different. 

Have you read Anelida and Arcite? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read Anelida and Arcite but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

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A more comprehensive run through of dislocations and some other injuries; On the Articulations, Hippocrates

 Why you might read On the Articulations?

On the Articulations is a more in-depth form. We have previously seen dislocations treated but this is a more comprehensive volume. As such it gives even greater insight into how crippling dislocations could be and how they could be sometimes treated.

In my Self Education project, it starts to fill that gap of how injuries were treated. Injuries being the other part of medicine. It also gives insight into how dangerous a dislocation was at the time.

Content of On the Articulations

On the articulations works its way through dislocations an injuries of the joints. These range from shoulder to hip, from elbow to knee and also include the spine. All of these include discussions on mechanical aids and devices. For the hip, Hippocrates spends a lot of time on the deformations that will occur if the joint is not reduced. He does eventually get onto the difficulties and ways to reduce the joint. He does point out with the hip that it really needs to be done immediately. Because otherwise, the inflammation will make it impossible.

With all the joints he points out that you should not reduce the injury if the skin is broken. Reducing at that point is likely to kill the patient. It does mean however that they will be crippled by the injury. He also states that if the inflammation had come in the joint can only be reduced once the inflammation starts to come down. Reduction at this point will be a lot harder.

Reflections on On the Articulations

As I have said in other words, it strikes me how much easily injuries could cripple someone. Hippocrates spends a lot of time on this with the hip joint and the hand. It makes me thankful for modern medicine. Though I haven't broken or dislocated a joint, the thought that just that could make me a cripple is sobering.

Hippocrates treatment of club foot is interesting. He simply states that a lot can be done by slowly bringing the foot back into the right position. He does so with bandages. I do not know if this treatment actually fixes the problem or just gives a cognate to normal function.

The use of cauterisation to keep the joint from dislocating again is quite jarring. This is in the case of repeated dislocations. Hippocrates in one place rails against one location of cauterisation. He instead suggests the opposite because of the direction of the dislocation. These days while I know we do not do cauterisation but I do not know what we would do instead. I have known soccer players whose knee goes out easily. They were so used to it they just popped it back and kept going.

What others have to say about On the Articulations

"More than 2500 years ago Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.) described in detail various methods for reducing shoulder dislocations, and reduction with the heel has become the most famous one." From Neurovascular complications due to the Hippocrates method for reducing anterior shoulder dislocations

Comparisons with other texts

This is an expansion of the work Instruments of reduction. Instruments of reduction lays out the basics of treating dislocations. Whereas this text takes us right through the process and possible outcomes. 

On the articulations also drifts into the area covered by Fractures. It does so by dealing with some broken bones. Fractures is a lot more complete on the subject whereas this text just uses a few cases as they relate to the joints.

Conclusion

On the Articulations is an in-depth look at the injuries of the joints. It takes the work Instruments of reduction and expands on it to give a complete look. It covers all the joints of the limbs as well as those of the spine. Some of these reductions are still the bases of how we fix dislocations today. That being said we are not as limited as Hippocrates was by what he could physically manage.

Have you read On the Articulations? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read On the Articulations but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

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Dislocations and how to treat them; Instruments of Reduction, Hippocrates

 Why you might read Instruments of Reduction?

Instruments of reduction is a complete work about dislocations of the joints and spine. Hippocrates also explains how the person will be lamed by the injury. Because of this it also gives us great insight into the risks of getting hurt in Greek times.

In my Self Education project, the Hippocratic corpus is of great import. It is the first real medicine books and gives a great foundation for medicine and the life sciences in books to come.

Content of Instruments of Reduction

First Hippocrates spends some time describing the skeletal system in depth. This includes which way the bones curve in the body. As well as a systematic description of what connects to what.

For the rest of the book, he works his way around the body. For each joint, he describes how it can be dislocated and how to return it to its position. He also details how it will heal and how lame it will be afterwards. He details this both for if it is relocated or reduced and if it is left untreated. In a couple of places, he describes how death will likely follow the injury. He does cover a little about what to do with treatment after reduction like restricting food and bandaging. He generally says no splints the exception being the fingers. This is a small part of the text as he is mainly focused on the dislocations themselves.

Reflections on Instruments of Reduction

The number of different ways you can dislocate a lot of your joints was surprising. Most can be dislocated in at least two different ways with some being able to be dislocated in up to four ways. This is of course on two planes of movement. When there is only two it is on the same plane. so backwards and forwards or inwards and outwards.

Again Hippocrates includes the use of mechanical devices to help reduce the joint. These need more understanding of his terms than I managed on a read through. He talks about using axels but not how they are used. His contraptions are generally based on these axels.

I found this book hard to read as I kept imagining the dislocations and reductions. The text itself isn't difficult, it made me squeamish.

What others have to say about Instruments of Reduction

The internet is quite again about this book. There are many places to find the text of it online but no-one has written much about it.

Comparisons with other texts

This book reminds me a lot of Fractures. That being said they are the reverse of each other. Fractures is about fractures with a slight deviation into dislocations. Whereas this text is dislocations with a slight deviation into fractures where relevant. As such while they cover some of the same material they complement each other.

Like Injuries of the Head, this is a practical work. They both start with a discussion of the relevant anatomy. They then continue on to specifics of injuries and how to treat them.

Conclusion

Instruments of Reductions is a text about relocating dislocated joints. It covers this in a systematic and complete way even detailing when death is likely to occur. It has a lot in common with Hippocrates other injury based books and complements them nicely.

Have you read Instruments of Reduction? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read Instruments of Reduction but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of Instruments of Reduction.

Serious head injuries and how to diagnose them; On Injuries of the Head, Hippocrates

 Why you might read On Injuries of the Head?

On Injuries of the Head, covers in detail serious head wounds. As such it gives great insight into how head injuries were treated in Hippocrates time. It is interesting to see how much they are willing to be invasive when they can only see with their eyes.

In my Self Education project, the Hippocratic corpus is of great import. It is the first real medicine books and gives a great foundation for medicine and the life sciences in books to come.

Content of On Injuries of the Head

On Injuries of the Head goes through the types of head wounds. It covers from the simplest head wounds in which little is to be done. All the way to serious head injuries that are likely to result in death. Hippocrates spends time explaining how to examine head wounds. This includes the idea that you may have to cut the wound further open to see the bone and what damage has been done to it. He recommends not cutting the bone immediately but waiting to see if it comes out on its own or starts healing. If neither of these things happens then you should cut the bone most of the way through and let it fall the rest of the way. This is done so as not to damage the membrane of the brain.   

Reflections on On Injuries of the Head

Hippocrates never moralises about the cause of the injury. He does however say that the injuries could be deliberately inflicted. He treats violence the same as an accident as information to know about the wound and nothing else.

There is also an interesting section where in order to see the bone fracture Hippocrates adds a dye pack for a day and then scrapes the bone. This would leave only dye in the cracks of the fracture.

What others have to say about On Injuries of the Head

"Hippocrates' treatise On Wounds in the Head represents an excellent source of information regarding the extent of experience with head injuries in classical antiquity" From the National Library of Medicine

"On the basis of clinical observation, the great physician gives an accurate description of the external appearance and consistency of the cranium." From Hippocrates: A Pioneer in the Treatment of Head Injuries

Comparisons with other texts

Like On Hemorrhoids, this text is focused on the treatment of a specific injury. Unlike hemorrhoids this text is more life and death. The head injuries turn deadly a lot easier than the unpleasant but more survivable hemorrhoids.

In some ways, it is the opposite to On the Surgery. On the surgery mainly deals with the bandaging of wounds. Whereas it is left out of this text. Instead On Injuries of the Head is all about surgery.

Conclusion

On Injuries of the Head is a compact work detailing serious injuries of the head. It mainly focuses on those that imprint or otherwise damage the bone. It does not cover things we also look at now like a concussion. Hippocrates in most cases suggests finding out what you can and then giving the wound some time. He does cover what to do if healing does not come. This work follows the general ethos of the Hippocratic Corpus and is very detail-oriented.

Have you read On Injuries of the Head? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read On Injuries of the Head but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of On Injuries of the Head.

Commentary on Fame; The House of Fame, Geoffroy Chaucer

 Why you might read The House of Fame?

Chaucer is seen as the father of modern literature. While the Canterbury Tales are more famous going back to the start of a career has its advantages. As we move through his works we have the chance to see how he grows as a writer and how his approach changes over time. 

In my Self Education project, this fills the role of getting a rounded view of Chaucer. Rather than just focusing on the Canterbury Tale I like to take Authors as a whole.

The Story of The House of Fame

The House of Fame is written in three parts. The third part is incomplete. It starts with a discussion on the quality of dreams and general theory on how they come about. Then there is an invocation to the god of dreams. Starting with an invocation is repeated in the following two parts, though to different gods.

Part one then goes into a dream. Here the narrator spends time in a temple to Venus Vulcan and Cupid. In that temple, he finds a brass tablet of the Aeneid. He then goes on to recount that story. He then prays for a vision and an eagle appears.

Part two starts with an invocation and then moves on to a dream. Here the eagle takes him up in his claws and flies off with him. He passes out and is revived by the eagle talking to him. The eagle explains how sound breaks the air and thus rises. The eagle then takes him to the House of Fame in the sky. 

Part three, after the invocation, has them arriving at the House of Fame. Here the Narrator meets the goddess of fame. He watches as groups of people approach fame and she gives fame to some and not to others. From there he moves on to an unnamed place where he finds a large crowd telling rumours and truths. The crowd falls silent when a man enters. Here is where the text ends.

Reflections on The House of Fame

The House of Fame is interestingly not about the titular House until the third part. Even then it drifts off into other areas as well. The idea that fame is sought by many but given to few who ask for it speaks through time to how fleeting fame can be. As well as how fickle who gets famous can be.

Religiously it is interesting that Chaucer focuses on the Roman gods. That being said he also references specific saints one many occasions. I found this a little jarring as they do not belong in the same belief system. It shows that there was some religious blending in Chaucer's time.

It is unclear to me why the dream is presented in three parts being that they are all part of the same dream. And that they almost don't finish but blend into the following part.

What others have to say about The House of Fame

"The House of Fame is among the best known and relished of Chaucer's minor poems." From Every poet

Comparisons with other texts

The topic is quite different from the Book of Duchess. Here Chaucer is making social commentary on Fame. By contrast, the Book of Duchess is an exploration of the pain of losing someone. The House of Fame is also a much longer poem. It is approximately twice the length of The Book of Duchess.

It is of a similar age and English as the Medieval Miracle Plays. Unlike the plays, it is not for the common people in the town square. Instead, it is written to be read and thus more aimed at the educated.

Conclusion

The House of Fame is a poem in three parts. It takes until the third part for the House to actually be introduced. I am unsure why it is split into parts as they are all parts of the same dream.  It is longer than our first foray into Chaucer's work. It is written as a commentary on Fame, its fickleness and its randomness.

Have you read The House of Fame? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read The House of Fame but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of The House of Fame.

Basic treatments for Hemorrhoids; On Hemorrhoids, Hippocrates

 Why you might read on Hemorrhoids?

If you have an interest in how hemorrhoids are treated this might be of interest. This work gives you insight into how treatment was done originally. It may also make you thankful for modern anesthtics.

In my Self Education project, this is a work that, while informative, is mainly there to round out the corpus.

Content of on Hemorrhoids

On Hemorrhoids is a quick text that covers a few ways to treat Hemorrhoids. The main one being to get pieces of iron made to shape. Then to heat them and burn out the Hemorrhoids. The others are just variations on the theme. He also covers condyloma as a subset of hemorrhoids. The removal of these seems to be far easier with them just being carefully pulled off rather than burnt. He covers how to treat the wounds after bleeding as well. This differs depending on the original method. 

Reflections on Hemorrhoids

Hippocrates idea of how the hemorrhoids form is quite interesting. He states that it is a build-up of bile and phlegm in the rectum that leads to these bleeding growths.

The fact that he gives multiple ways to treat is also quite interesting. He normally is about the best way and presenting that way only.

What others have to say about on Hemorrhoids

From The American Journal of Surgery"These procedures have been carried through the ages with only minor alterations or variations but are the basis for all operations for hemorrhoids in use today."

"The Hippocratic author mentions several possible ways of treating haemorrhoids. Some of these are rather invasive" From The recipes project

Comparisons with other texts

Unlike on The Surgery, this work covers what you would expect. It is a work based solely on its title.

 A bit like The heart, it is focused on the anatomy of the area in question. But unlike The heart, on Hemorrhoids is focused primarily on treatment.

Conclusion

On Hemorrhoids is a simple text that deals with how to treat hemorrhoids. It gives various methods, which is unusual for Hippocrates. Methods today are based upon the same basic principles which are just as invasive. 

Have you read On Hemorrhoids? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read On Hemorrhoids but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of On Hemorrhoids.

It's actually more about bandaging; On the Surgery, Hippocrates

 Why you might read On the Surgery?

On the Surgery is a great recap into how to bandage wounds. Unlike its title, this is the main thrust of the work.

In my Self Education project, this fills a completion role. That is to say that its main value is in being part of the wider corpus and a wider understanding.

Content of On the Surgery

On the surgery starts with a discussion of how the surgeon should sit or stand when performing surgery. From there it diverges into discussions on how things should be bandaged. He covers this both in general in then in specific cases. He states that the bandage must always be tight by the amount they are wound around not by pressure.

Reflection on On the Surgery

This text has very little new information, most of it has been covered in other texts.

That being said the directions for how the surgeon must sit or stand are fascinating. They are mainly about how to steady their hands. Whether this is by resting the elbows on the raised knees or by resting the elbows on the sides of the torso. 

What others have to say about On the Surgery

The internet is rather silent on this work. I wonder if that is going to become more common as I work into the more obscure Hippocratic texts.

Comparisons with other texts

The big comparison here is with Fractures. Both texts deal with, as a secondary thing, the binding of wounds. Both texts give the same basic instructions for bandaging. On the Surgery gives more detail in some areas. One of these is when binding something that might slip like a knee.

Conclusion

On the Surgery is mainly a text about Bandaging wound despite its name. It does go into some discussion about how any surgery is to be done at the start, but quickly branches away from that. We have seen a lot of this material in the work Fractures, though this does give us more detail in places.

Have you read On the Surgery? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read On the Surgery but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

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Anatomy of the Heart; The heart, Hippocrates

Why you might read The Heart?

The heart is a quick read. It gives us an idea of how the heart was understood in early medicine. As well as giving a basic anatomical description.

For my Self Education project, it mainly is a text that is about having an understanding of the whole corpus of Hippocrates. It gives insight, also, into how anatomical deductions were made at the time.

Content of The Heart

The Heart is a short text on exactly that the Heart. Hippocrates focuses mainly on the physical structure of the heart. He correctly ascertains that there are two main chambers but fails to notice the divisions of those chambers. He does notice the valves of the heart though he incorrectly determines their uses. He does not posit that the heart is for pumping blood, but does come to the conclusion that it is like bellows.

Reflections on The Heart

Hippocrates assumptions around the function of the heart are quite interesting. He thinks it is a hot organ next to the cold lungs. We now know body temperature to be a lot more consistent than that. He rightly points out that without the valves of the heart open no blood would flow. He states that is removing a heart from a cadaver you will find blood on the right side but no the left. He uses this to state that it is just this side that the blood moves through. this is incorrect but it is easy to see how he got to this.


What others have to say about The Heart

"Hippocrates’ writings on the heart contain some of the best clinical descriptions recorded in history" From a paper by Tsung O. Cheng

Comparisons with other texts

This work had a great deal of similarity to The Nature of Man. Both this and the Nature of Man cover the physical reality of medicine. As well as descriptions of the physical parts. The heart is just a description of the physical heart. Whereas the Nature of Man covers most of the body in less detail.

It is less detailed than The Nature of the Child. This is due to the more focused topic. As well as the lack of need for the development stages that we see in the Nature of the Child.

Conclusion

The Heart is a simple description of the heart and its function. Though Hippocrates does make some incorrect deductions it is still very informative. We have seen that Hippocrates was the closest to what we know now that is seen up to his time in history. As well as how this text is similar to the two works that are about the Nature of Man and of the Child.

Have you read The Heart? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read The Heart but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of The Heart.

Big life changes and small blog changes

Exciting news! We are expecting a little boy in a couple of months. We are super excited and super pleased. But there is no way I can post weekly with a newborn. So I will finish this month with weekly posts. Then I will be moving to one post a month for the foreseeable future. I don't want to go on yet another hiatus so this is a preventative measure. If I find that I get a long way ahead I may put up bonus posts but I don't want to commit to a high workload.

A story of a lost love; The Book of Duchess, Geoffrey Chaucer

 Why might you read The Book of Duchess?

The Book of Duchess is Chaucer's first poem as such it gives us insight into the early works of Chaucer. Chaucer is seen as the father of modern literature. While the Canterbury Tales are more famous going back to the start of a career has its advantages. As we move through his works we have the chance to see how he grows as a writer and how his approach changes over time. 

In my Self Education project, it would be remiss to miss out on Chaucer. Especially with how much his work informs later works.

The story of The Book of Duchess

The Poem starts with the narrator lamenting that he can't sleep. So he reads a book with the story of Ceyx and Alcyone. Where he dies at sea and she after looking for him prays to Juno. Juno then sends Morpheus to go and find him. He brings him back from his death at sea. His wife then gets to bury him.

The narrator then falls asleep. He dreams of a hunt and quickly follows it. Once out in the forest, he finds a black knight. The night is composing poetry to his love. The narrator tries to console him for he is distraught. In doing so he references Troy and other love stories of the greek world where the love is not returned. The knight tells him that these pale in comparison. He goes on to use an analogy of a chess match in which he loses his Queen. The narrator does not grasp that the knight's love is dead. The narrator proceeds to ask where his love is and the Knight answers plainly that she is dead. The narrator laments with him. The narrator then wakes.

Reflections on The Book of Duchess

Middle English is hard work. I found that by the end of reading it I had a grasp of the parts of the story but no idea how they fitted together. A little internet research fixed this but it is the first time I have had to have any kind of reading aid. In saying that this is the first non translated work so maybe I shouldn't be surprised.

That the narrator references other classical sources is quite interesting. It made me glad I have read so much in my BC list so far. He uses both Greek and Biblical references. He does so in passing which means he must assume the reader knows these works.

The two parts of the poem are interesting because while they have a similar theme they do not have a lot else in common. They contrast each other in terms of simplicity. With the retold story being simple and the main story being rather complex.

What others have to say about The Book of Duchess

"composed c. 1370 CE in honor of Blanche, Duchess of Lancaster (l. 1342-1368 CE), wife of John of Gaunt (l. 1340-1399 CE), Duke of Lancaster and Chaucer's best friend." From ancient.ed

"But it’s a dream after all, a sequence of allusions, and perhaps the real message lies in a series of hints that Chaucer drops" From eleusinianm

Comparisons with other texts

Like the Medieval Miracle Plays, the English is archaic. By contrast, though the plays use much simpler language. Some of this can be put down to the difference in style, being plays instead of poetry. Also, it can be put down to the audience, the plays are for the common people where as Chaucer is writing for Nobility.

The portrayal of the knight is quite different from what we see of our protagonists in the Volsung Saga. The knight is not heroic or dashing, doing great dead. Instead, he is retiring and feeling a great loss.

Conclusion

The play covers both the story of Ceyx and Alcyone and the lamenting of the black knight for his lost love. The archaic language it is written in is a challenge to read but still rewarding. Chaucer wrote it for a friend who was grieving a dead wife. It is the first of its kind I have read but it still has links to older texts. These links are seen both in the text as well as in the comparisons we have seen to texts that are in someways contemporary at least in my list.

Have you read The Book of Duchess? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read The Book of Duchess but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

Get a copy of The Book of Duchess.

Conception and Pregnancy; The Seed and The Nature of the Child, Hippocrates

 Why you might read The Seed and The Nature of the Child?

The Seed and the Nature of the Child is an interesting dive into early embryology. It shows us the genesis of some other ideas we hold now. Although it posits some things we now know to be untrue. It is none the less an eye-opener into early greek medicine. That being said it covers more of what is happening and less actual treatment based medicine.

In my Self Education project, it stands as a genesis of embryology.

Content of The Seed and The Nature of the Child

Hippocrates starts with the male sperm. He follows this with the female sperm and conception. He states that conception is when the female body holds onto the male sperm. He also states that when the male sperm is greater you will get a male child. The same, he says is true, of it the female sperm is dominant you will get a female child. He also spends a bit of time discussing the moistening of the female womb.

After conception, he speaks of the warmth generated being taken in by the foetus. This is, he says, how the foetus first grows. He then goes on to explain how the breath starts in the foetus and how it breaths. this is both on its own in the warmth and from its mother the cool air of outside. He talks of the separating of the limbs. How long that takes depends on the sex of the child. He first spends a lot of time proving this but comparing it to how long the woman discharges after birth. Second, he gets sidetracked into the life cycle of trees. This is in order to make comparisons to the growing bones in the child. He finishes with another sidetrack. This takes the form of the temperature of surface water during the winter and summer.

Reflections on The Seed and The Nature of the Child

Hippocrates assertion that there is male and female sperm is one that has been since disproven. Instead, we talk about the male sperm and the female egg. But at least he is firmly of the opinion that the child comes from both parents genetically. In fact, he discusses how the child will be a mix of the parents and there is no way it will not look like either.

His explanation around the breath of the child is interesting. We now know that foetal breathing is essential to lung development. That being said it starts much later, at 10 weeks, than Hippocrates posits. Whether his thoughts are due to an overemphasis on the breath and life. Whether he has come to his conclusion by other means. Either way, it is interesting that he lines up with what is happening to some degree.  We will never know how he got to that conclusion.

His sidetracks while interesting are rather longer than necessary to make his point. His comparisons though show a lot about how he conceives of the development of the child. His comparison with developing chicken eggs is a great way to get some information on the animal kingdom. And you can see he used this to inform his ideas.

What others have to say about The Seed and The Nature of the Child

"it is of considerable interest for the historian of gender." from a paper by Jean-Baptiste Bonnard

Comparisons with other texts

In some ways, this text follows on from The Nature of Man. Instead of staying at a surface level though it delves into reproduction in humans. But like The Nature of Man, it seeks to cover a discrete amount of information.

Conclusion

The Seed and the Nature of the Child set out conception through to birth. It takes what could be known at the time and makes some good guesses at what is going on. Hippocrates takes some interesting sidetracks into the growth of trees and the temperature of springs. This being said he does eventually like them to the topic at hand. His work on the child is interesting in that it defiantly sees the foetus as a person.

Have you read The Seed and the Nature of the Child? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read The Seed and the Nature of the Child but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

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