A description of the illnesses he saw; Epidemics Book 1 , Hippocrates

 Why you might read Epidemics Book 1?

Epidemics is where Hippocrates' is most specific in his descriptions. He is mainly describing diseases in the populace. Through this, we get insight into how often sickness was fatal. Also, we get insight into how illnesses were seen and what symptoms were important. 

In my Self-Education project, the insight into early medicine is a great boon. This is because it gives insight into the life and times of people. As such it is rather different from reading Greek plays, for example. It gives me a look into the troubles of daily life rather than the positives of great stories.

The Content of Epidemics Book 1

Hippocrates starts with a description of the weather for a given year in his city, Thasos. He then looks at what were the general illnesses in those seasons. He rounds this off with what illnesses turned fatal. This is repeated three times. In this discussion, Hippocrates goes into great detail about symptoms. Whether these symptoms are typical or Atypical of the general illness. There is also a lot of talk of excrement and other bodily discharges. This is most likely because it is one of the easiest visible symptoms at that time.

The second portion of the book is fourteen specific cases. These cases include the symptoms broken down almost daily. As well as whether there are positive or negative signs. Finally, they finish either with the patient's death or his or her recovery.

Reflections on Epidemics Book 1

The specific cases were rather interesting to me. I found it difficult to predict whether someone would recover. So some of the deaths seemed to come from nowhere. It is interesting to note that some of the time the patient seemed to be recovering only to keel over dead.

In the first section, the listing of what was typical as symptoms for a given illness was quite interesting. I found myself trying to work out what the illness would be called in the modern-day. Unfortunately, I don't have that much medical knowledge so I could not name them. Some sounded like the common cold or flu though.

The other thing that was interesting was Hippocrates' use of the word consumption. He uses it to mean all sorts of lung illnesses. Rather than the meaning, it developed later, which was as an early name for tuberculosis.

What others have to say about Epidemics book 1

From Perseus Digital Library "each medical reader will enjoy the task of diagnosing them for himself. Several cases are difficult, but the section on Hippocratic diseases in the General Introduction should enable even a layman to identify many."

Comparisons to other texts

Hippocrates' focuses on food in Traditions in Medicine. I wonder if that is related to the focus on bodily discharges that we see in this text. As I have said this focus on discharges is probably due to it being easily observable. My thought is if what we eat affects those discharges normally. If those discharges are what is observed, I think it follows that a focus on both is necessary.

This is the first book we have seen of Hippocrates that it focuses on symptoms. Yet we see him make a comment of do no harm early in the book. This mirrors the principles he set out in the Oath. Though the oath goes into it in more detail. I must have still been in the front of his mind for him to mention it in a work, not about ethics but rather symptoms.

Conclusion

Epidemics book 1 is about the diseases of Hippocrates' local area. As well as how they are exhibited in different people. It then looks at fourteen specific cases. Following their symptoms from start to finish. Whether that end is recovery or death. I commented on how I could not predict from the symptoms who would recover. As well as how sometimes people seemed to recover and then died. We looked at how even in this unrelated text Hippocrates still comments do no harm,

Have you read Epidemics Book 1? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read Epidemics Book 1 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 Epidemics Book 1.