A basic overview; The Nature of Man, Hippocrates

 Why you might read the Nature of Man

This text is put together for a more general audience. As such it does not expect any prior knowledge. This makes it rather informative as to what Hippocrates expected people to know. This is of course in regards to the subject of Medicine.

In my Self Education Project, it serves to inform my understanding of the texts around it. As well as add to my understanding of bloodletting.

Content of the Nature of Man

This short book is the transcript of a speech given at a debate. It starts by refuting the idea that man is made of one element. Whether it be Earth, Fire, Air or Water. Or if it is Yellow Bile, Black Bile, Phlegm or Blood. Instead, Hippocrates proposes that man is made of all four of Yellow Bile, Black Bile, Phlegm and Blood. He continues on to say that each of the four has its season of the greatest amount in the body. For example, winter brings an increase in Phlegm and so on through the seasons. Having made his point he moves on to the placement of blood vessels in the body. He details six and for each of the six gives the place where they should be cut for bloodletting. He finishes with some general information about when to change the regime. He contrasts this with when to make only small changes. He also details the difference between an epidemic and the outbreak of many sicknesses. 

Reflections on the Nature of Man

This text contains the most detailed instructions for bloodletting that we have seen. Yet we still do not have any idea what sort of illness this should be used for. It is clear that Hippocrates must think this is common knowledge. He has yet to explain it in the scientific way he has laid out everything else.

While what he thinks the body is made of is outdated now. It is inline with understanding at the time. Also, the idea that man is all of those things is a step forward in understanding both the physical nature of man. As well as the nature of cures and sickness.

What others have to say about the Nature of Man

 Health is a harmonious balance of the Four Humors.  Disease results from their disharmony and imbalance.  The physician's job is to restore health by correcting the imbalance and restoring harmony to the humors. From Greek Medicine 

Comparisons with other texts

Regime of Acute Diseases is also vague on the use of bloodletting. There we see it as a side note in some of the treatments. While in this work it is detailed a little more as to where to cut but not when to cut.

This is the first time Hippocrates has seriously gone into the four humors. But his analysis and exposition follow his scientific mindset. He sets down this idea in The Science of Medicine.

Conclusion

While this book is back to basics. It still provides us with unique information around how Hippocrates saw the four humors. He also gives quite a bit of detail on the circulatory system. He finishes the book with a discussion on treating Epidemics verses treating an outbreak of different diseases. We have looked at how others have characterised his view of the humors. As well as how we are slowly getting a better picture of bloodletting.

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

 
Want to read The Nature of Man 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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Dreams as a diagnostic tool; Dreams, Hippocrates

 Why you might read Dreams?

Dreams is a quick look into the idea that dreams are indicative of health. 

In my Self Education project, it serves to round out the corpus as well as being an interesting dive into early medical practices and what they thought was important.

The content of Dreams

Dreams details the meaning of dreams as it applies to health and illness. Hippocrates states that for religious readings go and see religious people. Most of the prescriptions are very similar to reduce food and increase exercise. This is only when the sign of the dreams is bad. It is not the first time we have seen food decreased. In this case, it is to be slowly increased over five days. This is the first time we have seen exercise prescribed.

Reflections on Dreams

It is interesting that Hippocrates does not see walking as exercise. Instead, he sees it as a thing to be done after the exercise has been done. He mainly prescribes running. He does differentiate between running around a track and heading out on a trail. He prescribes each at different times.

Most interesting is that Hippocrates thinks that dreams can diagnose health problems at all. He knows that they are the subconscious, though he calls it the soul. I guess it is an extrapolation on the dreams have spiritual significance idea. We now know that while dreams can tell us some things if they recur or themes recur. Mostly they are our subconscious processing things of the mind not diseases of the body.

What others have to say about Dreams

"Perhaps this was the first time a man came to realize that dreams do not have a divine source, and may come from human thoughts." From the sleep blog

Comparisons with other texts

Like Aphorisms, Dreams is a book of diagnostics. Aphorisms deals with almost every situation that is not dreams. Dreams fills in this gap.

The regimens we see in dreams are very different from what we see in Epidemics. In Epidemics, we are dealing with life-threatening illness'. By contrast, Dreams is almost preventative as there are no physical symptoms as yet.

Conclusion

Dreams is a book of Dream interpretations. Hippocrates links dreams with physical health and makes treatments based on them. Most of these treatments are similar when the dream is negative. This book compliments what is covered in Aphorisms but is not as robust.

Have you read Dreams? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read Dreams 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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Disease of the mind; The Sacred Disease, Hippocrates

 Why you might read The Sacred Disease?

The Sacred Disease is Hippocrates continuing to insist that medicine be a science. It carries on the trend previously set by works like Science in medicine. 

In my Self Education project, it serves to continue expanding my understanding of Hippocrates minds set toward medicine. As well as building on the foundations of his other works.

Content of the Sacred Disease

The sacred disease seems to be any disease acting on the brain. From Epileptic fits to strokes. From madness to sleepwalking. Hippocrates spends the book both describing these ailments and rebutting those who would call them Sacred. He describes them as standard diseases that have physical causes. Even if some of those causes have been since proven wrong. He calls those who treat them as sacred, charletons and faith healers. He tries to prove that the gods coming over someone would produce a blessing, not a curse. He points out that these so-called healers also use the basic principles of medicine to help the patient. 

Reflections on the Sacred Disease

Hippocrates idea of how air enters the body is a bit surprising. He thinks that air goes first to the brain, then to the stomach and then to the lungs. Of course, we know that now not to be true. His reasoning though is interesting. He thinks that air is cooling and so does not go to the lungs until it is warm. He has got the order of most important organs right though. His areas are those the body will priorities if we are short.

He also spends some time discussing the blood vessels and how they proceed through the body to the brain. He does not have a heart centric view like we do now. Instead says that one side comes from the liver and the other the spleen.

What others have to say about the Sacred Disease

"a Hippocratic inquiry into the so-called ‘sacred disease’ of epilepsy" From Portland State University

Comparisons with other Texts

Like Regimen in Acute Diseases Hippocrates does spend some time on how to treat the diseases of the mind. It is not his primary focus though, that is disputing Faith healers.

In some ways, it is a subset of what is discussed in the Science of Medicine. Both try to show the given diseases as having natural causes.

Conclusion

Hippocrates spends most of the book debating against those who would call these diseases sacred. That is from the gods. Once he is done with that he moves on to what he believes are the causes of these diseases. He closes with some discussion on how to treat them. This is an extension on his previous works and again shows us his focus on the science of medicine.

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

 
Want to read The Sacred Disease 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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Pithy diagnostics; Aphorisms, Hippocrates

 Why you might read Aphorisms?

Aphorism isn't what you expect from the title. Instead, it is a series of diagnostic, treatment and prognosis statements. As such it has much to teach about illness and how it was treated in Ancient Greece. It may even be the most prescriptive text in the Corpus.

In my Self Education project, this hold pride of place in Hippocrates works. It is not the most well known by any stretch. Yet it covers the most ground about treatment and prognosis.

Content of Aphorisms

The book is broken into seven sections. These sections cover slightly different topics, from weather effects to age effects. Overall the book covers what symptoms mean in different illnesses. What symptoms mean death and which mean life. As well as how to treat given diseases with given symptoms. It gives specific instructions on how to proceed depending on symptoms. While it is presented as a series of Aphorisms the Aphorisms often flow together into a series of related comments.

Reflections on Aphorisms

Like I said in the content section, this book does not feel like a series of Aphorisms. Rather it is a much more useful medical text. It spends all its time explaining sicknesses and treatments. None of these Aphorisms are easily quotable as most require the context of those around them.

What others have to say about Aphorisms

"The Aphorisms are the most important works of the Hippocratic Corpus." From euphoriatric

Comparisons with other texts

Compared to the other works of the Hippocratic Corpus. This text is the most straight forward diagnostic we have seen. In Epidemics, we see diseases named with there seasons. As well as how individuals symptoms went. By comparison in this work, we have whole lists of what a symptom means for an illness. As well as how to treat given illnesses.

Proverbs in the Bible is another work of Aphorisms. Where proverbs can be quoted and used individually. These Aphorisms need each other for context.

Conclusion

This is an important diagnostic and treatment text and we should not get put off by the title. It is instead a treasure trove of medicine from the classical greek times. It is roughly grouped into sections of ideas. It covers diagnosis and treatment, as well as prognosis. These are covered in the general sense rather than in case studies.

Have you read Aphorisms? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read Aphorisms 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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Arguments against the treatment practices of Cnidus; Regimen in Acute Diseases, Hippocrates

 Why you might read Regimen in Acute Diseases?

This is Hippocrates' first work that systematically lays out how to treat disease. As such it gives us a better understanding of his cases studies.

It is in my  Self Education project because it informs how to understand other works in the corpus.

Content of Regimen in Acute Diseases

Hippocrates starts with how he does not agree with the Cnidus school of medicine. Especially about how to treat diseases. He states that their diagnosis is too simplistic. As well as their treatments being wrong. They are too simplistic because they miss things the physician could ascertain. These things cannot be gotten from asking the patient.

He spends the rest of the book giving his version of what to give as a treatment in what situation. He covers, barley meal or barley water and when to use each. As well as when to use fasting and when it only makes things worse. He covers drink as well when to give wine and what type. As well as when to use only water though he recommends this for very little.

At one point he recommends cutting a vein in the elbow and bleeding a patient. This is the only reference to that in this work. Hippocrates is more focused on food and drink as treatment.
Reflection on Regimen in Acute Diseases

Hippocrates was against taking just water in most cases. It is interesting that today water is the one thing we are told to consume when sick. Though Hippocrates is talking about Acute diseases i.e. those that might end in death. So maybe it isn't reasonable to compare those with a cold or flu. Also, he was not talking about treated water. Maybe that is also the reason for the difference.

The single reference to bleeding a patient is odd. It is offhand enough to think it was part of the common practice. And yet it is the only mention of it in the work. He also does not discuss its use but rather just adds it in as an afterthought.

It is also interesting that for gruel Hippocrates is focused on barley meal. Today when I think of gruel I would think of oats or wheat.

What others have to say about Regimen in Acute Diseases

"The main Hippocratic concepts on four still common acute and urgent respiratory diseases −pneumonia, pleurisy, thoracic empyema and upper airway obstruction− were identified and most of them were found to be in agreement with contemporary medical thinking and practice." From BMC Pulmonary Medicine

Comparisons with other texts

Like we see in Epidemics Hippocrates very rarely prescribes bloodletting. Though it is not common in his texts he is offhanded enough about it that it must have been common at the time.

Like Prognosis he deals with the acute diseases where there is a chance of death. But unlike prognosis where he is focused on survival this work is focused on treatments.

Conclusion
Hippocrates in refuting another school covers how to treat Acute Diseases. He is focused on food and drink. This includes how often to administer them. His philosophy of treatment could be summarised as; don't shock the body any more than you must. Hippocrates very rarely suggest bloodletting as a treatment. And this is the first book we have seen that is systematic about how to treat people rather than specific cases.

Have you read Regimen in Acute Diseases? If so what did you think of it? 
 
Want to read Regimen in Acute Diseases 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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How to tell if your patient is going to die; Prognosis, Hippocrates

 Why you might read Prognosis?

Prognosis is Hippocrates list of symptoms and their effects. As such it informs how he wrote his case studies. In doing so we gain a better understanding of his case studies.

It is in my Self Education project because it helps me understand his other works. On its own, it is a book of science about medical prognosis at the time. But as part of the corpus, it gives greater meaning and understanding to the books around it.

Content of Prognosis

Hippocrates systematically moves through different classes of symptoms. He uses this to categories if a patient will recover or die. He at times is very specific detailing in how many days death or recovery will happen.

He starts with classifications of the state of the face. Then continues on with phlegm, stool and urine descriptions. In each case, he classifies what are positive signs as well as what is negative. As well as what signs will lead to further illnesses or symptoms. He even spells out how some of these symptoms interact. These then tell us about the prognosis for the patient. 

Reflections on Prognosis

Hippocrates is systematic in his listing of classes of symptoms. Yet he gives us very little information as to how these symptoms mesh together. He does give us some but they are few and far between. This work does not contain enough synthesis for a Physician to make their own prognosis'. Unless of course, they had a wealth of experience to go with it. As such this is not a teaching text for beginners. Rather it is a complementary text for those already practising.

This is the first time I have struggled with Hippocrates' use of words. In this piece, he uses a lot of specific medical terminology. So if you're going to read it you might want to have your phone handy to look up some terms.

What others have to say about Prognosis

From STMU History Media "Hippocrates’s ability to give an accurate prognosis led to a greater amount of trust in physicians, ultimately increasing the demand for medical professionals across the Greek world."

Comparisons with other texts

Prognosis explains what we saw in Epidemics. There we saw lists of patients symptoms and whether they survived or not. This was given case by case. Here in prognosis, we see why these symptoms were important to Hippocrates. Possibly they were even more important to those reading his texts at the time. Prognosis lays out the overview and Epidemics shows those principles at work.

It takes the ideas of the Science of Medicine and puts them to work. It does this by classifying and quantifying how to make prognosis'.

Conclusion

Hippocrates in this work lays out symptoms and how to use those to make prognosis'. He does so systematically and completely. Though it is a little lacking of synthesis of those symptoms. It gives the structure for what we see in the way of listed symptoms in Epidemics. We have also seen this as the first time that Hippocrates has heavily relied on medical terminology.

Have you read Prognosis? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read Prognosis 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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Why location and weather matter in medicine; Airs, Waters and Places, Hippocrates

Why you might read Airs, Waters and Places?

Airs, Waters and Places is another foundational work of Hippocrates. It gives us a great overview of illness and Europe. As well as insight into the weather of the time. 

It has a place in my Self Education project both because of what it contains about health and location. But also because other works of Hippocrates stand on top of it. So it carries meaning through the rest of the corpus.

The content of Airs, Waters and Places

Hippocrates starts by describing how winds affect the population of a town. He covers all the compass points. When the town is exposed in that direction this is what health conditions will be prevalent. This includes what the population will look like. As well as what diseases they will be susceptible to and how deadly these illnesses will or will not be.

He then continues to do the same sort of analysis based on the water. He differentiates between lake water, spring water and brackish water. As well as rain and melted ice. He finds the ice to be the worst and the spring water from the mountains the best.

He spends the rest of the book detailing different places. This takes up most of the book. He first spends time on what he calls Asia and the Asian people but today we would call this the Middle East. He suggests that they are less prone to rashness because of their stable climate. That they get different diseases to Europe. And that their environment gives them a certain temperament. He then moves on the Scythian nomads and details why they are as they are. This includes that they have men who choose to be a woman. He suggests this is because of a practice of cutting behind the ear. They do it to fix one illness but Hippocrates says it causes impotence. He posits that after finding himself impotent many times a man of the Scythian gives up and chooses to be as a woman. He also suggests that this is more a problem for the wealthy. As the first illness, he recons is bought on by too much horse riding.

Reflections on Airs, Waters and Places

Hippocrates makes some interesting generalisation. He characterises people in ways we would never think of today. His focus on how the environment affects the people. He takes it to great lengths in classifying what that does to people is interesting. He goes into the realms of personality which we would now not connect with the environment of this type. Yet he must have been speaking from a place of some knowledge.

He takes us on a trip across Europe and we can learn much about the weather of parts of Europe and beyond. Almost more than we can learn about medicine and disease.

What others have to say about Airs, Waters and Places

"The presentation falls roughly into two halves, the first detailing various environmental factors that contribute to specific diseases, the second more ethnographic in its account of the differences between Asians and Europeans as a function of their environment and customs." From Faenum Publishing

From  Researchomatic "He advises the physician coming upon a city that is new to him to take note of the environmental factors that determine the kinds of diseases endemic to that location." 

Comparisons with other texts

Airs, Waters and Places is the explanation piece for what we see in Epidemics. In Epidemics the weather and conditions are listed. The Hippocrates moves on to the description of the diseases. Here in Airs, Waters and Places, we see why Hippocrates thinks that is of such importance. While in Airs, Waters and places we are given the overview in Epidemics we are given the specifics.

Conceptually it follows on from The science of Medicine. It follows because it is still overview type content and because it starts to detail some of that science.

Conclusion

Airs, Waters and Places cover how prevailing winds affect the health of a town. As well as their water supply. It also spends time discussing different people groups. Including how their environment affects them. We have discussed how this informs what we have seen in previous texts. As well as how much further Hippocrates is willing to take generalisations than we are today.

Have you read Airs, Waters and Places? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read Airs, Waters and Places 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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Discussion on why Medicine is a science not an art; The Science of Medicine, Hippocrates

Why you might read the Science of Medicine?

The Science of Medicine gives us more insight. Especially into how Hippocrates separated the Charlatans and the actual practitioners. It follows on from his previous work to define good practice and good science.

In my Self Education project, it fills the role of completing a corpus. While it may have only a little to add by itself it is a part of a greater whole of what Hippocrates wrote.

The content of the Science of Medicine

The Science of Medicine covers Hippocrates arguments for medicine as a science. He argues against it being an art. He covers it both in the positive, that it is a science. He does this via arguments about a physician being able to learn from his patient's condition. That this learning lets him better help future patients. He also covers some of the objections. For example, the idea that even some untreated patients get well, while some who are treated die. He explains this by saying that the one that gets well has followed the advice a practitioner would give. Though he does so unknowingly and that is why he gets well. While the one who dies he says is likely not to have followed the advice given through lack of strength. 

Hippocrates also spends some time discussing the difficulties of treating internal diseases. Because they cannot be seen often they are given remedy far to late and the disease wins.

Reflection on the Science of Medicine

Hippocrates is almost a Philosopher with his arguments in this work. I am a little surprised in fact at how much of this he has done. How little, so far, has been written about the actual practice of Medicine.

We see again Hippocrates' passion for the role of Physician. How much he wants to protect the position from the falsehoods that are around. This is especially true as he works through objections to medicine being a science.

What others have to say about the Science of Medicine.

From Dr Axe "Still to this day medical doctors and historians consider Hippocrates to be the founder of medicine as a “rational science.”"

Comparisons to other texts

This text is really a continuation of The Oath and The Canon as it continues to expand upon the nature of medicine and what it is to be a good practitioner. It continues to expand upon the idea that medicine can be learned both from a teacher as well as through scientific methodology. So that a practitioner never stops learning from his patients' conditions and taking that to the next patient.

Conclusion

This text is Hippocrates proving that medicine is a science. He does this by first proving the positive and giving reasons why this is so. He then spends time dispelling the questions and ideas against his point. Finally, he distracts himself a little with a discussion on internal diseases.

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

 
Want to read The Science of Medicine 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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More descriptions of Illnesses he treated; Epidemics 3 (no you didn't miss one), Hippocrates

No, you didn't miss a post. Epidemics is a work of seven books. Only the first and third were written by Hippocrates, therefore they are the only ones I'm covering here.

Why you might read Epidemics Book 3?

Epidemics 3 starts off where Epidemics 1 leaves off. It is where Hippocrates' is most specific in his descriptions. His descriptions are of diseases in the populace. This gives us 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. It is information about the troubles of everyday life. Rather than the positive stories we see in the Greek plays.

The Content of Epidemics Book 3

This book starts with descriptions of individual 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. The third section of this book is more of the same.

The second section covers the weather in the area during the year of writing. This is used to relate to the illnesses that are common in that same time. In this Hippocrates gives us a general overview of how the populace handled disease. He also tells us what turns deadly and what is just an illness passing though.

Reflections on Epidemics Book 3

When you look at the structure of the book it suggests that maybe this is book two and a half and three. It is almost as if the back part of another book of the same ilk has been added to the start of book three. When you compare it with book one that is.

It is hard to predict from the symptoms given which patients would survive and which would die. Illness length also seemed to have no bearing on the outcome.

What others have to say on Epidemics Book 3

Perseus Digital Library points out that"Of the forty-two cases, twenty-five end in death, very nearly 60 per cent.". Which is a surprisingly high mortality rate.

 Comparisons to other texts

This text is basically a continuation of Epidemics Book 1. It covers new material but in the same format and general type of information. Its biggest difference is that it both starts and ends with individual cases. by comparison to Book one only ends with these cases.

By contrast, the Canon tells us about the Physician. What attributes they must have. This piece concentrates only on the illness' themselves and the patients they inflict. Yet it is surprising it does not give much detail in the way of treatment either.

Conclusion

In all Epidemics Book 3 is just an extension of what we have already seen in Book 1. This being said that does not make it without value. We still gain greater insight into the illness' of Hippocrates' time. 

We have discussed how this work differed from some of Hippocrates' other works. As well as looking at the death rate through what others have written about the work.

Have you read Epidemics Book 3? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read Epidemics Book 3 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 3.

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.

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A focus on food; Traditions in Medicine, Hippocrates

 Why you might read Traditions in Medicine?

Hippocrates is generally known as the father of medicine. In this work, he explains why he doesn't hold to the belief of the time that sickness is related to four attributes. As such he interacts with the beliefs of the day and shows us how he can see they are wrong and what he looks to instead. This gives us insight into his understanding. As well as the general understanding of those he disputes.

It is important to my Self-Education project for the reasons above. It is also essential for the collective understanding of Hippocrates. To read only a few of his works would leave me with a less complete understanding. I also expect ideas to be reoccurring and building on each other. So I see this work as a stepping stone to other works of his.

The Content of Traditions in Medicine

Hippocrates starts by proving that Medicine is a science. At least that medicine is discovered by experimentation. As it has everything to do with what we eat, he steps us through the discovery of what foods suited man. He contrasts this with what would happen if we ate what was good for the horse for example.

He spends time discussing how the postulate of health is determined by Hot vs cold and wet vs dry. He shows it to be slightly ridiculous by giving examples. In these examples, it is impossible to tell which of these four attributes the food that is given is. He then leads us back towards his understanding. This is that what we eat determine our health and recovery from sickness.

He spends time talking about the strength of some foods and the weakness of others. He explains that gruel was created as the weakest of foods. But he also goes on to say that gruel will not work for all sicknesses. Where gruel works, it would make the sick person miserable to give them bread. Which is much stronger and hence harder to digest.

He goes on to again speak against those who treat based on the four attributes. He goes so far as to say that they probably recommend the same things as those who practice based on food. They give different reasons for these treatments.

Hippocrates rounds out the book by discussing what causes disease. He says that there is not enough evidence to say he someone got sick because they changed their routine. like they got rained on while they walked. He instead suggests that disease comes from the overabundance of the forms. Things like salt or sweet or astringent. 

Reflections on Traditions in Medicine

While he is said to be the father of modern medicine his ideas still differ from those of the modern-day. We have gone away from the idea that food is medicine. We may still have the old saying "feed a fever, starve a cold" but we do not put much stock in it. Hippocrates, on the other hand, sees it as the only remedy available to him. His views on strong and weak foods are also things we have moved passed.

His discussion on the causes of disease I found most interesting. He shies away from the idea that it is an unusual activity that brings on the disease. He gives examples like taking a cold bath when you do not normally. These days we might see these acts as affecting our immune system and so they have some effect. But we now have germ theory which Hippocrates was writing before we had arrived at that.

Speaking of immunity his theory on food does have some basis as what we eat does affect our immunities. So I guess Hippocrates did know something about what he was on about at least.

What others have to say about Traditions in Medicine

WHS Jones Ed. reminds us Hippocrates said, "that empiric medicine was in his day an old art, and that the attempt to foist the method of philosophy upon it was comparatively modern." and this is precisely what Hippocrates is arguing against.

Comparisons with other texts

Traditions in Medicine is the first of Hippocrates' works where we have seen a focus on the patient. In The Oath or The Cannon, he is writing about the attributes of the Physician himself. As such, this is the first time, we start to see his mind about what disease is. As well as how it is caught and how to treat it. We also see how Hippocrates interacts with the medical profession. In this text, he argues against the new view in favour of what he can test.

Conclusion

In this work, Hippocrates defends medicine as a Science. He does so by taking it to first principles and observation. He argues against the new view of medicine around him that is based on philosophy. His understanding of medicine orbits around the food we eat and how that helps us recover. He talks about the origin of disease as being based on imbalance but does not go into too much detail.

By comparison to his first two works that we have looked at, this one is focused on the patient. It focuses on medicine to be practised rather than the attributes of the physician.

Have you read Traditions in Medicine? If so what did you think of it? 
 
Want to read Traditions in Medicine 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 loo
k into it on your own journey of Self Education.

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