Roman Medicine

Introduction

• Roman Medicine was heavily influenced by earlier Greek medicine and literature.
• Famous experts in Roman medicine include Galen and Celsus.
• While professional doctors were in the Roman army, medicine was largely private for others.
• Roman households often had their own medical specialists.
• Access to medical knowledge increased through literature, spreading treatments and surgical advancements.

Sources of Roman Medical Knowledge

• Literature dedicated to medicine is the richest source, with some texts surviving due to popularity.
• Military hospital records provide insights into ailments treated by camp doctors (medici) and assistants (capsarii).
• Tombs and artifacts, such as those of Scribonia Attice, offer insights into medical practices and tools (e.g., scalpels, probes).
• Medical instruments have survived, showcasing the tools used in Roman medicine.
• Remedies ranged from exotic to mundane, such as saffron and cabbage.

Greek Influence

• Greek doctors were established in Rome by the 2nd century BCE.
• Temple of Apollo Medicus in Rome was built in 431 BCE due to plagues, illustrating early Greek influence.
• Aesculapius, a healing god, was adopted by Romans from Greek tradition.
• Greek medical practice was first introduced by Archagathus of Sparta in 219 BCE, specializing in battle wounds.
• Pliny the Elder criticized Greek doctors, preferring traditional Roman medicine.
• Greek doctors were popular in Roman households.
• Introduction of the Hippocratic Corpus and new trends from Alexandria, such as dissection and vivisection.

General Approach to Medicine

• Greek doctors adapted to Roman tastes, offering 'soft' treatments like massage and bathing.
• Materia medica by Dioscurides was influential, detailing herbal remedies and medicinal uses of stones.
• Pills were made from herbs, plants, and metallic ingredients.
• Celsus described ingredients for treating ailments, showing a preference for exotic ingredients.

Surgical Practices

• Surgery was a last resort due to risks and concerns for patient comfort.
• Operations included cataract removal, fluid draining, and trephination.
• Repair methods included stitching with flax, linen, or metal pins.
• Dressings used linen bandages or sponges soaked in wine, oil, vinegar, or water.

Notable Medical Figures

• Aulus Cornelius Celsus: Wrote De medicina, assessing traditional remedies and emphasizing dietetics.
• Scribonius Largus: Wrote Compositiones, detailing drug recipes and supporting the Hippocratic Oath.
• Soranus of Ephesos: Gave advice to midwives and supported the Methodist approach.
• Galen of Pergamon: Influential scholar, supported dissection and the four humours theory.

Conclusion

• Roman medicine lacked official training and qualifications; no orthodox medical approach.
• Individual practitioners gained trust through diagnosis accuracy.
• Roman medicine made significant advancements in surgery and anatomical knowledge, influencing medical practice for centuries.