The roots of Western medicine, Hippocrates P2

Shidonna Raven
Apr 16
2 min read

Photo Source: Unsplash,

Hippocrates

The thermometer and the stethoscope were not then known, nor indeed did Hippocrates employ any aid to diagnosis beyond his own powers of observation and logical reasoning. He had an extraordinary ability to foretell the course of a malady, and he laid more stress upon the expected outcome, or prognosis, of a disease than upon its identification, or diagnosis. He had no patience with the idea that disease was a punishment sent by the gods. Writing of epilepsy, then called “the sacred disease,” he said, “It is not any more sacred than other diseases, but has a natural cause, and its supposed divine origin is due to human inexperience. Every disease,” he continued, “has its own nature, and arises from external causes.”

Hippocrates noted the effect of food, of occupation, and especially of climate in causing disease, and one of his most interesting books, entitled De aëre, aquis et locis (Air, Waters and Places), would today be classed as a treatise on human ecology. Pursuing this line of thought, Hippocrates stated that “our natures are the physicians of our diseases” and advocated that this tendency to natural cure should be fostered. He laid much stress on diet and the use of few drugs. He knew well how to describe illness clearly and concisely and recorded failures as well as successes; he viewed disease with the eye of the naturalist and studied the entire patient in his environment.