ANCIENT ALEXANDRIAN AND ROMAN MEDICINE

1. ANCIENT ALEXANDRIAN AND ROMAN MEDICINE Jonathon Erlen, Ph.D. University of Pittsburgh

2. Before we discuss the Hellenistic medical world, we need to define what we mean by the Hellenistic period, which is 1 of the most intriguing, yet confusing eras in world history.

18. Unfortunately we hit a major roadblock in our examinations of the work of these 2 great Alexandrian medical figures because we have none of their original writings. All we have are the commentaries about their work by Galen of Pergamon who lived in the 2nd century AD and other later medical compilers.

20. After perhaps this one century of scientific research freedom, outside forces such as religions factors were to create barriers to medical research and education that in some cases lasted into the 19th century in the United States.

21. In Alexandria, Ptolemy Physcon, during the 2nd century B.C.E., for unspecified reasons, decided to severely limit the academic freedom which had existed under his predecessors at the museon. He ordered the execution of a number of scholars for no apparent reason, and dispersed many more researchers to various points throughout the Mediterranean world.

22. The remaining medical scholars formed 2 bitterly opposing factions of medical thought, with 1 upholding the anatomical doctrines of Herophilus, while the other staunchly supported the precepts of Empedocles and the 4 elements.

23. What emerged from the Hellenistic and Alexandrian medical endeavors were 4 competing schools of medical philosophy, all of which were transmitted, to some degree, to ancient Rome.

24. Dogmatists

25. Empiricists

26. Methodists

27. Pneumatists

28. PNEUMA

29. DogmatistsEmpiricistsMethodistsPneumatists

30. Long before this time; however, ancient Romans had developed their own, very different pattern of health care.

32. Common Roman Diseases Malaria Anthrax Typhus Fever

39. DogmatistsEmpiricistsMethodistsPneumatists

40. The first Greek doctor to supposedly arrive in Rome was Archagathus of Sparta in 219 B.C.E., though there certainly were others who preceded him.

41. Over the following centuries Greek iatroi from the various parts of the Hellenistic world arrived in Rome in ever increasing numbers.

42. At first many of these philosophically trained iatroi came as slaves, as Rome solidified its military hold over the Near East.

43. As Greek medical concepts became more popular, especially among members of the upper class; however, we find efforts in the Empire period to actively attract Greek doctors to Rome.

44. Roman emperors granted Greek physicians willing to come to Rome: high status of Roman citizenship freedom from military service no taxation of their incomes