Outlines of Greek and Roman MedicineElliott, James, Sir
History
Outlines of Greek and Roman Medicine
Elliott, James, Sir
Medicine, Greek and Roman
In the province of _Surgery_, Hippocrates was surprisingly proficient,
although he lived before the Anatomic Period. He had various lotions for
the healing of ulcers; some of these lotions were antiseptic and have
been in use in recent times. His opinions on the treatment of fractures
are sound, and he was a master in the use of splints, and considered
that it was disgraceful on the part of the surgeon to allow a broken
limb to set in a faulty position. He resected the projecting ends of the
bone in the case of compound fracture. He had a very complete knowledge
of the anatomy of joints, was well acquainted with hip-joint disease,
and could operate upon joints. Accidents were no doubt common in the
gymnasia, and practice in the treatment of fractures and dislocations
extensive and of a high order of excellence. Hippocrates used the sound
for exploring the bladder, and understood the use of the speculum for
examining the rectum, and in operations for fistula and piles. He
understood the causation of club-foot, and could cure cases of this
deformity by bandaging. He was skilful also in obstetric operations. He
trepanned the skull, which appears to have been a common operation in
his day. He had clear and sound views in reference to wounds of the
head, recognizing that trivial-looking wounds of the scalp might become
very serious. Hippocrates gave directions as to the indications for
using the trepan, and warned the operator against mistaking sutures of
the cranial bones for fracture.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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