The Evolution of Modern Medicine: A Series of Lectures Delivered at Yale University on the Silliman Foundation in April, 1913Osler, William, Sir
History
The Evolution of Modern Medicine: A Series of Lectures Delivered at Yale University on the Silliman Foundation in April, 1913
Osler, William, Sir
Medicine -- History
But we must return to Galen and his works, which comprise the most
voluminous body of writings left by any of the ancients. The great
edition is that in twenty-two volumes by Kuhn (1821-1833). The most
useful editions are the "Juntines" of Venice, which were issued in
thirteen editions. In the fourth and subsequent editions a very useful
index by Brassavola is included. A critical study of the writings is at
present being made by German scholars for the Prussian Academy, which
will issue a definitive edition of his works.
Galen had an eclectic mind and could not identify himself with any
of the prevailing schools, but regarded himself as a disciple of
Hippocrates. For our purpose, both his philosophy and his practice are
of minor interest in comparison with his great labors in anatomy and
physiology.
In anatomy, he was a pupil of the Alexandrians to whom he constantly
refers. Times must have changed since the days of Herophilus, as Galen
does not seem ever to have had an opportunity of dissecting the human
body, and he laments the prejudice which prevents it. In the study of
osteology, he urges the student to be on the lookout for an occasional
human bone exposed in a graveyard, and on one occasion he tells of
finding the carcass of a robber with the bones picked bare by birds and
beasts. Failing this source, he advises the student to go to Alexandria,
where there were still two skeletons. He himself dissected chiefly
apes and pigs. His osteology was admirable, and his little tractate "De
Ossibus" could, with very few changes, be used today by a hygiene class
as a manual. His description of the muscles and of the organs is very
full, covering, of course, many sins of omission and of commission, but
it was the culmination of the study of the subject by Greek physicians.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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