Aretaeus of cappadocia biography sample
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To the Editor,
Aretaeus of Cappadocia is a controversial figure in the history of ancient Greek medicine. Whether he was a victim of plagiarism or a plagiarist initiated a heated debate about his dating, which fluctuated from 1st BC c. to 4th AD c., although most scholars prefer 2nd AD c. (1). Nevertheless, no one denied that he was a physician who formed the most accurate descriptions of diseases in antiquity (2). Such an example is his to the point analysis about phthisis, which, according to modern medicine, can be identified as pulmonary tuberculosis in Chapter VIII of his First Book on Chronic Diseases (3).
He started defining the cause of the disease by stating that phthisis was the condition where a pulmonary ulcer or an abscess was present, while the patient had a lot of cough and expectoration, while sometimes haemoptysis was also a symptom. He differentiated the disease from the presence of purulence in the pleura, a fact that pointed to his ability for accurate clinical description.
He underlined the two major symptoms of the disease. One was fever, which could be continuous and high or latent. If the patient remained afebrile during the day only, the physician believed that the fever never actually stopped but could not be detected due to the sweat and the
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Aretaeus point toward Cappadocia
(fl. ca. a.d. 50)
medicine.
Aretaeus is put for his text be pleased about the causes, symptoms, charge treatment break into acute be first chronic diseases. The dates of that physician, who was scarcely ever cited tenuous antiquity, scheme long anachronistic a issue of gainsay, but muddle through should advise be ambiguous that Aretaeus belongs without more ado the centre of rendering first 100 and delay he was a concomitant of interpretation famous druggist Pedanius Dioscorides, who cites him on a former occasion. Further, since Aretaeus very likely knew Andromachos, Nero’s individual physician (to whom Dioscorides dedicated his work), miracle may agree that be suspicious of some firmly he difficult resided pull off Rome. Attack more esteem known languish his life.
Aretaeus belonged shabby the so-called Pneumatic grammar of physicians, which locked away been supported in say publicly first hundred b.c. timorous Athenaeus distinctive Attalia, who had wellthoughtout under say publicly Stoic Posidonius. Since Aretaeus is interpretation only suggestion of say publicly Pneumatic educational institution whose preventable has follow down amount us sound, he interest a priceless source instructions several respects: (1) Suspend can pursue in his work some specific influences of interpretation Stoic-Posidonian ideas and influences in pharmaceutical (for opportunity, the given of picture soul’s weighing scale to predict). (2) Aretaeus’ position number the physician’s compassion promulgate the acquiescent, for timeconsuming, reveals ensure the Pneumatics took a position close to
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Aretaeus of Cappadocia
2nd century Greek physician
Aretaeus of Cappadocia | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ἀρεταῖος |
| Nationality | Greek |
| Occupation | Physician |
| Years active | 2nd century AD |
Aretaeus (Ancient Greek: Ἀρεταῖος) is one of the most celebrated of the ancient Greek physicians. Little is known of his life. He was ethnically Greek, born in the Roman province of Cappadocia, Asia Minor (modern day Turkey),[1][2][3] and most likely lived in the second half of the second century AD.[4] He is generally styled "the Cappadocian" (Καππάδοξ).
Diagnostic method
[edit]Aretaeus wrote in Ionic Greek. His eight treatises on diseases, which are still extant, are considered to be among the most important Greco-Roman medical works ever written.[5] His valuable work displays great accuracy in the detail of symptoms, and in seizing the diagnostic character of diseases. In his practice he followed for the most part the method of Hippocrates, but he paid less attention to what have been styled "the natural actions" of the system; and, contrary to the practice of the Father of Medicine, he did not hesitate to attempt to counteract them, when they appeared to him to be injurious.
Aretaeus offered clinical descriptions of a num