History of Medicine Part I

Throughout human history, medicine and medical care has been critical for many civilizations. The first known doctor is Imhotep.

He is also credited with being the founder of ancient Egyptian medicine. He was  known as a politician, astronomer, architect, and physician. He also designed the 1st pyramid for a 3rd dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh -

Imhotep was considered so important, that after his death, he was worshipped as the god of healing.

 The primary duty of an Egyptian doctor was to prepare bodies for the afterlife. Ancient Egyptian doctors and priests believed that disease was caused by spiritual beings.When no-one could explain why someone had a disease, spells and magic potions were used to drive out the spirits. The ancient Egyptian physicians took more care in preserving the body, and keeping it free from decay, more than keeping it from diseases during life.  Although Egyptian medicine, to a good extent, dealt with the supernatural, it eventually developed a practical use in the fields of anatomy, and public health. Herodotus, known as the “Father of History,” described the Egyptians as “Healthiest of all men” due to the dry climate and the notable public health system that they possessed.

  A more famous ancient physician is, Hippocrates. A Greek, born in 460 B.C., in the island of Kos. He needed all the boldness he could get, to change how doctors practiced medicine. Other doctors based their healing art, upon the belief that evil spirits, hateful demons, and vengeful gods, struck people with diseases. Invisible arrows, shot by the Greek god, Apollo, were thought to have caused pain. One treatment for disease required the victim to travel to one of the many pagan temples, and offer a sacrifice. Then, he had to sleep there, to dream away the sickness.  Hippocrates visited Egypt, and there he studied medicine. Eventually, he returned home, and began a school of medicine in Kos. Hippocrates taught methods that seemed strange to other doctors, who treated their patients with chanting and magic potions. He believed every disease had a natural cause. He gained the confidence with patients and put their mind at ease, by instructed students to find as much as possible about them. The older doctors did not agree with that - they expected  patients to sacrifice to greek gods and goddesses at the many pagan temples

“The gods will be angry” They warned. “The gods will punish doctors and patients that dared to defy them.” Hippocrates also made changes in how physicians looked upon their profession.  During his time, a doctor was sometimes bribed to see that a patient died, or asked to prepare poison to kill an enemy. Hippocrates taught against such improper conduct. He taught his students to treat everybody the same - friends and enemies, rich and poor. “Sometimes give your services for free,” He urged. “For were there is love of man, there is also love of medicine.” He drew up a statement describing proper conduct. The Pledge, was called the Hippocratic oath, and medical students still take it upon completion of their course of training. Hippocrates, the remarkable physician of Kos, is still considered the greatest physician the world has ever known. His advice to doctors is still taught in medical schools today. He is rightly called the “Father of modern Medicine.”