History of Medicine

Foundation of Medicine

L1-History of Medicine
May 6th, 2020 / online
Family & Community medicine dept.
Dr. Muslim N. Saeed

PRE- ISLAMIC ERA

The primary objective of medicines is to prevent and cure disease, or to use medicines that mitigate the progressive, devastating, or disabling aspect of disease.
Archaeological findings suggested that the earliest humans believed in spirit, and supernatural forces.
Many civilizations obtain a good knowledge in surgery and in the use of herbs, animal parts, and minerals in the treatment of diseases.

Medicine in Ancient Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia (land between Tigris and Euphrates) was the area of the first civilization.
The origin of civilization was traced to a group of people living in the southern Mesopotamia called Sumerians 3500 B.C, the true civilization is said to have begun around 3100 B.C. with the development of cuneiform writing.


After cuneiform development, they became the dominant system of writing in Mesopotamia for over 2000 years. Most of the cuneiform tablets, which deal with medical issues, were found in the library of Ashurbanipal, the last great king of Assyria. This library, which was housed in the king’s place at Nineveh, was burned by invaders; around 20000 clay tablets were burned by the great fire.


Many drugs were mentioned in tablets in Mesopotamia cuneiform
Most of these drugs were plant extract, resins and spices.
Dressing of wounds followed 3 steps technique including washing, bandaging and making plasters prepared from plant extracts, animal fat and alkali, which when heated yields soap with antiseptic activity.

The Mesopotamians believed that the rivers had the power to drive out evil, substances and forces that were causing the disease.
Surgery was also performed in Mesopotamia. It included opening of abscesses, tooth extraction, pushing of urethral stone to the bladder, removing of dead tissues, treatment of glaucoma suturing of wounds …etc.

However, the code of Hammurabi 1700 B.C. stated that the physician who perform surgery is responsible for surgical errors and failure.

Medicine in Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptian medicine was also dependent on myth and legend, and the treatment was carried out by both magicians and medicine men.
However, ancient Egyptian papyri inform us that the medical practice was highly advanced for its time.
It included surgery, setting of bones and extensive sets of pharmacopoeia including herbal therapy, the nature and characteristics of herbs and their efficacy and uses in the treatment.

Egyptian classified injuries to 3 types, treatable, contestable and untreatable.

The surgeons were quickly dealing with the treatable injury, surgical tools included knives, hooks, drills, forceps, scales, spoons, saws, etc.

Mummification reflected an advanced knowledge in surgical tools anatomy, chemistry, and preservation.
Herbs play a major part in Egyptian medicine.

Some of herbal medicines were used by ancient Egyptian doctors:

Acacia (Acacia nilotica)- internal bleeding, also used to treat skin diseases.
Garlic (Allium sativa) - gives vitality, soothes flatulence and aids digestion, mild laxative, shrinks hemorrhoids, rids body of "spirits"
Aloe vera - worms, relieves headaches, soothes chest pains, burns, ulcers and for skin disease and allergies.
Other herbs like Balsam Apple,Belladonna
,Caraway, Colchicum.


Medicine in Ancient China
Traditional Chinese medicine has developed over a period of at least 5000 years.
The Chinese have divided the world into 5 elements; these include fire, earth, water, metal and wood, these 5 elements (which are each related to body organs and colors), and the meridians.
Chinese doctors manipulated the herbal drugs and minerals to adjust energy of these forces in the body, they also developed a special system of physiology, as vital organs and meridians became the principle of acupuncture.

Medicine in Ancient Greek

Greeks also believed in supernatural source of illness. They turned to the Gods for cure like God Appollo and God Asclepios.
Places which were called Asclepeia were built for sick people where they encourage sleeping as it was believed that during the sleep they would be visited by Asclepios or his two daughters.
However, the Greeks were practicing medicine 1000 years before the birth of Christ.
Surgery was done and herbs were applied. There were even specialists including gynecologists who specialized in childbirth and diseases of women.

Hippocrates

The first doctors in the modern sense appeared in Ancient Greek was Hippocrates. Hippocrates was considered the father of medicine in Greek. He was the son of a physician. he believed that checking symptoms, giving diagnoses and administering treatment should be separated from the rituals of the priests.

Medicine in Ancient Rome

Ancient Romans believed that diseases were brought on by the disfavor of the gods.
The Romans incorporated both a scientific and mythological approach to medicine and healthcare. They adopted much of the Greeks' scientific data concerning medicine.
Primarily, Hippocrates gave the Romans a holistic look at medicine and the treatment of illnesses and diseases.
Ancient Roman medicine was a combination of physical techniques using various tools and holistic medicine using rituals and religious belief systems.
Aesculapius, the god of healing, was the prominent that governed the Roman medical practice.


Preservation of life is mandated by the following verse of the Quran: (The saving of one life is as if one has saved humanity).
The importance of seeking treatment was emphasized by the Prophet himself in his sayings (Allah never created a disease for which he did not create a cure).
So always seek treatment.

ISLAMIC MEDICINE

The major contribution of the Islamic Age to the history of medicine was the establishment of hospitals. They were to be called Bimaristans.
The first Islamic hospital was built during the reign of Caliph Harun Al-Rashid (170-193 AH 786-809 AD).
One of these was the hospital, which was built under the instructions of the great Islamic Physician Al-Razi (Rhazes: 841-926 A.D.).

Islamic hospitals

Physicians such as Razi, Ibn-Sina (Avicenna: 980-1037 A.D.) and Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar: 116 A.D.) studied patients and prepared them for student presentation.
Clinical reports of cases were written and preserved for teaching.

Medical education, curriculum and training

Many surgical procedures such as amputation, excision of varicose veins and hemorrhoids, and orthopedics were widely taught.
The use of plaster and casts after reduction of fractures was routinely shown to students.
Ophthalmology was widely practiced. Surgical treatment of cataract was very common. Obstetrics was left to midwives.


During this period, students were assigned in small groups to famous physicians and experienced instructors, for ward rounds, discussions, lectures, and reviews.

Licensing examination was carried out in Baghdad since 931A.D.

From that time on, licensing examination was required to any one working in this job. Licensing boards were set up under a government official called Al-Muhtasib. The chief physician gave oral and practical examination, and if the young physician was successful, the Muhtasib issued a license.

Pharmacy, and chemistry had been studied by most Islamic Physicians.

They also studied the techniques to refine drugs, medications and extracts by distillation, and crystallization.
Drugs were classified into simple and compound drugs.
The effects of drugs were detailed and documented in textbooks appeared frequently during the era of Islamic Medicine.
Among these, is the contribution of Abu Bakr Bin Samghun of Cardoba on (The Comprehensive book on views of the Ancients as well as the Moderns on Simple Drugs).
Pharmacy, and chemistry

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