1st Edition
Greek Medicine From the Heroic to the Hellenistic Age A Source Book
The Greeks were the first to use rational systems of medicine, based upon belief in natural causation, rather than magical and religious elements, which resulted in a new conception of disease, accounting for causes and symptoms of illness. "Greek Medicine" places ancient Greek medicine, from Homer to the Alexandrians, within its historical and intellectual context by presenting a selection of source material in translation.
The book provides a chronological account on the most important aspects of ancient medicine, and includes chapters on specific areas of medicine, such as gynecology, dietetics, pharmacology and surgery.
Biography
James Longrigg is Reader in Ancient Philosophy and Science at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. He is author of Greek Rational Medicine (Routledge 1993).
"...Longrigg's decades of scholarly research are apparent in his commentaries and synopses, for he has mastered all the sources." -- Isis
"An important source book not only for specialists but for anyone desiring an overview of medical issues reflected in Greek medical texts and literature from Homer to the Alexandrians. The chpater divisions reflect the extant themes of the ancient medical treatises, especially those attributed to Hippocratic authors, such as physiology, regimen, surgery, gynecology and anatomy. There is a very useful glossary of terms included in an appendix. This text will be a great adjunct to readings of the Hippocratic texts." -- Religious Studies Review