Download Galen - The British Empire

Galen of Pergamum
A Greek Doctor in Rome
Why were there Greek Doctors in
Rome?
• Roman respect for Greek
Culture/Ideas
• Greece became a Roman Province
• Some were Slaves/Freed Slaves
• Some attracted by salaries
• Good Reputation/Plausible
explanation for illnesses
Claudius Galen – The Early Years
• Born in Greece (Turkey)
131AD
• Trained in Alexandria
– 152 – 157
• Worked at Asclepion
– 157 - 162
• Went to Rome to make
his Fortune
– 162
• Gladiator School
– 162 - 166
• Showman
– Page 43
• Such stunts brought him to the attention
of the Emperor
Why is Galen Important
• Galen was not famous for having new
groundbreaking ideas. Rather, he was
famous for improving upon and
communicating existing Greek ideas
– Four Humours
– Anatomy
– Physiology
– Design
– Writings
Four Humours
• Communicated the Hippocratic idea
throughout the Roman Empire
– Galen’s Improvement
• Theory of Opposites
– Apply Cucumbers for fevers
– Hard physical exercise for weak people
– Singing for Chest complaints
• The idea of balance, moderation and regular
exercise was received well by practical
Romans
Anatomy
• Galen took the Hippocratic idea of
Observation into the body
• Widespread use of Dissection
– Exposure to Human dissections at Alexandria
– Pigs, dogs and Barbary Apes
• Made some serious mistakes in describing Human
Anatomy
– Eg Only two chambers in Heart
– Meticulously recorded what he saw
Physiology
• Galen used the data from his
dissections and experiments to
explain how the body worked
– Brain controlled Speech
– Role of Nerves
– Arteries carried Mixture of blood & Air
– Blood originated in Liver
– Blood being continuously made and used
up by the body
Design
• Galen took the Greek Holistic
idea to explain how the body
was an integrated whole
– Everything has a purpose
– Each organ has a specialised
purpose but that they all need
each other
– Will influence Muslim and
Christian faiths
Writings
• Galen took the Greek ideas on
observation and Case notes to
record and report on all of his
medical procedures
• Prolific Writer
– 300+ books (150 survive)
• Will provide the ‘Library’ for Western
Medicine for the next 1500 years.
– Mistakes and all!
Curriculum Vitae
• Galen is applying for a job to be the
Emperor’s Personal Physician. Write a
CV to apply to this job. Include:
– Full Name,
– Place and Date of Birth,
– Education
– Previous Work Experience
– Publications
– Personal Statement on Medical Beliefs
Change and Continuity
• Page 49
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Read the articles on page 49
List examples of changes in Roman Britain
List examples of continuities in Roman Britain
List the groups of people who benefited the
most from Roman influence
– List the groups of people who benefited the
least from Roman influence