Written by Oliver Ampofo
One of three poor babies died before their first word. Half of all children lost their lives before they were nearly ten. The short life expectancy for the average ancient greek was up to forty to fifty years old. Not everybody back then was healthy enough to live a full life. That is why the ancient greeks were interested in using scientific observation and logic to figure out what caused disease and what you could do about it. So, the ancient greeks used many important, and interesting medical practices. Some of those practises are surgery, medical ethics, and their god’s healing power, many of which we use today.
First, Surgery is one of the important medical practices that the ancient greeks used. The ancient greeks were lead to believe that there was another way to cure diseases rather than to only just worship Asclepius, the god of good health. They were able to pry their way into the medical world, although respecting the great gods as well. The ancient greeks were one of the first to study medicine and illnesses in a scientific manner. The ancient greeks were determined to find answers that were true. Although, there were some strange, and rather painful things they would do, just to study surgery. For example, they would dissect live criminal bodies to study the inside of the body, and how it works. The downside of this study was that these bodies were often cut up alive! Although surgery to the Ancient Greeks was largely depended on, it would not always work. Even when surgery was successful, patients often died afterwards from the shock and pain. Also, in this important practice called surgery, it included many theories, cures, and illnesses, but very few were correct. Greek doctors believed that good health depended on the four main body fluids- blood, phlegm (snot), yellow bile and black bile. For example, if one lived in a cold and wet climate, then one would produce more phlegm, or snot, so the balance would be thrown off, making him feel ill. The cure would be to move to a warmer, drier climate. For another example, if the balance was disturbed, greek doctors would place heated metal cups to the skin to draw out harmful fluids. The sweat that was produced convinced the doctors that it was working. Another way greek doctors made the balance of body fluids is by removing blood. Many times if one feels ill, Greek doctors cut the patient’s arm to draw out blood. They believed that too much blood in the balance could lead to illness. Doctors even place leeches on the patient’s to suck out blood until the leeches were full and fell off. Ancient greek doctors did this so often, that they were sometimes called, “leeches”! Although surgery consisted of many mistaken treatments and cures, it was used regularly, and was very important to the ancient greeks.
Next, another important medical practice is the god’s healing power. Asclepius is the god of health, or healing, although he was not immortal, because of his mother. Asclepius got his medical knowledge from his father, Apollo, god of medicine, which is why many looked up to Asclepius when they were sick or hurt. The ancient greeks believed that diseases were a curse that was sent as a punishment. For example, the ancient greeks thought that only Asclepius knew the cure to his diseases. According to
greek legend, Asclepius could cure any brought to him. He once brought a dead man back to life. Also, there were temples dedicated to Asclepius. If someone was sick, he would wash himself, give a sacrifice, and sleep in the temple, in hope that Asclepius would appear in a dream and show him a cure. Many ancient greeks depended on this practice, even when it wouldn’t really work. For the lucky people who survived, they left offerings of clay pieces with a picture shaped like whatever has been cured on them. The way the ancient greeks worshiped this god is indeed an interesting and important medical practice.
Lastly, medical ethics were also considered an important medical practice that the ancient greeks used. Ethics are a set of rules that state how a person should act in a specific situation. For medical ethics, they are ethics that relate to medical matters. For example, how a doctor should treat their patients. Also, when doctors were dealing with their patients, they were to carry out observation, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. These were the basic elements that survive to this day. Through out time, the greeks discarded the egyptian notion of strictly prescribed treatment. From then and on, all patients were to be observed individually through careful observation and treatment. In addition, the Hippocratic oath was an expression of early medical ethics. The name, “Hippocratic oath” comes from the famous greek doctor, Hippocrates. The Hippocratic oath formed when Hippocrates made his students swear to heal, not poison people in any way, not to carry out illegal operations, not to betray a patient’s confidence, to heal to the best of their ability, preserve patient privacy, to teach the secrets of medicine to the next generation, and to act with compassion. This interesting
oath is still used today. Medical ethics are definitely an interesting medical practice that the ancient greeks used.
To wrap it up, there were many important and interesting medical practices that were used in ancient Greece. Their way of surgery, their medical ethics, and the god’s healing powers were some of the interesting and important medical practices. The medical practices the ancient greeks used might have not been that accurate, but they seemed to be very important and somewhat useful.
Oliver Ampofo is a 15 year old writer and pianist from Nevada. In addition to writing and playing the piano, he loves to play chess.
© 2018 elysianmuse.com