Medicine in ancient Rome

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Ancient Roman medicine combined various techniques using different tools and rituals. Ancient Roman Medicine is split among a number of specializations such as intemistic, opthalmological and urological. Romans believed in supernatural causes for many diseases and in some supernatural cures (see bottom of article). The Romans favoured the prevention of diseases over the cures of them; unlike in Greek Society where Public Health was a personal matter, Public Health was encouraged by the Government at the time; they built bath houses and aqeuducts to pipe water to the cities. Many of the larger cities, such as Rome, boasted an advanced sewage system, the likes of which would not be seen in the Western world again until the late 17th and 18th centuries (see Cloaca Maxima). They also did not fully understand that germs were related to diseases. Roman surgeons carried a tool kit which contained forceps, scalpels, catheters and arrow extractors. The tools had various uses and were boiled in hot water before each use. In surgery, surgeons used painkillers such as opium and scopolamine for treatments and acetum (the acid in vinegar) was used to wash wounds. Romans didn't believe in the supernatural as much as the Greeks; the Greeks used temples and religious belief to try and cure someone, yet the Romans developed specific hospitals which enabled the patients to be fully rested and relaxed so they could completely recover. By staying in the hospitals, the doctors (which now had different levels of qualification) were able to observe the illness rather than rely on the supernatural to cure him/her.

Galen

Galen was a famous doctor who encouraged his students to dissect animal corpses to find out more about the human body (the dissection of human corpses was frowned upon at the time and would continue to be until the Renaissance & subsequent fall of power in the Church). Galen discovered, among other things, that blood ran through the arteries and veins in your body and that the human skeleton had a specific form, which greatly influenced doctors from the Christian and Arabic religions because the theory "fitted in" with their belief that only God could create such a complex structure. Galen was also said to have believed in one God (Monotheism), the Christian Church argued that it could have been their God and the Islamic Religion did similar, both organisations were able to adopt him and his ideas. Many of Galen's theories were wrong however, such as his ideas on the human anatomy, particuarly the structure of the jaw and the shape of the human bone structure (anatomy); because he was not able to dissect human subjects, Galen believed that the bone structure of an ape would be similar to ours. Galen's theories, backed by the power of the Church, would remain unchallenged until the Renaissance, when advancements in machinery, the Reformation of the Church and other factors would lead to many being dispproved.

Medicinal instruments

Medical tools used in ancient Rome:Scalpels : These instruments were strictly used to make incisions, whether it be deep or long cuts. Scalpels were mostly made from bronze or steel.Bone hooks: These instruments were long and thin and were mostly used for maneuvering tissue. The Greeks also used this tool. The hooks came in two varieties: sharp and blunt. Sharp hooks were used to remove tissue from wounds and blunt hooks were used for dissections.Bone drills: Picture a wine cork screw, this is what a bone drill looked like. Bone drills were used to remove diseased bone tissue from the skull or to remove any foreign object(s). Similar tools had been used by Prehistoric Man to remove evil spirits. Vaginal speculum: This is one of the rarest surviving Roman medical instruments. These tools were large and were often recommended for diagnosing vaginal and uterine disorders.Spatula: This instrument was used to mix and apply various ointments to patients.Probe: This instrument was used to carefully examine a wound before treatment.Surgical saw: This instrument was used to cut through bones in amputations and surgeries.Forceps: Used as modern pincers are used today. Its main purpose was to remove splinters and other small unwanted fragments in the tissueCatheter: Used to cause urination. It would was likely far more uncomfortable than modern catheters due to the fact that Roman catheters were made of some sort of metal such as bronze.

Medicinal herbs

Some Ancient Roman herbs used in medicine were:Fennel: It was thought to have calming propertiesElecampane: Used to help with digestionSage: Although it had little medicinal value, they had great religious value.Garlic: Beneficial for health, particuarly of the heartFenugreek: Used in the treatment of pneumoniaMustardRosemarySilphium: Used for a wide variety of ailments and conditions--especially for birth control.

Asclepieions in Roman Medicine

When the Roman Army conquered Greece they adopted many of their medicinal beliefs and ideas. The cult of Asclepios had spread across much of Greece and numerous temples (asclepieions) had been built in his name. These Asclepieions (or Asklepieions) were places of healing. They contained baths, gardens and other facilities designed to improve people's health. People who were being treated in the Asclepieions would sleep in front of a statue of the Greek God in the hope that he would heal them in their sleep. Though several accounts have been recovered, detailing the progress in health made by people admitted to the Asclepieions, it is unlikely that they were based on fact; they may simply have been used as propoganda.

Insula Tiberina

Insula Tiberina was a temple to the god of healing Aesculapius, or the Greek god Asklepios, and a hospital. It was built on a small isle in the Tiber River and has been a center of medicine well into the middle ages. It was built when a plague fell upon Rome in 295BC. Normal treatments, herbs and appeals to their Gods did not work against it. In desperation the Romans built the temple, dedicated to the Greek god of healing, Asklepios and the plague soon went away.

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