Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11
EPOCHS IN MEDICAL HISTORY
Ancient and Modern Landmarks in the
Science Of Medicine,
CONTRASTS IN OLD AND NEW METHOD,
Address of President E. II. LeRke of
Fremont Before the Nebraska
state Homeopathic Assoc
citation at Omaha.

>. - FN1N - @A3NNAH AN6a '1@
able deductions in the history Of medicine.
1t is interesting and instructive, as we
look in retrospect, over the billowy years
and note the gradual rise of medicine and
surgery from the low level Of superstition
to a high plane Of scientific achievement.
The earliest writer's on medicine place its
origin, in common with that Of most
branches Of knowledge. to the Egyptians.
They appear to be the first nation that
cultivated medicine and furthered its
progress. Many peculiar and medical prop
critics were attributed to the delties. All
diseases were supposed to originate from
the anger OF Isis. Resin was burned in the
morning, myrrh at noon, and a composition
termed cypha in the evening. in the tenn
pies of Isis, and the sick we're taken there
to sleep, during which the oracles might
reveal to them the means which they
should employ to effect a cure. This is an
illustration of the superstition which pre-
vailed at that time. The earliest authentic
records which we can ascertain from col
lateral reading are to be found in the scrip
lures. Here 1t is stated that Joseph COM
manded his servants and physicians to
embalm him Q700 b. c. This shows that
Egypt at that time possessed a set Of men
who practiced the healing art and that they
NhudlLANu ~ utdus AhAo "a heNO ~
quired an idea of anatomy, which, need
less to say, was crude and unscienti1c, as
dissection of the human body was at that
time prohibited, the penalty being death.
According to Pliny, the Egyptian kings
encouraged post mortems for the purpose
of ascertaining the cause of disease, and
this method was fostered by the Ptolemies
during whose reigns anatomy was raised
to a higher standard. Through the writ
ings of Moses in the scriptures we ascer-
tain that the medicine of the Hebrews
appertained mostly to public hygiene. Meat
Of the hog and rabbit was forbidden as
being injurious in the Egyptian and
Indian climates. The relation of man
and wife and the publication OF
women were regulated. The measures sug-
gested by Moses for the prevention Of lep-
rosy have not yet been surpassed. Next to
Moses, Solomon acquired quite an efficient
knowledge Of compromising medicines. The
Indian races were divided into castles, the
priests alone enjoying the privilege OF prac-
ticing medicine. Their medical knowledge
was condensed in a book which they called
Vagadasastin. They believed the body gave
rise to 100 species of gas through loo
vessels, the gases conflicting and ~engender-
ing disease. So far as we know, they were
the uTBJ TO T6COTu u way VI NCSNAhb bho
specific gravity of urine. Though credited
with many absurdities, they claimed to cure
the bites Of venous serpents and COM
pounded an ointment which eradicated the
cicatrices Of smallpox, a result which has
not, as yet, been attained in the present
epoch. The Chinese attribute the inven-
ton of medicine to Hoam tt, one OF their
emperors, but beyond the use Of cups, ac-
cupuncture, lamentations, lotions and
plasters, baths, etc., their knowledge did
not extend till the missionaries introduced
their medical knowledge.
Brilliant in Greece.
The condition Of medicine In Greece at
this time did not differ from that Of rude
and uncivilized nations. But later Greek
physicians are credited with the most bril-
liant discoveries. The most distinguished
of Ch!ron's pupils was Aesculapius, who
possibly occupies the most conspicuous
place in the history OF medicine. Aescul-
apius is always painted with a stan, be-
cause the sick have need Of support, and
the serpent entwined around 1t Is the
symbol Of wisdom. The sons Of Aesculapius
are considered the fathers of surgery and
for their distinguished valor at the seige
of Troy have been named by Homer among
the Greek heroes. The first operation Of
yenesoction, formerly SO promiscuously
done, is attributed to Podalirius, Of recog-
nized Grecian skill, the patient being a
princess. The early Greeks recognized
above all the value of physical culture.
Were the children Of today. like the ancient
Greeks, compelled to follow a routine OF
physical training. a rugged constitution
would replace many a delicate one, and the
race propagated, would tend to develop a
stronger physical character. Hygea. from
whence comes hygiene, or the art OF pre-
serving health, wes the pretended sister OF
Aesculapius. Anatomy could not flourish In
Greece, because an exemplary punishment
awaited any untoward conduct toward the
dead. Their peculiar religious beliefs re-
garding the rest of the soul were re-
sponsible for this. The knowledge Of the
functions of the body in health and
disease was appreciated by Pythagoras.
Diogenes asserts that Alcmaeon, one OF
the Pythagoreans, wrote a work on func-
lions, which work would, consequently be
the most ancient known treatise on
physiology. The age OF Hippocrates
OeO-37O B. Co was marked by a revolu-
tion In medical science. This central
figure IN the history Of medicine war
descendant Of a family In which the prac-
| tlce OF medicine was neTeulldEgs ho Nds
an extensive writer on such subjects az
acute diseases. dislocations. fractures, etc
Owing to the impossibility Of establishing
a physiology without an anatomical basis
his reference to those subjects are crude
and incorrect. To Hippocrates We owe thu
classihcations Of endemic. sporadic and
epidemic forms OF diseases and their d.
vision into acute and chronic. He wrote OF
the diseases of women and epilepsy ant
his therapeutics though crude, were
marked improvement on what preceded
He wrote fully on external diseases ant
surgical therapeutics. In obstetrics h
vas a close observer and thoughtful
teacher. He caused a revolution in tn,
practice of medicine, semeilogy, pathology
and even suggested the application o
similia in therapeutics. An important ag
and one Of marked progress in medicine 1
from the foundation OF the Alexandria
library 1890 B. c. up to the death of Gale
GOO b. c.. Under the Ptolemies dissec
tion Of human bodies was allowed and, a
already stated. the science OF medicine re
ceived quite an impulse. Herophilus de
serves first mention as a dissector. II
described the brain and its vessels, tn
eye. the intestinal canal and parts Of tn
muscular system. The valves of the hear