Hippocrates

Hippocrates was born c. 460 BC on the island of Kos in Greece.  He is regarded as the father of Medicine. Hippocrates learned medicine from his father and grandfather and also was a student of Democritus the father of atomic theory.  During his long life, he likely lived till the age of 83; he amassed observations and conducted experiments that showed disease was a natural process and not the wrath of gods. He taught that signs and symptoms were reactions of the body to the disease and were important towards establishing a diagnosis and prognosis. (The relief at Oropos Sanctuary portraits Hippocrates treating a patient)

Some of the therapies he described are still in use today such as splints and casts that are applied for the treatment of fractures. (In Bick’s Orthopedics, 1968)

Others such as the devise for reduction of a dislocated shoulder have been modified. (From Illustrated History of Medicine by Ira Rutkow, 1993)    

He and his school produced many dissertations that were included in Corpus Hippocraticum, writings that provided a wealth of information and dominated how medicine was practiced for thousands of years.  Among the best known is the doctrine of the four humors of the body: blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile or serum.  Health or disease resulted from either balance or imbalance of the humors. In the compendium Hippocratic Aphorisms useful advise such as “ Life is short, and art is long; the crisis is fleeting, experience perilous and decision difficult” can be found.  Only 60 of his many works have survived mainly written by others. 

Hippocrates remains admired by physicians and patients alike for his holistic practice of medicine and also the ethical standards he advocated.  Legend has it that he refused gifts from the Persian king Artaxerxes, as he believed the practice of medicine should be above and beyond monetary rewards. 

(Engraving by Anne-Louise Girodet at Museum Des Beaux-Art, Lille)

Variations of the Hippocratic Oath are taken by graduating medical students in advance of entering the profession at which time they solemnly pledge:

·    To consecrate their life to the service of humanity;

·   To give to their teachers the respect and gratitude that is their due and to teach their sons and their teachers’ sons and daughters the art of healing;

·    To practice with conscience and dignity and make the health of the patients their only consideration;

·     To respect the secrets confided in them;

·   To have outmost respect for human life, and even under threat not allow religion, nationality, race, politics or social standing to interfere with the duty to their patients.