Medicine Through the Ages: A Historical Perspective

Medicine is the science that deals with diseases in humans and other creatures, the simplest ways to stop diseases, and also the best ways to retain a healthy life. It's always been a vital evolutionary tool for human development. Learning about the history of medication shows us how societies have changed in their approach to illness and disease from ancient times to now. Not only does the history of medication provide great evidence of human development and advancement, but it's also considered as the center of science since it recognizes the characters and institutions that advanced science and medicine, their difficulties, and discoveries. Despite its importance, plenty of individuals seem to consider learning history as something irrelevant and totally unnecessary, ignoring its significant role in science. 'Many scientists bypass history and its importance, but learning the scientific methods and the history of science is the embodiment of scientific knowledge.' (Balkees)

Although Unwritten history isn't easy to interpret, and, although much is also learned from a study of the drawings, bony remains, and surgical tools of early humans, it's difficult to reconstruct the cognition of our ancestors toward the issues of disease and death. It seems probable that, as soon as they reached the stage of reasoning, they found by the method of trial and error which plants may well be used as foods, which plants were poisonous, and which plants had some medicinal value.

Even though there's little record to ascertain when plants were first used for medicinal purposes, the utilization of plants as healing agents, yet as clays and soils are ancient. Over time, the medical cognitive content developed and was passed between generations. Humans have engaged in medical practices as far as history notes. As noted by Naseem, 'The main known dentistry dates back to 7000 BC in Baluchistan where Neolithic dentists used bowstrings and flint-tipped drills. The primary known trepanning operation was applied in 5000 BC in Ensisheim, France. A possible amputation was applied in 4,900 BC in Seine-et-Marne, France'.

Ancient History

The art of medication is as ancient as humanity itself. Diseases have existed as soon as life was formed, and early people tried to alleviate themselves of the pain and discomfort they caused. The early civilizations practiced two completely different methods of medication: a practical method originating from the apparent, and another resulting from combating the unknown and also the mysterious.

In Pharaonic times people saw their daily life as a mix of rational facts and supernatural phenomena. In line with their beliefs, each illness had two causes. One was of direct origin, caused by an invisible pathogenic material personified, like a disease demon, a spirit or an animal, or an object of the fabric world. The opposite was of indirect origin, caused by a god or goddess who was malevolent or who punished the patient, or by a curse invoked by individuals. Although Egyptian medicine, to a substantial extent, addressed the supernatural, it eventually developed a practical use within the fields of anatomy, public health, and clinical diagnostics. Ancient Egypt developed an outsized, varied, and fruitful medical tradition because of the dry climate and also the notable public health system that they possessed; Egyptians were considered very healthy compared to the opposite civilizations. 'the healthiest of all men were the Egyptians, next to the Libyans'(Herodotus). Also, in line with Herodotus, the practice of medicine was so specialized among Egyptians that every physician may be a healer of 1 disease and no more. Ancient Egypt also contained several of the oldest medical texts, just as the Ebers Papyrus which is the oldest written language mentioning enemas, and also the Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus, written within the 17th century BC, which contains the earliest recorded regard to the brain. Additionally, the earliest known physician is additionally credited to ancient Egypt: Imhotep or Hesy-Ra, 'Chief of Dentists and Physicians' for King Djoser within the 27th century BCE. Also, the earliest known woman physician, Peseshet, practiced in Ancient Egypt at the time of the 4th dynasty. Her title was 'Lady Overseer of the Woman Physicians.' In addition to her supervisory role, Peseshet trained midwives at an ancient Egyptian graduate school in Sais.

China also developed an outsized body of traditional medicine. 'Much of the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine derived from empirical observations of disease and illness by Taoist physicians and reflects the classical Chinese belief that individual human experiences express causative principles effective within the environment the least bit scales. These causative principles, whether material, essential, or mystical, correlate because of the expression of the universe'(Ben-Menahem). Traditional Chinese Medicine that supported the utilization of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, and other types of therapy has been practiced in China for thousands of years. When reading the Chinese classics, scholars examined these works from the Chinese perspective and noted two key aspects of Chinese medical history: understanding conceptual differences when translating the term 'shén' and observing the history from the attitude of cosmology instead of biology. Medical case studies also existed throughout Chinese history, but “individually authored and published case history” was a prominent creation of the traditional Chinese. They believed that no two illnesses were alike, that the healing strategies of the practitioner were unique each time to the particular diagnosis of the patient

The Middle Ages

After AD 400, the practice and study of medicine within the Western empire went into deep decline. Medical services were provided, especially for the poor, within the thousands of monastic hospitals that sprang up across Europe, but the care was rudimentary and mainly palliative. Most of the writings of Hippocrates and Galen were lost to the West. On the opposite hand, the Islamic civilization – which was influenced by ancient Indian, Persian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine medical practices – rose ongoing and helped them develop further. The new translations coming from Muslim sources in Spain, after the fall of Constantinople, made the West to totally recover from classical antiquity.

Byzantine medicine was notable for building upon the cognitive content developed by its Greco-Roman predecessors. In preserving medical practices from antiquity, Byzantine medicine influenced Islamic medicine and likewise as fostered the Western rebirth of drugs during the Renaissance.

The Islamic civilization rose to dominance in bioscience as its physicians contributed significantly to the sector of medicine– including anatomy, ophthalmology, pharmacology, physiology, and surgery. The interpretation of 129 of Galen's works into Arabic set the template for Islamic medicine, which rapidly spread throughout the Arab Empire. Taking leads from Greece and Rome, Islamic scholars kept both the science and art of medicine alive and moving forward. Its most famous physicians included the Persian polymaths Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi and Avicenna, who wrote over 40 works on health, medicine, and well-being. They wrote The Canon of Medicine which became a regular medical text at many medieval European universities and is taken into account in every foremost famous book within the history of medicine. It presents an outline of the contemporary medical knowledge of the medieval Islamic world. Additionally, their books became a part of the medical curriculum in European universities, and they were considered as pioneers of ophthalmology.

Early Modern History (The Renaissance)

The Renaissance was a period of great change and innovation. The humanities and culture flourished, and plenty of doctors and artists took a good interest in developing and evolving their own discoveries. From the likes of Leonardo sculptor through to lesser-known doctors, there's a wealth of evidence of interest, exploration, and experimentation at the time. Technological change also impacted on medicine during the Renaissance and after.

Although the Renaissance brought an intense concentration on scholarship to Christian Europe, the Renaissance was a period of ‘re-birth’. An era where tradition was not only challenged but also where various new ideas formed. This affected society in numerous ways and has had a lasting impact a significant effort to translate the Arabic and Greek scientific works into Latin emerged. Europeans gradually became experts not only in the ancient writings of the Romans and Greeks but within the contemporary writings of Islamic scientists. During the later centuries of the Renaissance came a rise in experimental investigation, particularly within the field of dissection and body examination, thus advancing our knowledge of human anatomy.

The event of recent neurology began in the 16th century in Italy and France. Over the years, scientists like Niccolò Massa, Jean Fernel, Jacques Dubois, and Andreas Vesalius corrected over 200 of Galen's mistakes. The University of Padua played a number one role within the identification and treatment of diseases and ailments, specializing in autopsies and therefore the inner workings of the body. Its famous anatomical theatre drew artists and scientists to study the bod during public dissections which triggered great public interest in dissections and caused many other European cities to determine anatomical theatres. Understanding of medical sciences and diagnosis improved.  

Conclusion

In conclusion, the study of the history of medicine provides valuable insight into the evolution of human society's approach to illness and disease, from ancient times to the present day. It also serves as the foundation for modern science and medicine. Although it is difficult to reconstruct the cognition of our ancestors towards the issues of disease and death, the use of plants as healing agents and the practice of medicine have been evident in human history. From ancient civilizations like Egypt and China to the Middle Ages, the practice of medicine has evolved, and new discoveries have led to modern medicine's growth. Understanding the history of medicine is essential in recognizing the characters and institutions that advanced science and medicine, their difficulties, and discoveries. It is a vital aspect of scientific knowledge and an integral part of the continuous growth of modern medicine. Therefore, it is crucial to appreciate the significance of learning the history of medicine, as it lays the foundation for current and future medical discoveries, treatments, and practices.