HippocratesThe most famous medical teacher of Cos was the man who is commonly regarded as the ‘Father of Medicine’, Hippocrates.
He was born on Cos, the son of a physician approximately 460 BC shortly before the Greek Golden Age which is said to have officially started about 480 BC. Such a person undoubtedly existed and he is mentioned by his younger contemporary, Plato.
After the death of his father, Hippocrates traveled to Athens to continue his quest for knowledge and insight into the human being, diseases that affect the human being and treatment to those disease.
The collection of Hippocratic writings, comprising of a number of authors associated with Hippocrates during and after his lifetime and often expresses contradictory views.
Their titles include Fractures, Aphorisms, Epidemics, Prognostics, Ulcers, Surgery, Fistulae and Hemorrhoids.
The Hippocratic writings are categorized by being factual; they contain descriptions of careful observations of actual patents, they resists elaborate theories of disease and emphasize the power of nature to heal, encourage by suitable diet, rest and exercise.
In severe cases, further aid may be given by blood letting, purging or sweating and occasionally radical surgical intervention is required.
Modern doctors find it fascinating exercise to interest some of the clinical descriptions in these writings.
Hippocrates
