Physiological and Pathophysiological Aspects in Herophilos Writings
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CONTENTS GENERAL ASPECTS OF HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF MEDICINE Herophilus and vivisection: a re-appraisal . 5 J. Ganz HISTORY OF MEDICAL DISCIPLINES Philippe Ricord – prominent venereologist of the XIX century . 13 K.A. Pashkov, M.S. Betekhtin Development of national system of pharmaceutical education in 1920–1930: Moscow medico-pharmaceutical combine . 18 M.S. Sergeeva FROM THE HISTORY OF HEALTHCARE Zemstvo district medicine and charity in Russia . 29 L.E. Gorelova, T.I. Surovtseva The formation of factory legislation on health protection in Europe and Russia in the 19th to early 20th centuries . 35 I.V. Karpenko FROM THE HISTORY OF RUSSIAN MEDICINE Stages of formation and further development of domestic cardiology. Part 1 . 40 V.I. Borodulin, S.P. Glyantsev, A.V. Topolianskiy On the Biography of Professor and Psychiatrist Anatoly Kotsovsky (1864−1937) . 48 K.K. Vasylyev, Yu.K. Vasylyev Professor of surgery at the University of Moscow I.P. Aleksinsky: his life and work in Russia and in emigration . 55 O.A. Trefi lova, I.A. Rozanov INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH Some evidence of the worship of Apollo Physician (Ietroos) in ancient Greece and the Black Sea Coast . 73 E.S. Naumova SPECIFIC QUESTIONS IN THE HISTORY OF MEDICINE Physiological and pathophysiological aspects in Herophilos writings . 81 L.D. Maltseva SOURCE Continuity in the views of Hippocrates and Galen on the nature of the human body . 89 D.A. Balalykin 4 SPECIFIC QUESTIONS IN THE HISTORY OF MEDICINE Physiological and pathophysiological aspects in Herophilos writings L.D. Maltseva I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, The Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation The results of studies of the physiological and pathophysiological aspects of the scientifi c practice of physician Herophilus of Alexandria are presented. The prerequisites for the formation of Herophilus' worldview are identifi ed, as are his research activities. Herophilus' work is examined from the standpoint of the empirical path to knowledge, from the standpoint of Hippocratic tradition and the applied meaning of science in medical practice. This approach allows us to assess the activities Herophilus as a physician-researcher who contributed to the foundation of clinical pathology and pathophysiology. Keywords: Herophilus, physiology, pathophysiology, clinical pathophysiology, pathology, the Alexandrian School, natural philosophy One of the most impressive achievements of Doctrines of Hippocrates and Plato,"2 among the ancient Greeks was their rational medicine. others. The Greeks fi rst developed a rational system of Galen admired the works of the Alexandrian medicine, for the most part free of magical and physicians who he knew well. In his works, in religious elements and based on natural laws. The addition to a positive assessment of the research importance of this innovation in the subsequent activities of Alexandrian doctors, he sharply history of medicine can not be overestimated. criticized some provisions of the medicine that For the fi rst time in the history of medicine a they postulated. "Raising these issues about them rational approach was demonstrated, which led here, we have only one goal in mind – to provide to the emergence of a new concept of disease: its an explanation as to why we decided to write 'Of causes and symptoms were now fully described the uses of the diff erent parts of the human body,' in terms of natural science. [1, 2] For a more although many interesting things about this have precise characterization, correct understanding already been said by Aristotle3, as well as quite and defi nition of the methodological orientation a large number of physicians and philosophers; of scientifi c trends taking place in ancient though, maybe they were not equal to Aristotle, medicine, methodological and epistemological but they spoke well, among them Herophilus of lines were identifi ed, defi ning the development Chalcedon needs to be highlighted ... " [2] strategy for medicine and ancient science in Herophilus' contribution to the development general from 4th century BC to 3rd century AD. of Alexandrian medicine can not be overestimated. [3, 4, 5] Despite errors, inaccurate conceptions and One of the most important sources, which structural interpretations, functions of body provides the most complete picture of the systems and principles of treatment of various state of medical science during the period as diseases and conditions, the anatomical works a whole, are Galen's works "Of the uses of the of the physician-researcher led to important different parts of the human body"1 and "On the discoveries being made in Alexandria in the 3rd 2 English translation by P. De Lacy Works of Galen"On the © L.D. Maltseva doctrines of Hippocrates and Plato" (C. Galen "On the 1 Translated into Russian and published under the editorship doctrines of Hippocrates and Plato" Ed. Com., Trans. By of V. N. Tarnovsky (C. Galen "Of the uses of the diff erent P. De Lacy. Berlin: Akademie Verlag GmbH, 2005. 837 p.) parts of the human body" Ed. V. Tarnovsky. Moscow: 3 See: Aristotle. Works. In 4 tomes. Tome 1. Ed. V. F. Asmus. Publishing House Meditsina, 1971. 554 pp.) Moscow: Mysl, 1976. 550 p. HISTORY OF MEDICINE 2014, №4 (4) century BC, which became the basis of the Galen his predecessors. He was interested not only in school of medicine. [3] the study of individual body parts and organs, Herophilus was a representative of the "Plato, but also their interaction. Herophilus studied Aristotle, Hippocrates, Galen" line of natural the interaction of body parts by their function, philosophers, [4, 5] he adhered to the Hippocratic i.e., determining their functional relationships tradition, backed the stance supporting the in the body. He was the fi rst to demonstrate importance of science in the practice of medicine peripheral nerves' connection with the brain [1] and was a supporter of Aristotle. In the history and spinal cord, he studied the arrangement of of the formation of scientists' ancient medical nerves, proved the link between digestive organs viewpoints, Herophilus played an important and chylous vessels. Another of his anatomical evolutionary step. discoveries bears his name "Torcular Herophili," The historical line of "Hippocrates – which is part of Calami Heropnili, as well as the Herophilus – Galen – Galen's adherents – optic nerve. [1] modern medical researchers," using best practices, Herophilus' study of the nervous system knowledge and empirical, experimental observation provided a signifi cant contribution to the provided for the evolution of the development of fi elds of anatomy and physiology. His teacher, theoretical and practical medicine. Praxagoras, wondered how conscious movement The successful investigative activities of is transmitted from the intellectual center to the Herophilus and other ancient physicians and extremities of the body. He believed that some of researchers could be carried out only by relying the arteries, which he thought were the vessels on religious and philosophical systems that for the mental spirit, became thinner, until confi rmed the possibility of knowledge of nature their walls connected and the gap between them and the human body. [4] A confi rmation of the disappeared. To describe this fi nal, weakened part correct direction of medicine's development in of the artery, through which, he believed, fl owed terms of the natural philosophy of rationalism living streams, he used the term "neuron" – that was developed by physicians of the "Plato meaning, presumably, the tendons. Galen spoke – Hippocrates – Aristotle – Galen" line of of the functioning of the nerves that Praxagoras philosophers and its impact on the further regarded as movements of fi ngers and other body formation of medicine was the subsequent victory parts. Praxagoras became the discoverer of nerves of Galen's anatomical and physiological system, "mostly in a Pickwickian sense" that is, he "did through which a crisis in natural science, which not fi nd or identify the nerve, and was interested had dominated in medicine until the 16th century, in what organ was responsible for limb movement, was overcome. [4] identifi ed the organ as he saw fi t, described it, The medical advances of the Alexandrians, and examined its relationship with the center of particularly in the 3rd century BC, reached a vitality and energy." [1] Praxagoras' assumptions level that could not be achieved again until the later played an important role in the discovery of 17th century. [1] Modern medical historian nerves by Herophilus. [1] F. Kudlien believed that an important factor in Using the example of the nervous system, the development of anatomy in Alexandria was a Herophilus demonstrated the relationship more rigorous attention to the precise description of structure and function. He alloted to the of phenomena. [6] A focused attention to and functions of intelligence the "fourth ventricle" and accurate description of phenomena allowed sensory nerves. In his anatomical studies of the Herophilus to make his physiological and brain, Herophilus distinguished the encephalon pathophysiological "discoveries." In describing (enkephalos) and cerebellum (parenkephalis), the structures, renowned anatomist Herophilus as did Aristotle earlier, as well as the origin and determined their functions, which later became an routing of the nerves of the brain and spinal cord. important factor in such disciplines as physiology He referred to "the fourth ventricle" or "cavity" and pathology (pathophysiology). of the cerebellum as