Latin Project: Roman Superstition I. Introductory Paragraph A. In Roman Times, medical cures were not as definite and reliable as they are today, partly due to the unreliable doctors. 1. No regulation as to who could be a doctor. Today we have certificates, and patients can trust the doctor went through some form of medical training. 2. Many doctors were freed Greek slaves. Because of this as well as low recovery rates, civilians were skeptical of trusting doctors. 3. Before Greek influence, which led to more advanced medical treatments and experiments, Roman medical tradition was confined to home remedies and superstitious rituals II. Body Paragraphs A. Romans were very superstitious and believed many rituals helped contact the gods. 1. Believed diseases came from disfavor of the gods. Diseases eventually went away, and the Romans believed they had managed to please the gods by performing the right spiritual act. 2. The Four Humours: Romans believed everyone needed a balance in each category to be healthy. Four bodily fluids: yellow bile, black bile, blood, and phlegm Imbalance in these fluids leads to sickness. If patient was excessive in blood area—put leeches on their skin to make them over bleed. The patient would also have to vomit if it was another category. 3. Many fake doctors preformed remedies that didn’t usually end with a cure: “Socles, promising to set Diodorus’s crooked back straight, piled three solid stones, each four feet square, on the hunchback’s spine. He was crushed and died, but he became straighter than a ruler.” Greek Anthology XI, 120 B. Haruspex: Sacrificing of animals—thought interpreting a sheep’s liver could show an omen or message from the god to foretell good or bad events 1. Sacrifices seen as a good deed and in return the people wished to receive healing 2. Bad omen if the animal resisted at the sacrifice altar or if the organs had defects. If there was no heart it was also a sign of a bad omen C. Augery: Observing flight of birds to interpret omens 1. Depending on the bird, flight path, and time of year, the message from the gods could be favorable or unfavorable. 2. Two classes of birds: Oscines and Atiles a. Oscines—gave omens/messages through the way they sang. Includes ravens, crows, owls, and hens. b. Atiles—gave omens through the flight path: eagles, vultures, etc. IV. Conclusion A. To help ease skepticism, the Hippocratic Oath was written B. Even as medical processes improved, ultimately only higher-class citizens had access to this advanced technology. Lower class had to stick to the traditional superstitious remedies. Bibliography 1. "Roman Treatment of Medical Complaints." Romans in Britain. Sturmkatze Productions, n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2014. http://romanobritain.org/13_roman_medical/roman_medical_treatments.html#.VC 0UZildV1_ 2. "The Doctor In Roman Society - Antiqua Medicina: From Homer to Vesalius." Antiqua Medicina From Homer to Vesalius. University of Virginia, n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2014. http://exhibits.hsl.virginia.edu/antiqua/doctors/ 3. Opsopaus, John. "ARS HARUSPICINA." The Art of Haruspicy. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2014. https://web.eecs.utk.edu/~mclennan/BA/Har.html 4. Panse, Sonal. "Roman Medicine." Buzzle. Buzzle.com, 03 July 2004. Web. 01 Oct. 2014. 5. "Medicine in Ancient Rome." Medicine in Ancient Rome. History Learning Company, n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2014. http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/7-2-2004- 56166.asp 6. "Medicine in Ancient Rome." Medicine in Ancient Rome. History Learning Site, n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2014. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/medicine_in_ancient_rome1.htm 7. "Augury." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Aug. 2014. Web. 30 Sept. 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augury 8. Reilly, Lucas. "14 of History's Craziest Baldness Cures." Mental Floss. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Oct. 2014. http://mentalfloss.com/article/54047/14-historys-craziest- baldness-cures 9. "Articles on History." Medieval Medicine. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2014. http://www.articlesonhistory.com/medieval-medicine.php .