Outlines of the history of medicine and the medical profession / by Joh. Hermann Baas ; translated, and in conjunction with the author rev. and enl., by H.E. Handerson.

Johann Hermann Baas

Date:: 1889

Credit: Outlines of the history of medicine and the medical profession / by Joh. Hermann Baas ; translated, and in conjunction with the author rev. and enl., by H.E. Handerson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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$The Diagnostics of Hippocrates (though he does not recognize any such special branch) was founded especially upon objective investigation by means of the senses, and made use of every aid. The ear supplied a knowledge of the mucous rfde ( like the bubbling of boiling vinegar') and of succussion ; the sight furnished a survey of secretion and excretion, the bodily frame, the attitude of the body and its members, the gait etc. (inspection, adspection); feeling (the hand upon the bi-east) supplied an idea of the bodily temperature, and perhaps likewise of the pulse (though he certainly knew nothing of counting the latter); moreover vaginal touch was practised, and the taste and sense of smell were equally put to service. The sense of touch was also armed with leaden sounds, garlic-stalks, and the like, for diagnostic purposes ; the sight was assisted e. g. by specula ani. Anamnesis gave consideration to heredity, preceding diseases and tendencies to disease, as well as to such matters as experience proved to be profitable or hurtful. Yet the subjective symptoms were also not neglected. The near]}7 allied science of Semeiology was still more highly elaborated. In fact the whole Greek disposition was adapted to the estimation of the normal in form, deportment etc., as a basis for the comprehension of morbid variations of all kinds; for the Greek eye had received an artistic education from the multiplicity of works of art by which it was surrounded. One of the chief services of Hippocrates to medicine was the foundation of the science of. Prognosis. This was based upon the excellent maxim: In order to be able to prognosticate correctly who will recover and who will die, in whom the disease will be long, in whom short, one must know all the symptoms, and must weigh their relative value. It considered the perspiration, the sleep, mucous rales in the throat, the visage (facies Hippocratica ) carphologia, the appearance or absence of the crises on the appointed days etc. In iEtiolog}, he paj-s particular attention to age, constitution, meteorological influences etc., and utilizes in practice, as well as in prognosis, the following passage: Catarrhs are dangerous in old people when a dry spring follows a winter with south winds and rain. If, however, the summer is dry and north winds prevail, with south winds in a rainy autumn, coughs, hoarseness and catarrhs arise. The surgical knowledge of Hippocrates is considerable, both as regards the- number of diseases recognized by him, and their treatment with or without operation. Fractures are handled particularly well as regards the method of reduction and dressing, the mode of repair, and the duration of this process. If e. g. a fracture is healed with considerable shortening, he is of the opinion that it is better to break the corresponding sound bone, so as to equalize the shortening. The same may be said of dislocations. Hippocrates e. g. recognizes luxations of the humerus inwards, downwards and outwards: ''The head of the humerus is often luxated, but not upwards, in consequence of the acromion; nor backwards, by reason of the scapula ; nor forwards, in consequence of the biceps muscle ; but rarel.y inwards or outwards, yet frequently and chiefly downwards. He employs also a great number of methods of reduction. Diseases of the joints (and their treatment by massage), and wounds, especiall}' of the skull, are well managed. The latter, in consequence of the fact that, until the time of the discovery of explosive weapons, arms designed to strike or cut were chief!}' used, formed the favorite field of surgical labor. Hippocrates also recognized the fact that wounds of one of the cerebral hemispheres produce paralysis or spasms of the opposite side. The treatment and healing of wounds by first and second intention, fistula1, ulcers and tumors were also judiciously discussed. Hernia was less fully treated. On the other hand, his operative surgery recognizes a considerable number of instruments, but is limited in major operations to such measures as allowing tin$