1. Hippocrates
Hippocrates made immense contributions in the world of medicine in the ancient world. The Greek physician lived between (460-377 BCE).Hippocrates is often referred to as the "father of medicine" due to his notable contributions to the medical world. Some of his accomplishments include detailed observation of diseases and an understanding of how diet, body processes, and environment affect health.
According to Veatch (2012), Hippocrates was born in Greece on the Island of Cos from a family of doctors. He taught at the highly regarded medical school Cos Island before traveling to the Middle East and other colonies of the Roman Empire to give lectures. The Egyptian medicine had a lot of influence to the Greek Medicine in the Ancient world. A study by Veatch (2012) indicates that Hippocrates traveled to Egypt to further his studies at the Amenhotep temple.
One of the most outstanding achievements of Hippocrates in medicine is the establishment of the Hippocratic School of medicine. The school revolutionized the field of medicine in the ancient Greece and the entire Roman Empire. Besides, Hippocratic School established medicine as a distinct discipline from other fields that had been traditionally associated with magic, rituals and philosophy and made medicine a recognized profession.
In the ancient world, most of the diseases were attributed to superstition and magic. However, Hippocrates taught his students that diseases are caused by natural causes. In his practice, he always observed and carefully recorded the patients’ symptoms the way the diseases developed. Also, Hippocrates looked at the color of the eyes and the skin while diagnosing illnesses. Some of the prominent signs that Hippocrates was looking for in a patient included chills and fever and described many diseases like pneumonia and tetanus.
Hippocratic emphasized the diet and clinical examination of the biological functions while diagnosing diseases. Also, he advanced the concept of the “four humors” where he noted that illnesses are caused by an imbalance in the bodies four critical fluids. Besides establishing preventive medicine, Hippocrates advanced medics to be serious with their profession through exhibiting a high moral standard. The medical standards were embodied in the famous “Hippocratic Oath” which all doctors still swear to date.
2. Claudius Galen
Galen was the most accomplished Surgeon and physician during the medieval period. He lived between (129-200 AD) and had great contribution in the development of scientific disciplines like pathology, anatomy, and physiology.
Galen’s prominence in medicine was predominantly influenced by Hippocrates, who advanced the “four humors” theory. Galen developed medical theories that were based on the dissection of pigs and donkeys. According to Hajar (2012), Galen’s anatomical findings made great contributions in the field of medicine. For instance, he was the first person to advance the theory of the circulatory system. He noted that blood circulates in the body, and the heart is the one responsible for the pumping of the blood.
As a philosopher and a physician, Galen used dissection, vivisection, and direct observation to find a middle ground between the debate between empiricists and the rationalists’ medics. He established that both empirical and rational knowledge was critical in the field of medicine.
Galen’s reports on physiology and anatomy formed the basis of the medical curriculum in the universities during the medieval period. His studies cannot be underestimated. It is through his writings that the Knowledge of the Greek medicine was later transmitted by Arabs to the Western World. However, the writings suffered to a great extent from intellectual stagnation and stasis. This is because some of his ideas were not correct since he did not use human bodies in his study (Hajar, 2012).
3. Andreas Vesalius
Vesalius lived between (1514 to 1564 AD). According to Barber (2013), Vesalius is considered d to be the father of modern human anatomy. Born in Brussels to parents who were physicians, Vesalius proceeded on to study medicine in Paris.
During this time, Anatomy and surgery were considered to be less important than other branches of medicine. Nonetheless; Vesalius was determined to integrate surgery in anatomy. Through inspiration from Galen’s writings, Vesalius dissected human corpses and drew anatomical charts of the nervous system and the blood circulation. Barber (2013) opines that the charts were widely used by his students as a source of reference.
One notable contribution of Vesalius in medicine is his publication on bloodletting which is a popular treatment for many illnesses. Besides, he unraveled the myth on where blood should be taken from in the body. Vesalius through his knowledge on the blood system showed vividly how anatomic dissections could be used to test speculations.
Vesalius transformed anatomy into a subject in 1543 through the publication of “De Humani Corporis Fabrica”.His book relied on empirical evidence from human dissections to advance the field of medical anatomy.
4. John Snow
Snow was an English leader and physician who lived between (1813 to 1858 AD). Snow is regarded for his contribution in the adoption of medical hygiene and anesthesia in medicine. Also Lindemann (2010) opine that snow’s efforts in tracing the cause of the 1854 outbreak of cholera earned him a name as one of the fathers of contemporary epidemiology.
A study by Lindemann (2010) indicates that the findings by Snow on the cause of cholera revolutionized the waste and water system in London. Significant advancements in the general public health in the world were informed by Snow’s findings on the causes of waterborne diseases.
Snow was among the physicians who pioneered the study and calculation of chloroform and ether dosages for use as surgical anesthesia. His findings allowed patients to undergo obstetric and surgical procedures without pain and distress.
References
Barber, N. (2013). Renaissance medicine. London: Raintree.
Hajar, R. (2012).The air history (Part ii) medicine in the Middle Ages. Heart views, 13(4), 158- 162.
Lindemann, M. (2010). Medicine and society in early modern Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Veatch, R. (2012). Hippocratic, Religious, and secular medical ethics: The points of conflict. Georgia: Georgetown University Press.
