Galen of Pergamum

							Galen of Pergamum
 A Greek Doctor in Rome
Why were there Greek Doctors in
            Rome?
 • Roman respect for Greek
   Culture/Ideas
 • Greece became a Roman Province
 • Some were Slaves/Freed Slaves
 • Some attracted by salaries
 • Good Reputation/Plausible
   explanation for illnesses
Claudius Galen – The Early Years
                • Born in Greece (Turkey)
                  131AD
                • Trained in Alexandria
                  – 152 – 157
                • Worked at Asclepion
                  – 157 - 162
                • Went to Rome to make
                  his Fortune
                  – 162
                • Gladiator School
                  – 162 - 166
                • Showman
                  – Page 43
• Such stunts brought him to the attention
  of the Emperor
 Why is Galen Important
• Galen was not famous for having new
  groundbreaking ideas. Rather, he was
  famous for improving upon and
  communicating existing Greek ideas
  – Four Humours
  – Anatomy
  – Physiology
  – Design
  – Writings
                  Four Humours
• Communicated the Hippocratic idea
  throughout the Roman Empire
  – Galen’s Improvement
    • Theory of Opposites
       – Apply Cucumbers for fevers
       – Hard physical exercise for weak people
       – Singing for Chest complaints
• The idea of balance, moderation and regular
  exercise was received well by practical
  Romans
                        Anatomy
• Galen took the Hippocratic idea of
  Observation into the body
• Widespread use of Dissection
  – Exposure to Human dissections at Alexandria
  – Pigs, dogs and Barbary Apes
     • Made some serious mistakes in describing Human
       Anatomy
        – Eg Only two chambers in Heart
  – Meticulously recorded what he saw
           Physiology

• Galen used the data from his
  dissections and experiments to
  explain how the body worked
  – Brain controlled Speech
  – Role of Nerves
  – Arteries carried Mixture of blood & Air
  – Blood originated in Liver
  – Blood being continuously made and used
    up by the body
                 Design
• Galen took the Greek Holistic
  idea to explain how the body
  was an integrated whole
  – Everything has a purpose
  – Each organ has a specialised
    purpose but that they all need
    each other
  – Will influence Muslim and
    Christian faiths
                         Writings
• Galen took the Greek ideas on
  observation and Case notes to
  record and report on all of his
  medical procedures
• Prolific Writer
   – 300+ books (150 survive)
• Will provide the ‘Library’ for Western
  Medicine for the next 1500 years.
   – Mistakes and all!
      Curriculum Vitae
• Galen is applying for a job to be the
  Emperor’s Personal Physician. Write a
  CV to apply to this job. Include:
  – Full Name,
  – Place and Date of Birth,
  – Education
  – Previous Work Experience
  – Publications
  – Personal Statement on Medical Beliefs
  Change and Continuity
• Page 49
  – Read the articles on page 49
  – List examples of changes in Roman Britain
  – List examples of continuities in Roman Britain
  – List the groups of people who benefited the
    most from Roman influence
  – List the groups of people who benefited the
    least from Roman influence