Galen Flashcards
What was Galen’s background?
Physician to gladiators - high prestige (also from upper class family) Philosopher and medical interests
What does Galen’s writing style suggest?
Medicine is written about as an art not a craft
Which compendium did Galen produce?
The Art of Medicine - compendium of earlier philosophical thought
How did Galen define medicine
‘The knowledge of what is healthy, what is morbid, and what is neither’
Which two concepts did Galen use to conceptualise medicine
The six non-naturals (e.g. nutrition, excretion, movement)
The naturals: elements, temperaments, parts of the body, faculties, functions
What is different from Hippocrates?
Both quality AND quantity of the naturals and non-naturals mattered
How did Galen advocate medical practice?
Observation
Basic measurements: pulse
Which measurement method did Galen practice?
Pulse as diagnostic tool
What did Galen note about context?
Individual focus - same activity can be either healthy or morbid depending on the context and individual
What did Galen dissect?
Animals but NOT humans - extrapolated
Used pigs and goats, refused to use apes
