Series VI: Medical Sciences – SUPPLEMENT ... - Krongres

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Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Bra�ov • Vol. 2 (51) - 2009 Series 6: Medical Sciences Supplement – Proceeding of The IV th Balkan Congress of History of Medicine THE BYZANTINE PHYSICIANS M. BESCIU 1 “Orthodox Church remains intangible by extending its arms in the Eastern European territories and preserving an entire art and almost an entire civilization” (N.Iorga) Abstract: The organization level of the sanitary security shows the unquestionable level of Byzantine medicine. The people from that period believe in healings gods. Cosma and Damian are representatives for the cult of physicians without silver. During this period the charity institutions was developed, and the physicians could study individual or in dedicated schools. The schools activated near hospitals and the candidate who succeeded at the exam, receive a sort of symbol that made the difference between physicians and impostors. The interesting thing is that the doctor accord an important attention to the nutrition, not only to the medical treatment Rich professional libraries were also found in hospitals, and they are endow with important medical books such as magnificent manuscript which includes the work of Dioscoride, Materia Medica, since 512, wrote for Anicia Iuliana. All of these it will be presented to you with all the Byzantine medical personalities’ contributions: Oribas, Alexandru from Trales, Aetius from Amida, Pavel from Egina, Jac Psycristul. In 1453 the Byzantine medicine moved the torch in the young hands of the European medicine fated to lead the medicine further Key words: Byzantine medicine, physicians, manuscript, Dioscoride. The Byzantine Empire lasted for over 1100 years and the organization of a functional health care system was undeniable merit of Byzantine medicine. Pagan healing gods were replaced by the "Saints healers”. Unmercenary physicians or "Doctors without Silver" cult – Cosma and Damian, with Theraphon, Tecla, Kyr, John, Julian- was established from the very beginning. According to data transmitted over the centuries, Cosma and Damian were brothers and doctors. They came from Arabia in the town of Cyr. Here they 1 University of the Medicine and Pharmacy „Carol Davila” Bucharest dedicated themselves to patients, both human and animal. Unlike other doctors, they followed the Biblical advice: "as a gift you received as a gift you give” they did not want to receive any reward. For that reason they were called "Saints Doctors without Silver"- Anargyres. One day, however, in violation of the decision on which both brothers had agreed, Damian received a sum of money from a noble woman, Palade, who, in the name of Christ, asked him to accept her gift. His brother, Cosma, was so angry that
34 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Bra�ov • Vol. 2 (51) - 2009 • Series VI he said he does not want to work together with his brother anymore. After Damian had explained him why he made that gesture, that is not to humiliate and not sad the noble lady who asked the name of Christ, they were reconciled and continued their work. Governor Lysis, finding that they are Christians and attract many to the Faith, called them into court and asked them to offer sacrifice to the gods of the empire. As they refused resolutely, they were sentenced to death and executed by decapitation. Their bodies were taken into town by Christians and buried in honor. In Byzantium, hospitals functioned near monasteries. The administrative head of the entire institution was called the nosocomos. Two doctors and a lot of assistants, who learned, not helped, were working in each section. Women were cared for by a woman doctor, and at night there was a service call. Two inspectors were visiting the hospital day and night inquiring whether patients are satisfied or have any complaint to make. Each hospital had a dispensary in which worked two doctors and a number of assistants There were specialized hospitals - i.e. hospital doctors in Mangane dealt exclusively with diseases of the digestive tract. Nurses were instructed on the spot and formed health care professionals’ associations. Doctors were trained in two ways, individually or in groups ie in school. Generally, medical profession was transmitted from father to son. Medical schools were established around hospitals and one of the doctors acted as a teacher. Students were practicing in hospitals or clinics. Education was free. Teachers were chosen very carefully and students had to accumulate a lot of experience before start practicing as physicians. This period of training was called kronia. After the training, the student had to pass proficiency exam and answer question of a maestro, the head of the school or the emperor’s physician, bearing the title of actuarios. The candidate who passed the examination received as a sign of promotion a medal or badge to distinguish himself from impostors. Medical practice was based on the theory of the four humors. In therapy, Byzantine physicians used, along with the old remedies, news exotic ones, made from the three regna. An important role was played by diet recommendations. There were used curative and preventive diets, but there were also exaggeration. Doctors used to recommend to their patients diets according to different seasons, months, professions or social class. In order to master these diets and astrological data, doctors had to read a lot and collect many books. So, they had copies of classical medicine textbooks and many copybooks of diets and complicate recipes. Hospitals sheltered vast libraries with valuable medical works. Till the 15th century, there was in Sarb King’s hospital in Prodrom a magnificent manuscript of Dioscoride’s work “Materia Medica”. It was written for the princess Anicia Juliana, daughter of the Roman emperor Olybrius. Nowadays, this manuscript is kept in Vienna. A copy of Dioscoride’s famous pharmaceutical textbook, written in the first century A.C., was made in 512 and it is now sheltered in the National Library in Viena. This manuscript was made for the Byzantine princess Juliana Anicia, Gallea Placida’s great grand daughter and Areobindus wife. The portraits of the author talking to Heuresis (the Gift of
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