Medicine and philosophy - Classical Homeopathy Online

Introduction 37this is not sufficient and of no use to those lacking the experience to put itinto practice. 51 For what we know about the history of medical educationin the ancient world, these remarks indeed reflect the standard situation. 52The tradition of the viva vox as the preferred mode of teaching (not only inmedicine) continued also in times in which literacy had established itselfand in which medical literature was available on a very large scale; evenGalen, the most learned physician of antiquity, who frequently recommendsthe use of the medical books written by the great authorities ofthe past, stresses the importance of learning from the master by direct oralteaching. 53All these references suggest that at least some of the medical works preservedin the Hippocratic Corpus were presented orally, and also that probablythe majority of written texts were used in combination with oral teachingand transmission of knowledge. This means that they were not intended tostand on their own, and this fact may provide an explanation for some ofthe formal peculiarities they display and for some of the difficulties involvedin their interpretation. 54At the same time, however, the Hippocratic writings refer on numerousoccasions to ‘written’ information that is available and should be taken intoaccount. 55 Thus at Epidemics 3.16 (3.100 L.) it is said that an important componentof the medical art is the ability to form a correct judgement about‘what has been written down’ (ta gegrammena), that is, the case historiesof patients that have been put down in writing. Very similar instructionsare found elsewhere in the Corpus, suggesting that this use of writteninformation – probably in addition to oral information and the doctor’sown observations – is by no means something self-evident, but needs to beencouraged and to be done correctly. It is further noted at several points51 In a comparison between legislation and medicine, Aristotle says: ‘Neither do men appear to becomeexpert physicians on the basis of medical books. Yet they try to discuss not only general means oftreatment, but also how one might cure and how one should treat each individual patient, dividingthem according to their various habits of body; these [discussions] appear to be of value for menwho have had practical experience, but they are useless for those who have no knowledge about thesubject’ (Eth. Nic. 1181 b 2–6;cf.Politics 1287 a 35). And a report about Diocles’ reply to someone whoclaimed to have purchased a medical book (iatrikon biblion) and therefore to be no longer in needof instruction makes the same point: ‘Books are reminders for those who have received teaching,but they are gravestones to the uneducated’ (fr. 6).52 See Kudlien (1970).53 Galen, On the Powers of Foodstuffs 1.1.47 (6.480 K.); On the Mixtures and Powers of Simple Drugs 6,proem (11.791 K.); On the Composition of Drugs according to Places 6.1 (12.894 K.).54 The brevity and obscurity of the Hippocratic writings were already noted and explained as a deliberatestrategy by Galen; see the references mentioned by Langholf (1977) 11 n. 5, and the discussion bySluiter (1995a).55 The evidence has been conveniently assembled by K. Usener (1990).