Roman Medicine Research Paper
The development of medicines derives from different parts of the world, thousands of years ago. There were known to be 5 civilisations that introduced the treatment, diagnosis and prevention. Majority of conventional medicine have originated from Egyptian medicine, Ancient Greek medicine, Roman medicine, Medieval medicine.
Egyptian medicine
The Egyptian’s were the first civilisation for the introduction of medical care. Their beleifs consisted of thoughts that spirits caused illness, they explored way in unblocking negative channels throughout the body by natural cures. The people of Ancient Egypt made several medical discoveries and began treating such diseases in a physical manner and began an understanding of surgical skills. An example of their conventional medicine they used was called Ebers Papyrus, which refers to honey. Due to its antiseptic and antifungal properties, honey was used internally and externally, in aid of healing wounds and infections etc. This method has saved lives from infections at the pyramid work sites, where it was more risk …show more content…
of receiving an injury.
Greek medicine
The Greeks have been continuously practicing medicine for thousands of years before the birth of Christ. There were famous medical practitioners who are still known to have their methods in use. Praxagoras of Cos for his discovery of the pulse and being the first to distinguish veins from arteries. His treatments included the use of natural plants such as herbs and roots. Due to the growing empire, many of their soldiers would often go in to battle, this was the time where doctors were able to widen their knowledge of the human body. They had also discovered an aesthetic drug called opium, which was used to give pain relief, the alternative to opium nowadays is morphine, which is only give to individuals who suffer from severe cases of illness or are receiving chemotherapy.
Roman medicine
The Roman empire were also seen to be a growing empire, in which conquered most of Europe and the Middle East.
Initially the Romans derived their theories from the Greeks, they had continued researching Greek theories of disease, physical and mental disorders. They had introduced the Public Health facilities which were encouraged throughout the reign, such ideas have developed in the demand of Roman medicine from military practitioners. Roman surgeons, most of whom got their practical experience on the battlefield, by carrying a tool kit, in which they discovered the sterilisation of equipment before use, by placing them in boiling water before usage. An example of the conventional medicine they had discovered were scopolamine acted as a painkiller, they had also used fennel seeds, which was widely used for people who suffered from nerve disorders, the romans believed that the fennel seeds would calm their
nerves.
Medieval medicine
Medieval England was known for the infectious disease ‘The Black Death’ which resulted in killing 2/3 of England population. Physicians were associated with monasteries, which were for the poor who could not afford them. Most physicians treated the rich who were able to afford them. Most cures were often passed down from generations often included herbs, Onions, garlic, wine and lichen from trees. Most people would refer to God for treatment, by visiting a holy shrine, drinking holy water. In terms of surgery, they had a basic understanding of surgical skills, they were not aware of antiseptic or antifungal techniques to keep cuts or wounds clean. In 1215, surgeries were banned as the result of majority of people drying from them. Farmers were often used due to their little experience of medical skills, which included castrating animals, removing painful tooth abscesses and performing eye cataract surgery.
Infectious Diseases
Alexander Fleming a scientist who researched on bacteria called staphylococci. Flemings research drew upon a day, when he was cleaning. He noticed mould growing on a plate, which had no germs growing around the actual growth so he was curious as to find out why this happened. This has had gave him the idea to start growing his own mould to experiment and analyse the findings of this. His next step included the experimentation of anthrax and diphtheria which were dropped on the mould, this had reacted positively as there were no harmful side effects to his test subject. This proved to be the first antibiotic drug which was then classified within the penicillin family. In 1935, researchers at Oxford University discovered his findings on research papers and decided to develop them further.
Louis Pasteur who was also a French scientist, demonstrated that microorganisms cause both fermentation and disease. He developed the earliest vaccines against fowl cholera, anthrax, and rabies. Pasteur was convinced that any growths that appeared, such as mould on food as it goes bad, were from microscopic organisms already present in the air. He has proved this by experimenting. He boiled broth and immediately sealed the container which would stay clear. But once he added material which had been exposed to the air, microorganisms grew in the broth and it turned cloudy. Finally he designed a series of experiments using swan necked flasks which showed once and for all that any microorganisms which appear in boiled broth come from the air. Louis was able to demonstrate to others that there was a link between germs, disease and decay by 1867.
The first man to breakthrough and discover remedies for infection diseases was Edward Jenner, who successfully discovered a vaccine against the deadly disease cowpox. In 1796 he spent a long time carrying out studies and his adaptations led to him discovering a cure, or vaccine, to prevent others getting smallpox. He concluded that injecting a form of the virus into an individual’s bloodstream would act as a vaccine against the disease; experimenting on animals firstly, he was soon to observe the success of his vaccine. After growing in confidence with his discovery, he decided to move onto experimenting on people, in which he injected a boy with the pus from scabs of a victim of cowpox, the boy did not become infected with the cowpox and this proved that Jenner’s vaccine had worked as the boy was now immune to one of the worlds deadliest diseases, cowpox.
The development of the NHS
Health secretary Aneurin Bevan in July 1948, opened Park Hospital in Manchester which is known as Trafford General Hospital, this was the first NHS hospital. The healthcare included doctors, nurses, pharmacists, opticians and dentists are brought together under one organisation to provide services that are free, including the delivery of conventional treatments. The development of the NHS was financed from taxation. In 1952, prescription charges were implemented at a cost of one shilling (5p) and a flat rate of £1 for ordinary dental treatment is also brought in on June 1 1952. Prescription charges were abolished in 1965 and prescriptions remain free until June 1968, when the charges are reintroduced. In the year of 1954, daily hospital visits for children were also introduced. Paediatricians, Sir James Spence and Alan Moncriff, demonstrated that separation is traumatic for children, in which, daily visiting was introduced. In 1958, polio and diphtheria vaccinations programme launched, this programme ensured everyone under the age of 15 is vaccinated which lead to an immediate reduction in cases of both diseases. One of the primary aims of the NHS is to promote good health, not simply to treat illness.
Egyptian medicine
The Egyptian’s were the first civilisation for the introduction of medical care. Their beleifs consisted of thoughts that spirits caused illness, they explored way in unblocking negative channels throughout the body by natural cures. The people of Ancient Egypt made several medical discoveries and began treating such diseases in a physical manner and began an understanding of surgical skills. An example of their conventional medicine they used was called Ebers Papyrus, which refers to honey. Due to its antiseptic and antifungal properties, honey was used internally and externally, in aid of healing wounds and infections etc. This method has saved lives from infections at the pyramid work sites, where it was more risk …show more content…
of receiving an injury.
Greek medicine
The Greeks have been continuously practicing medicine for thousands of years before the birth of Christ. There were famous medical practitioners who are still known to have their methods in use. Praxagoras of Cos for his discovery of the pulse and being the first to distinguish veins from arteries. His treatments included the use of natural plants such as herbs and roots. Due to the growing empire, many of their soldiers would often go in to battle, this was the time where doctors were able to widen their knowledge of the human body. They had also discovered an aesthetic drug called opium, which was used to give pain relief, the alternative to opium nowadays is morphine, which is only give to individuals who suffer from severe cases of illness or are receiving chemotherapy.
Roman medicine
The Roman empire were also seen to be a growing empire, in which conquered most of Europe and the Middle East.
Initially the Romans derived their theories from the Greeks, they had continued researching Greek theories of disease, physical and mental disorders. They had introduced the Public Health facilities which were encouraged throughout the reign, such ideas have developed in the demand of Roman medicine from military practitioners. Roman surgeons, most of whom got their practical experience on the battlefield, by carrying a tool kit, in which they discovered the sterilisation of equipment before use, by placing them in boiling water before usage. An example of the conventional medicine they had discovered were scopolamine acted as a painkiller, they had also used fennel seeds, which was widely used for people who suffered from nerve disorders, the romans believed that the fennel seeds would calm their
nerves.
Medieval medicine
Medieval England was known for the infectious disease ‘The Black Death’ which resulted in killing 2/3 of England population. Physicians were associated with monasteries, which were for the poor who could not afford them. Most physicians treated the rich who were able to afford them. Most cures were often passed down from generations often included herbs, Onions, garlic, wine and lichen from trees. Most people would refer to God for treatment, by visiting a holy shrine, drinking holy water. In terms of surgery, they had a basic understanding of surgical skills, they were not aware of antiseptic or antifungal techniques to keep cuts or wounds clean. In 1215, surgeries were banned as the result of majority of people drying from them. Farmers were often used due to their little experience of medical skills, which included castrating animals, removing painful tooth abscesses and performing eye cataract surgery.
Infectious Diseases
Alexander Fleming a scientist who researched on bacteria called staphylococci. Flemings research drew upon a day, when he was cleaning. He noticed mould growing on a plate, which had no germs growing around the actual growth so he was curious as to find out why this happened. This has had gave him the idea to start growing his own mould to experiment and analyse the findings of this. His next step included the experimentation of anthrax and diphtheria which were dropped on the mould, this had reacted positively as there were no harmful side effects to his test subject. This proved to be the first antibiotic drug which was then classified within the penicillin family. In 1935, researchers at Oxford University discovered his findings on research papers and decided to develop them further.
Louis Pasteur who was also a French scientist, demonstrated that microorganisms cause both fermentation and disease. He developed the earliest vaccines against fowl cholera, anthrax, and rabies. Pasteur was convinced that any growths that appeared, such as mould on food as it goes bad, were from microscopic organisms already present in the air. He has proved this by experimenting. He boiled broth and immediately sealed the container which would stay clear. But once he added material which had been exposed to the air, microorganisms grew in the broth and it turned cloudy. Finally he designed a series of experiments using swan necked flasks which showed once and for all that any microorganisms which appear in boiled broth come from the air. Louis was able to demonstrate to others that there was a link between germs, disease and decay by 1867.
The first man to breakthrough and discover remedies for infection diseases was Edward Jenner, who successfully discovered a vaccine against the deadly disease cowpox. In 1796 he spent a long time carrying out studies and his adaptations led to him discovering a cure, or vaccine, to prevent others getting smallpox. He concluded that injecting a form of the virus into an individual’s bloodstream would act as a vaccine against the disease; experimenting on animals firstly, he was soon to observe the success of his vaccine. After growing in confidence with his discovery, he decided to move onto experimenting on people, in which he injected a boy with the pus from scabs of a victim of cowpox, the boy did not become infected with the cowpox and this proved that Jenner’s vaccine had worked as the boy was now immune to one of the worlds deadliest diseases, cowpox.
The development of the NHS
Health secretary Aneurin Bevan in July 1948, opened Park Hospital in Manchester which is known as Trafford General Hospital, this was the first NHS hospital. The healthcare included doctors, nurses, pharmacists, opticians and dentists are brought together under one organisation to provide services that are free, including the delivery of conventional treatments. The development of the NHS was financed from taxation. In 1952, prescription charges were implemented at a cost of one shilling (5p) and a flat rate of £1 for ordinary dental treatment is also brought in on June 1 1952. Prescription charges were abolished in 1965 and prescriptions remain free until June 1968, when the charges are reintroduced. In the year of 1954, daily hospital visits for children were also introduced. Paediatricians, Sir James Spence and Alan Moncriff, demonstrated that separation is traumatic for children, in which, daily visiting was introduced. In 1958, polio and diphtheria vaccinations programme launched, this programme ensured everyone under the age of 15 is vaccinated which lead to an immediate reduction in cases of both diseases. One of the primary aims of the NHS is to promote good health, not simply to treat illness.