What did Hippocrates do? Hippocrates: a short biography and important discoveries made for humanity

Biography of Hippocrates
Hippocrates was born on the island of Kos 460 BC. e. The civilization and language of this island colonized by the Dorians was Ionian. Hippocrates belonged to the Asclepiad family, a dynasty of doctors who claimed descent from Asclepius, the god of medicine.

Plane tree of Hippocrates on the island. Kos
The Asclepiad family, also called the Kos school, preserved in the 5th century BC. e. religious forms and customs; for example, they took an oath that closely bound the students with the teacher and with fellow professionals. However, this religious character of the corporation, even if it required conventional norms of behavior, in no way limited the search for truth, which remained strictly scientific. Initial medical education Hippocrates received it from his father, the physician Heraclides. For the purpose of scientific improvement in his youth, Hippocrates traveled a lot and studied medicine in different countries in practice local doctors and according to the votive tables that were hung in the walls of the temples of Aesculapius.
The story of his life is little known; it is not even known exactly how many years Hippocrates lived. Some historians claim that he was 83 years old, while others claim that he was 104. There are legends and stories relating to his biography, but they are legendary. The name of Hippocrates has become a collective name, and many of the seventy works attributed to him belong to other authors, mainly his sons. Researchers recognize from 18 to 8 essays as authentic. These are treatises - “On the winds”, “On airs, waters and areas”, “Forecasting”, “On diet for acute diseases”, the first and third books of “Epidemics”, “Aphorisms” (the first four sections), surgical treatises “On Joints” and “On Fractures”, which are the masterpieces of the “Collection”. There are several works of Hippocrates ethical direction: “Oath”, “Law”, “About the doctor”, “On decent behavior”, “Instructions”, which at the end of the 5th and beginning of the 4th century BC. e. will transform the scientific medicine of Hippocrates into medical humanism. Hippocrates' approach to the causes of disease was innovative. He believed that diseases are not sent to people by gods; they arise for various, and quite natural, reasons. Hippocrates was the first to put medicine on scientific basis and cleared it of philosophical theories, which often contradicted reality, which dominated the experimental, experimental side of the matter. The works of Hippocrates contain observations on the spread of diseases depending on the external influences of the atmosphere, seasons, wind, water and their result - the physiological effects of these influences on healthy body person. The same works also contain data on the climatology of different countries; in the latter, the meteorological conditions of one area of ​​the island and the dependence of the disease on these conditions are more thoroughly studied. Hippocrates divides the causes of diseases into two classes: general harmful influences from climate, soil, heredity and personal ones - living and working conditions, nutrition (diet), age, etc. Normal influence The correct mixing of juices also causes these conditions to affect the body, which is health for it. Strictly observing the course of illnesses, he attached serious importance to various periods of illnesses, especially febrile, acute ones, establishing certain days for the crisis, the turning point of the disease, when the body, according to his teaching, will make an attempt to free itself from uncooked juices. Other essays, “On Joints” and “On Fractures,” describe operations and surgical interventions in detail. From the descriptions of Hippocrates it is clear that surgery in ancient times was at a very high level; tools were used and different techniques dressings, which are also used in modern medicine. In his essay “On Diet for Acute Diseases,” Hippocrates laid the foundation for rational dietetics and pointed out the need to nourish the sick, even feverish ones, and for this purpose established diets in relation to forms of diseases - acute, chronic, surgical, etc. 250 were used for treatment medicines plant origin, many of them are used to this day: barley decoction, spurge, hellebore, etc.; 50 animal products, such as honey and vinegar. Hippocrates prescribed cupping, massage, baths, and bloodletting. He said that we need to be careful and take into account how the body reacts to treatment. And his main principle is “Do no harm!” The doctor should not harm the patient's body. Hippocrates died around 370 BC. e. in Larissa, in Thessaly, where a monument was erected to him, but for thousands of years the “Hippocratic Oath” became the code of professional honor for all doctors.

Hippocrates: Father of Medicine

The legend says: at the place where his tomb was, a swarm of wild bees settled, whose honey healed people with various diseases.

Hippocrates lived in an era of cultural ascent Ancient Greece and was a contemporary of Socrates and Plato. He was born in the city of Meropis on the island of Kos in 460 BC. e.

His ancestors on the side of his mother Phenareta went back to the Heraclides, that is, the descendants of Hercules. According to his father, Hippocrates belonged to the noble family of the Asclepiads, the ancestor of which was Asclepius - greek god medicine. Hippocrates was considered the direct, 17th descendant of Asclepius.

IN ancient times Medicine was a family affair, it was cultivated among representatives of certain families and passed on from father to son. Therefore, among the teachers of Hippocrates they call his father Heraclides - famous doctor, a certain Herodicus, a prominent physiotherapist and gymnastics teacher, as well as the sophist George and the philosopher Democritus. Thus, in addition to medical, Hippocrates also received beautiful general education. He considered medicine not only an applied, but also a philosophical science. Moreover, he considered medicine to be an art.

Hippocrates had two sons, Thessalus and Draco, who were his best students. However, he taught not only to his relatives, but also to everyone who was capable of practicing medicine.

We probably would not have known about Hippocrates if it were not for the surviving medical texts. The authorship of the encyclopedia of ancient Greek medicine is attributed to Hippocrates, although, according to researchers, the collection, which consisted of more than 60 treatises, was directly written by a doctor from the island of Kos a small amount of works It is known that the vast majority of the works in the collection were compiled between 430 and 330. BC in Alexandria. According to the traditions of that time, doctors did not sign their essays, so that over time they all turned out to be anonymous. Therefore, a version was put forward that Hippocrates lived for a very long time, perhaps up to 109 years, and therefore wrote some works when he was young, and others when he was old. According to another hypothesis, there were seven Hippocrates, members of the same family, writing over several generations.

One way or another, it is no coincidence that the “Hippocratic Collection” bears the name of the “father of medicine”. He was an exceptionally gifted physician who treated medicine as an art, as evidenced by his famous oath that doctors took upon completing their training. On the one hand, it protected the patient, being a guarantee of high medical morality, and on the other hand, it provided the doctor with complete trust in society. It is with this oath that the “Hippocratic Collection” opens.

Of course, ancient Greek healing was an example of rational knowledge, but the ethical views of doctors were distinguished by deep humility and sincere awareness of the limitations of this knowledge, which is sometimes so lacking in our contemporaries. In addition to the necessary knowledge and professional skills, the doctor had to constantly cultivate contempt for money. When worrying about the health of the patient, the doctor should not have started by worrying about his fee. Sometimes it was even appropriate to treat for nothing, considering grateful memory higher than momentary glory. Great importance was attached appearance the doctor and his behavior in society: “A doctor is told by authority if he is of good color and well-fed, according to his nature, for those who themselves do not have good looking in their own body, are considered incapable of having the right concern for others.”

Hippocrates spent the end of his life in Thessaly, the homeland of his ancestors, where he died near the city of Larisa in the same year as the philosopher Democritus - c. 371 BC e. After his death, his fame increased to such an extent that it eclipsed many previous and subsequent doctors. And to this day, Hippocrates is considered the “father of medicine.”

The doctor treats the disease, but nature cures it;

They demand a miracle from doctors and teachers, and if a miracle happens, no one is surprised;

If a doctor cannot do any good, let him do no harm;

Doctor-philosopher: no big difference between wisdom and medicine;

Our nutritive substances must be medicinal substances, and our medicinal substances must be nutritive substances;

Haste and excessive readiness, even if they are very useful, are despised;

If the patient does not feel better after talking with the doctor, then this is not a doctor.

Excerpts from an article by Sergei Roshchin

"Hippocrates: Father of Medicine"

Magazine "Personalities" 12/2008

The name of the brilliant Hippocrates, who lived in the 5th century BC. (460-377 BC), famous to contemporaries for the oath that doctors take today when entering the noble service of saving people. The ancient Greek philosopher, talented doctor, natural scientist, and reformer of medical science can easily be called the “father of medicine,” because thanks to his work several centuries ago, the foundation of medical knowledge and the ethical principles of the medical profession were laid.

For a long time, historians have tried to collect information about the life of an individual. Some information about the philosopher is somewhat contradictory, so most of the data from the biography of Hippocrates is inaccurate, and some are even fictitious.

Biographers tried to put together a real picture life path doctor, his history. The basis is taken from the works of Soranus of Ephesus (Roman historian), who was the first to describe the biography of the ancient Greek reformer, memoirs (student, philosopher), as well as later references to the extensive corpus of writings of the doctor himself.

A naturalist was born on about. Kos (the coast of Turkey today). Hippocrates' father was also a healer, his name was Heraclides, his mother was Phenareta (Praxitia according to other sources).

The “Horse Tamer” (Hippocrates in translation from Greek) began to study medicine in a temple built in honor of the god of medicine Asclepius, but he received the basics of science from his father and grandfather, who were popular among the people for their talent in the field medical practice.

In his youth, Hippocrates became a student of the philosophers of that time - Gorgias, who helped him improve his existing knowledge. Having an inquisitive nature, the future doctor decided to continue his development and travel around the world to comprehend the unknown.

Greece gave birth to many doctors, and fate allowed them to meet Hippocrates. Obsessed with a thirst for knowledge, the young man absorbed every word about science and carefully studied the tables painted on the walls of various temples of Asclepius.

Medicine

During the life of Hippocrates, illiterate people firmly believed that diseases arise due to witchcraft, and illnesses are sent by evil spirits of the other world. The philosophy of the ancient doctor turned out to be distinctive and innovative, because he believed that everything happens in a natural, natural way. Hippocrates developed scientific approach in medical beliefs, proved the falsity of invented theories. He treated people in cities and countries.

The great doctor and discoverer wrote works, essays that clearly stated the logic of his conclusions. The philosopher's conclusions are supported by observations and facts from life, and predictions and the course of diseases are based on living examples and cases.

Subsequently, the students of Hippocrates founded the Kos school, which gained fame and prosperity, becoming for descendants the right direction in the development of medicine.

Among the most striking scientific discoveries of the “father of medicine” are the following:

1. Discoveries about human temperament. Hippocrates spoke about the classification of temperament types known today, described the diagnosis and treatment suitable for each type individually, taking into account their propensity for certain ailments.
2. Theory of disease stages. According to the theory, Hippocrates identified dangerous stage illness - “crisis”, and also spoke about the features of “critical days”.
3. Developed methods for examining patients (auscultation, percussion, palpation). The doctor, ahead of his era, learned primitive techniques, but this was a contribution to science.
4. Features of surgical intervention. Thanks to the knowledge and innovations of the ancient philosopher, subsequent doctors began to use bandages, masks, and caps in surgery. Hippocrates also introduced rules for conducting operations (proper lighting, arrangement of instruments).
5. Statement of the principles of dietetics. According to the doctor, his followers realized that patients needed special food (dietary). For example, with a fever - barley porridge with honey, cumin and frankincense, for rheumatism - boiled fish and beets.

In addition to the discoveries listed above, Hippocrates is famous for his concepts of ethics and caution in treatment. The great physician advised not to abuse medicines, trust more in nature, but during his lifetime he discovered more than 300 types of medicines. Their use is still practiced (honey, poppy infusion, milkweed juice, etc.).

Hippocrates knew how to fill teeth (the work is not preserved), set dislocations and fractures on a special bench of his own design (the photo is similar to an orthopedic table). When treating, Hippocrates paid due attention to the patient’s soul, his desire to live, and did not attribute the positive outcome of the body’s recovery solely to the merits of the attending physician.

The text of the Hippocratic Oath has undergone editorial changes during translation over the years, but the basic principles have remained unchanged, as have the quotes set out in his works. They contain special humanism, mercy, humanity towards every person. For example:

• Commitment to others (selfless help to everyone).
• The principle “Do no harm”.
• Recommendations for doctors to refuse abortions to women, euthanasia to seriously ill patients, and not to dare to have a love affair with patients.
• The principle of silence, confidentiality, mystery of the patient's problem.

In many countries of the world, a tradition has been introduced - to take the oath of the ancient Greek philosopher when receiving a medical specialist diploma in universities. Its text has been translated several times into different languages, sometimes losing the original meaning. In Russia, the oath has been read in Russian since 1971 as the “Oath of a Doctor of the USSR”, since 1990 - as the “Oath of a Russian Doctor”, and since 1999 it has been pronounced in the form of the “Oath of a Doctor of Russia” (new text, enshrined in Article 71) .

Personal life

It is known that the genius of medical sciences was married to a girl from a noble family living in his homeland. Their wedding took place after Hippocrates' home training. During the marriage, the couple had three children (boys Thessal, Dragon and a girl).

According to family tradition, the philosopher sent his sons to the field of healing, and legends and stories were invented about the girl. The daughter of a great doctor lived her life in Astypalaia (an island in the Aegean Sea). Here she married a man named Polybius. He was a student and follower of Hippocrates.

Death

Hippocrates left this world already in adulthood (at the age of 83-104), leaving his descendants a rich heritage in the field of medicine and philosophy. He died in the city of Larissa (Thessalian Valley in Greece), and his grave is located in the Girton area. In modern times, a monument to Hippocrates was erected in Larissa - a popular excursion site in the city.

Some sources say that a swarm of bees formed at the doctor’s grave. Female nurses often came here to take healing honey for the treatment of ulcers in children by rubbing.

After his death, Hippocrates acquired the “title” of demigod among the people. The inhabitants of the doctor’s native island annually performed sacrifices in his honor according to the theory of divine cult. There is also an opinion that in other world the philosopher became a healer of souls.

The works of the “father of medicine” during the period of war, fires and destruction of Greece were in the Alexandria Library, after which they were taken to Constantinople, so the doctor’s work was saved and preserved.

The legends about the smartest doctor of antiquity have not been confirmed by historians, but their presence cannot be canceled. Here are some of them:

• One day Hippocrates arrived in Athens, where a terrible plague was raging. He spent medical events and saved the city from mortality.
• When the philosopher was studying medical research and healing in Macedonia, he had to treat the king. Hippocrates identified a disease in the ruler called aggravation, which means an unintentional exaggeration of one’s own illness.
• From the memoirs of a random companion of Hippocrates, it is said that together they met the same girl twice with a short interval of time. The doctor was able to recognize the loss of innocence of the shepherdess after their second meeting. He did it by gait.

Hippocrates Quotes

• “If sleep eases suffering, the disease is not fatal”
• “Disease always comes from either excess or deficiency, that is, from imbalance.”
• “Some diseases come only from lifestyle”

More than 100 medical works are collected in the so-called “Hippocratic Collection.” They are traditionally attributed to the greatest physician of antiquity, Hippocrates. The “Hippocratic Collection” includes works not only by Hippocrates and his students, but also by doctors representing other areas of ancient Greek medicine.

The “aphorisms” of Hippocrates are undeniable and relevant to this day.

“Eat breakfast yourself, share lunch with a friend, and give dinner to your enemy.” Apparently, each of us either has no enemies at all, or very few, so we usually eat dinner ourselves, despite the theory of Hippocrates, who noticed the adverse effects of food taken at night.

“Old people have fewer diseases than young people, but these diseases last a lifetime.”

“Marriage is a fever that begins with heat and ends with cold.”

“Life is short, art is eternal, random circumstances are fleeting, experience is deceptive, judgment is difficult.”

“What medicines cannot cure, iron cures; What iron does not cure, fire cures; What fire does not cure, death cures.”

In the works of Hippocrates, in his “Aphorisms,” you can find interesting instructions on caring for newborns and on a child’s diet. But Greek medicine, despite a fairly high level of development for its time, did not leave a systematic presentation of information about the child.

In the works of Hippocrates: “Fractures”, “Wounds of the head”, “Reduction of joints”, surgical diseases and their treatment, operations on various organs are described in detail. His school knew the basic principles of treating fractures and dislocations.

Having familiarized ourselves with these works, we can conclude that surgery stood very highly in ancient times,

Of great interest are the statements of Hippocrates about surgery:

“For those who wish to devote themselves to surgery, it is necessary to practice extensively in operations, because for the hand, practice is the best teacher.”

And then he added, “When are you dealing with hidden and serious illnesses, then here... we need to admit, we need to call on reflection to help.”

Various dressing techniques developed by Hippocrates, which also take place in dressing surgery of our time:

The circle bandage is the simplest form of bandage. The bandage begins and ends with it, less often it is used as an independent bandage on cylindrical areas of the body.

A spiral bandage can cover a significant part of the body, producing uniform pressure on it, so it is used for serious wounds of the abdomen, chest, and limbs.

Return bandage, or the so-called “Hippocratic cap” bandage for covering the cranial vault. This is a rather complex bandage; its application requires special skills.

The writings of Hippocrates mention the use of dry dressings, dressings soaked in wine, alum solutions, as well as ointment dressings with vegetable oils.

Hippocrates was the first to describe the picture of acute inflammation of the joints. He introduced the term “arthritis”, formed from the merger of the Greek word “artrion” - joint and the ending “itis”, indicating the inflammatory nature of the change in the joint.

Ancient written documents from Egypt, India and China contain references to malignant tumors in humans.

Hippocrates made a great contribution to the development of ancient oncology.

The term “cancer” is believed to have been assigned by Hippocrates to tumors resembling the spreading shape of lobster legs. This primarily applied to breast cancer.

Hippocrates proposed the term “sarcoma” for fleshy tumors, noticing the external resemblance of some of them to fish meat.

It should be noted that this terminology is still used in medicine today.

In the works of Hippocrates there are indications of the rudiments of gynecology. One of the chapters is called “About women's diseases" In this chapter, Hippocrates describes the symptoms and diagnosis of uterine displacement, inflammation of the uterus and vagina. He also recommends some surgical interventions in gynecology - removal of a tumor of the uterus using forceps, a knife and a hot iron.

When choosing methods of therapy, Hippocrates not only used local treatment, but also considered it necessary to act on the entire body.

“Epidemics” – Works of Hippocrates in two volumes.

When an epidemic arose in the capital of Greece, Hippocrates was summoned to Athens and lived there for some time and studied medicine with Herodin.

Because he saved the inhabitants of Athens from a plague epidemic, using his knowledge of the ways of spreading infection, he was elected an honorary citizen of Athens and crowned with a golden wreath.

The work of Hippocrates “Prognostics” is proof of the observant genius of medicine Hippocrates.

It describes in detail a long series of symptoms during the course of the disease, on the basis of which a favorable or unfavorable prediction can be made regarding the outcome of the disease.

Hippocrates already knew the symptoms of many diseases, which are still relevant today for the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases.

Carefully observing the course of diseases, he identified different periods in the course of the disease. He paid special attention to the acute febrile period, establishing certain days for crisis, turning point, illness, when the body, according to his teaching, would make an attempt to free itself from uncooked juices.

When examining a patient, Hippocrates already then used such examination methods as tapping, listening, and palpating, although, of course, in the most primitive form. He palpated the spleen and liver and determined changes occurring during the day. He was interested in whether they were going beyond their boundaries, i.e. whether they have increased in size, how their tissues feel to the touch - hard, loose.

Hippocrates thoroughly studied the nature of secretions (sputum, excrement, etc.) in various forms of disease.

Hippocrates' accurate prediction of the course and outcome of the disease, based on the study of similar cases and examples, made him a famous doctor, and he gained great fame during his lifetime.

Hippocrates saw the doctor’s task in studying the individual characteristics of the patient, in ensuring the mobilization of the body’s forces to restore health.

It is important to note that Hippocrates and the “Hippocrats” taught that recognition of diseases and treatment of patients should not be based on speculative natural-philosophical speculations, but on strict observation and study of patients, on generalization and accumulation practical experience. Hence they put forward the basic principle: to treat not the disease, but the patient. And this meant that the treatment process requires an individual approach, diet, medications, and their doses, regimen, duration of treatment - everything must be special, specific, and appropriate for a given situation in each individual case.

On this basis, it is believed that Hippocrates and his followers are the founders of clinical medicine.

According to Hippocrates, a good doctor should determine the patient’s condition by his appearance alone.

A pointed nose, sunken cheeks, stuck lips and a sallow complexion indicate the patient’s imminent death. And now such a painting is called “Hippocratic Face”.

When examining the face, Hippocrates paid attention to the lips: bluish, drooping, cold lips foreshadow death.

A red and dry tongue is a sign of typhus. When the tongue, at the beginning of the disease, is pinpointed and then turns reddish and purple, expect trouble.

The works of Hippocrates, which became the basis for the further development of clinical medicine, reflect the idea of ​​the integrity of the body; the stages of disease development have been established; individual approach to the patient and his treatment; concept of anamnesis; teachings about etiology, prognosis, temperaments (sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic, melancholic). According to Hippocrates, all people were divided into four types according to their constitution and behavioral character. If the amount of blood in the body predominated, then such a person was classified as sanguine. Excess yellow bile is typical for choleric people, and excess mucus for phlegmatic people. A high concentration of black bile is characteristic of melancholic people. Of course, from the point of view of the current level of development of medical science, this concept of views looks naive and, at first glance, does not deserve attention. However, here we draw attention first of all to the fact that Hippocrates, based on the level of his medical knowledge and the level of development of philosophy of that time, made an important attempt to explain the diversity of types of the human body and their dependence on the internal environment.

The name of Hippocrates is associated with the doctrine of temperaments, which, however, is not presented in his collection, but continues to live in modern language. But the categorical meaning of the teachings of Hippocrates and Galen is not in the characteristics of these types themselves. Behind the specific (mental and physical) shells of this teaching one can see some general principles used by modern researchers. The ancient theory of temperaments was distinguished by one more feature. Liquids “juices” were taken as the main elements of the body. This point of view is usually called humoral (from the Greek - liquid).

In his essay “Diet in Acute Diseases,” Hippocrates laid the foundation for rational dietetics and pointed out the need to nourish the sick, even those with fever, which was later forgotten. Looking at diet as additional method in treatment, Hippocrates for this purpose established diets in relation to forms of disease - acute, chronic, surgical.

His method has been successfully used and, refined using new scientific knowledge, is used in modern “Therapeutic Nutrition”.

The works of Hippocrates “On Air, Water and Terrain” contain many years of observations on the spread of diseases depending on the impact on the body of external influences of the atmosphere, seasons, wind, water, and polluted air. The result of long-term observations is the physiological effects of these influences on a healthy human body. “Diseases arise partly from the way of life, partly from the air that we introduce to ourselves and with which we live,” he wrote.

Unlike his predecessors, Hippocrates believed that diseases were not sent down by the gods, but were caused by understandable reasons, for example, environmental influences.

Doctrine of occupational diseases has a long history. In ancient times, even before new era, the attention of individual philosophers and doctors was drawn to the high mortality rate of miners.

In ancient Greek and Roman literature of the 6th – 4th centuries BC, in the works of Aristotle and Lucretius, cases of severe illness of silver mine workers are given.

Hippocrates drew attention to the high mortality rate of miners. He was the first to point out the harmfulness of lead dust, even compiled a list of lead professions of that time and described the clinic of “lead colic.” However, all these descriptions were isolated and abrupt.

The essays “On Human Nature” provide information on the climatic conditions of different countries. The influence of the meteorological conditions of the island's terrain on the occurrence, depending on these conditions, of diseases has been thoroughly and fully studied.

Hippocrates clearly conveys the idea that geographical conditions and climate influence customs, morals, health, human behavior, and temperament. In this work he wrote: “The natives attribute the reason for this to God and people of this kind are revered and respected, everyone fearing for themselves. To me and myself, these diseases seem divine, like all others, and one of them is neither more divine nor more humane than the other, but they are all the same and all are divine. However, each of them has its own nature, and nothing is done outside of nature.” Here we are talking about convulsions, asthma, eunuchs among the Scythians. This was the great discovery of Hippocrates, when he separated diseases from God, although even in our time there are “preachers” who try to connect almost all diseases with sins before God.

Hippocrates is one of the founders of the scientific approach to human diseases and their treatment. In his treatise “The Sacred Disease,” as the ancient Greeks called epilepsy, he argued that all diseases are caused by natural causes.

The doctrine of causation in medicine is the most ancient part of medical science

Hippocrates divides the causes of disease into two classes. To the first class he included diseases caused by the general harmful influence of climate, soil, and heredity. The second class included diseases associated with “personal” conditions - living and working conditions, nutrition (diet), and age. The normal influence of these conditions on the body is caused by the correct mixing of juices - health.

In order to preserve health, Hippocrates attached great importance to gymnastics. He wrote: “Gymnastics, physical exercise, walking should firmly become part of the daily life of everyone who wants to maintain efficiency, health, a full and joyful life”... “As clothiers clean cloth, knocking them out of dust, so gymnastics cleanses the body.”

Hippocrates attached great importance to work, believing that “persons exposed to daily labor endure it, even if they are weak and old, more easily than strong and young people without habit.”

Hippocrates was critical of idleness and doing nothing, which, in his opinion, leads to ill health. And vice versa - the aspiration of the mind towards something is associated with vigor aimed at strengthening life.

The father of medicine condemned such vices as drunkenness, believing that it was the cause of weakness and illness. This principle has not lost its significance to this day.

Even a brief acquaintance with the outstanding works of the father of medicine allows us to state what invaluable material he collected during his life and left to his students.

In medical ethics, Hippocrates put forward four principles of treatment:

do not harm the patient; opposite – to treat with the opposite; help nature; spare the patient.

This is how the father of surgery, Ambroise Paré, wrote about the use of the first commandment.

Routine and inertia have always been resilient. Ambroise Paré did not immediately manage to convince his colleagues that the mixture he proposed was much more useful than a traditional balm. However, Pare had a great ally - Hippocrates. “First of all, do no harm!” - says one of his immortal commandments. Pare acted in accordance with it. “Treatment,” he explained, “should not be the cause of new suffering. The healing factor should not only eliminate the underlying disease, but also alleviate the suffering caused by it, and not increase it.” This is how Pare’s idea of ​​anti-shock therapy was born.

“... What causes pain should be in them for the shortest time, and this will be when the section is performed quickly,” - the bitterness and suffering of the humanist doctor can be heard in these words of Hippocrates. And although they were said in the 5th century BC, the situation, in principle, did not change until the middle of the 19th century, the beginning of the development of anesthesiology.

The works of Hippocrates are full of medical wisdom. They should be studied thoughtfully, since they have not lost their significance for our time. “Before taking up a case,” writes Hippocrates, “a skilled physician waits until he has a clear understanding of the nature of suffering and tries to treat with prudence rather than with insane courage, with gentleness rather than resorting to violence.”

The followers of the teachings of Hippocrates formed the so-called Kos school, which flourished for a very long time and gave direction to modern medicine.

Many scientists of “modern times” - Galen, Haller, Grunert, Geser, Litre, Kovner, studying the works of Hippocrates, expressed their assumptions that some of the 72 attributed to him belong to other authors, mainly his sons, doctors Thessalus and Draco, and son-in-law Polybus . Gallen recognized 11 works as authentic, Geller - 18 works, Kovner considered only 8 works from the Hippocratic Code as authentic.

But we should not forget that Hippocrates lived in an era when high moral ideals, the desire to obtain knowledge, and transfer the acquired knowledge to others were the norm. And the merit of Hippocrates is not in the number of works written, but in the fact that he was able to collect a huge body of knowledge of ancient Greece on medicine and systematize it in his code.

The name of Hippocrates is associated with the idea of ​​a high moral character and example of ethical behavior of a doctor. Hippocrates is credited with the text of the ethical code of ancient Greek doctors, the Hippocratic Oath, which became the basis for the obligations subsequently accepted by doctors in many countries. And the main principles of modern medical morality are based on the “Hippocratic Oath” developed in antiquity.

“Love for our science is inseparable from love for humanity,” said Hippocrates.

It is difficult to find a person who has never heard of the Hippocratic Oath. However, there are not many people who would be interested in the fate and contribution to science of the one who came up with its text. Being a highly moral person, he managed to put everything into a small oath. important principles that every doctor should do.

Hippocrates is the famous ancient Greek physician-reformer who went down in history as the “father of medicine.” And, by the way, he is also a historical figure. Aristotle and Plato remember him in their works.

Biography of an ancient Greek doctor

Very little is known about the life and work of Hippocrates. He was born on the small island of Kos around 460 BC. Everyone in his family were doctors who passed on their knowledge to children and students. By the way, Hippocrates did not depart from this tradition. Subsequently, his numerous sons, sons-in-law and students also became doctors.

He received his knowledge primarily from his father, the famous physician Heraclides at that time. Hippocrates traveled a lot, trying to gain as much knowledge as possible. At this time, he created various treatises that had a significant impact on the development of all medicine and its individual specialties. The most famous among them are: “On diet for acute diseases”, “Prognosis”, “On joints”, “On fractures”, etc.

The main achievements of the great doctor

However, the main merit of Hippocrates is that he was the first to give medicine scientific character. Throughout his life, the doctor proved to his contemporaries that diseases arise according to reasonable and natural reasons, and are not punishment from the gods.

Hippocrates can rightfully be considered the “purifier of medicine.” After all, it was he who separated the two concepts - philosophy and medicine, defining the boundaries of each of them. Devoting most of his time to surgery, he learned to apply bandages and treat dislocations, fractures and wounds. At the same time, Hippocrates established various stages diseases and learned to diagnose them. He put forward and proved 4 principles of patient treatment:

• to benefit and not harm;
• treat the opposite with the opposite;
• help nature;
• Perform all actions carefully, taking pity on the patient.

Thirst for knowledge and diversified development is the path to glory

Throughout his life, Hippocrates maintained a thirst for knowledge. In addition to medicine, he studied climate, soil and much more. Such versatile activities led to the fact that during his lifetime the doctor knew the heights of fame. Hippocrates died back in 370 BC, but is still remembered as great doctor and a thinker known and revered throughout the world.

Listen to the introduction to the article · (info)

Sorry, JavaScript is disabled in your browser or the required player is not available.
You can download the video or download a player to play the video in your browser.

see also other audio articles

This term has other meanings, see Hippocrates (meanings).

Hippocrates(ancient Greek Ἱπποκράτης , lat. Hippocrates) (around 460 BC, Kos island - between 377 and 356 BC, Larissa) - famous ancient Greek healer and doctor. He went down in history as the “father of medicine.”

Hippocrates is a historical figure. Mentions of the “great Asclepiad physician” are found in the works of his contemporaries - Plato and Aristotle. Collected in the so-called The “Hippocratic Corpus” of 60 medical treatises (of which modern researchers attribute from 8 to 18 to Hippocrates) had a significant influence on the development of medicine, both practice and science.

The name of Hippocrates is associated with the idea of ​​high moral character and ethical behavior of a doctor. The Hippocratic Oath contains the fundamental principles that should guide a doctor in his practice. Taking an oath (which has varied significantly over the centuries) upon receiving a medical diploma has become a tradition.

Origin and biography

Biographical data about Hippocrates is extremely scattered and contradictory. Today, there are several sources that describe the life and origins of Hippocrates. These include:

• works of the Roman physician Soranus of Ephesus, born more than 400 years after the death of Hippocrates
• Byzantine encyclopedic Dictionary 10th century ships
• works of the Byzantine poet and grammarian of the 12th century John Tzetz.

Information about Hippocrates is also found in Plato, Aristotle and Galen.

According to legends, Hippocrates on his father's side was a descendant ancient Greek god medicine of Asclepius, and by mother - Hercules. John Tzetz even gives the family tree of Hippocrates:

The ruins of the Kos Asklepion - the temple of the god of medicine Asclepius, in which people were treated and medical knowledge was collected

• Asclepius
• Podalirium
• Hippolochus
• Sostratos
• Dardan
• Chrysamis
• Cleomitted
• Theodore
• Sostratus II
• Theodore II
• Sostratus III
• Gnosidik
• Hippocrates I
• Heraclides
• Hippocrates II "father of medicine"

Although this information is hardly reliable, it indicates that Hippocrates belonged to the Asclepiad family. The Asclepiads were a dynasty of doctors who claimed descent from the god of medicine himself.

Hippocrates was born around 460 BC. e. on the island of Kos in the eastern Aegean Sea.

Monument to Hippocrates on his home island of Kos

From the works of Soranus of Ephesus one can judge the family of Hippocrates. According to his works, Hippocrates' father was the physician Heraclides, and his mother was Phenareta. (According to another version, the name of Hippocrates' mother was Praxitea.) Hippocrates had two sons - Thesallus and Draco, as well as a daughter, whose husband Polybus, according to the ancient Roman physician Galen, became his successor. Each of the sons named their child in honor of the famous grandfather Hippocrates.

In his writings, Soranus of Ephesus writes that initially Hippocrates’ medicine was taught in the Asklepion of Kos by his father Heraclides and grandfather Hippocrates, hereditary Asclepiad doctors. He also studied with the famous philosopher Democritus and sophist Gorgias. For the purpose of scientific improvement, Hippocrates also traveled a lot and studied medicine in different countries from the practice of local doctors and from tables that were hung on the walls of the temples of Asclepius. Mentions of the legendary doctor from contemporaries are found in Plato’s dialogues “Protagoras” and “Phaedrus”, as well as in Aristotle’s “Politics”.

Hippocrates devoted his entire long life to medicine. Among the places where he treated people are mentioned Thessaly, Thrace, Macedonia, as well as the coast of the Sea of ​​Marmara. He died at an old age (at different sources, from 83 to 104 years old) in the city of Larisa, where a monument was erected to him.

Hippocratic Corps

Sycamore tree on the island of Kos, under which, according to legend, Hippocrates worked

The name of the famous physician Hippocrates, who laid the foundations of medicine as a science, is associated with a heterogeneous collection of medical treatises known as the Hippocratic Corpus. The vast majority of the writings of the Corpus were composed between 430 and 330 BC. e. They were collected in Hellenistic times, in the middle of the 3rd century BC. e. in Alexandria.

Commentators on this collection back in ancient times (in particular, Galen) noted the heterogeneity of style and contradictory content of the Hippocratic corpus. Some suggested that Hippocrates lived for a very long time and, therefore, wrote some works when he was young and others when he was old. Others believed that there were as many as seven people, members of the Hippocratic family, whose works were also included in the Hippocratic Corpus (among them were sons Thesallus and Draco, son-in-law Polybus).

Of these, researchers recognize from 8 to 18 works as belonging directly to Hippocrates. According to Trokhachev, among medical historians and researchers of the Hippocratic Corpus, there is a lot of disagreement about whether this or that work belongs directly to Hippocrates. Trokhachev analyzed the works of four specialists - E. Littre, K. Deichgraeber, M. Polenz and V. Nestle. The letters L, D, P and N respectively mark treatises that these authors consider “truly Hippocratic”.

The Hippocratic corpus consists of the following works:

1. Oath (L)
2. Law (L)
3. About the doctor
4. About decency
5. Guidance

6. About art
7. O ancient medicine(L)

8. About anatomy
9. About the heart
10. About meat
11. About the glands
12. About the nature of bones
13. About human nature (D)
14. About the seed
15. About the nature of the child
16. About diseases. Book 4
17. About food
18. About juices (D)
19. About the winds
20. About crises
21. About critical days
22. About sevens
23. About air, waters and areas (L, D, P, N)

24. About diet (N)
25. About diet, or about dreams

26. Prognosis (L, D, P, N) (ancient Greek. Προγνωστικόν , Russian equivalent - Forecasting)
27. Kos forecasts
28. Predictions

29. Epidemics (L, D, P, N)
30. About diet for acute diseases. Book 1 (L)
31. About diet for acute diseases. Book 2
32. About suffering
33. About diseases. Book 1-3
34. About internal suffering
35. About the sacred disease (D, P, N)
36. About places in a person
37. About drinking liquids

38. About the doctor's office
39. About fractures (L, D, P, N)
40. About realignment of joints (L, D, R, N)
41. Book about lever (L, D, N)
42. About head wounds (L)
43. About wounds and ulcers
44. About hemorrhoids
45. About fistulas

46. ​​About vision

47. About diseases of girls
48. About the nature of women
49. About women's diseases
50. About infertility
51. About superfertilization
52. About the seven-month fetus
53. About an eight-month fetus
54. About embryotomy

55. About teething

56. Aphorisms (L, N)

57. Letters
58. Decree of the Athenians
59. Speech at the Altar
60. Thesallus’s speech about the embassy to the Athenians

Teaching

It should be noted that the teachings of the Hippocratic Corpus in literature are inseparable from the name of Hippocrates. Moreover, it is certain that not all, but only some of the treatises of the Corpus belong directly to Hippocrates. Due to the impossibility of isolating the direct contribution of the “father of medicine” and the contradictions among researchers about the authorship of a particular treatise, in most modern medical literature the entire legacy of the Corpus is attributed to Hippocrates.

Hippocrates was one of the first to teach that diseases arise from natural causes, rejecting existing superstitions about the intervention of the gods. He identified medicine as a separate science, separating it from religion, for which he went down in history as the “father of medicine.” The works of Corpus contain some of the first prototypes of “case histories” - descriptions of the course of diseases.

Hippocrates' teaching was that disease is not a punishment from the gods, but a consequence natural factors, eating disorders, habits and character of human life. In the collection of Hippocrates there is not a single mention of the mystical nature in the origin of diseases. At the same time, the teachings of Hippocrates in many cases were based on incorrect premises, erroneous anatomical and physiological data, and the doctrine of vital juices.

In Ancient Greece during the time of Hippocrates, there was a ban on autopsy human body. In this regard, doctors had very superficial knowledge of human anatomy and physiology. Also at that time there were two competing medical schools- Kos and Knidos. The Knidos school focused its attention on isolating one symptom or another, depending on which treatment was prescribed. The Kos school, to which Hippocrates belonged, tried to find the cause of the disease. Treatment consisted of monitoring the patient, creating a regime in which the body itself would cope with the disease. Hence one of the fundamental principles of the teaching “Do no harm.”

Temperaments

Medicine owes to Hippocrates the emergence of the doctrine of human temperament. According to his teachings, the general behavior of a person depends on the ratio of four juices (liquids) circulating in the body - blood, bile, black bile and mucus (phlegm, lymph).

• Predominance of bile (Greek. χολή , hole, “bile, poison”) makes a person impulsive, “hot” - choleric.
• Predominance of mucus (Greek. φλέγμα , reflux, “phlegm”) makes a person calm and slow - phlegmatic.
• Predominance of blood (lat. sanguis , sanguis, sangua, “blood”) makes a person active and cheerful - sanguine.
• Predominance of black bile (Greek. μέλαινα χολή , Melena Hole, “black bile”) makes a person sad and fearful - melancholic.

In the works of Hippocrates there are descriptions of the properties of sanguine people, choleric people, phlegmatic people and, very briefly, melancholic people. The identification of body types and mental makeup had practical significance: establishing the type was associated with the diagnosis and choice of treatment method for patients, since according to Hippocrates, each type is predisposed to certain diseases.

The merit of Hippocrates lies in the identification of the main types of temperament, in the fact that he, in the words of I. P. Pavlov, “caught the capital traits in the mass of countless variants of human behavior.”

Stages of disease progression

The merit of Hippocrates is also the determination of stages in the course of various diseases. Considering the disease as a developing phenomenon, he introduced the concept of the stage of the disease. The most dangerous moment, according to Hippocrates, was “ a crisis" During a crisis, a person either died or natural processes prevailed, after which his condition improved. At various diseases he identified critical days - days from the onset of the disease when the crisis was most likely and dangerous.

Examination of patients

"Hippocrates' Bench"

The merit of Hippocrates is the description of methods for examining patients - auscultation and palpation. He studied in detail the nature of secretions (sputum, excrement, urine) in various diseases. When examining a patient, he already used such techniques as percussion, auscultation, palpation, of course, in the most primitive form.

Contribution to surgery

Hippocrates is also known as outstanding surgeon antiquities. His writings describe methods of using bandages (simple, spiral, diamond-shaped, “Hippocratic cap”, etc.), treating fractures and dislocations using traction and special devices(“Hippocrates’ bench”), treatment of wounds, fistulas, hemorrhoids, empyemas.

In addition, Hippocrates described the rules for the position of the surgeon and his hands during surgery, the placement of instruments, and lighting during surgery.

Dietetics

Hippocrates outlined the principles of rational dietetics and pointed out the need to nourish the sick, even those with fever. For this purpose, he pointed to necessary diets for various diseases.

Medical ethics and deontology

See also: Deontology

The name of Hippocrates is associated with the idea of ​​high moral character and ethical behavior of a doctor. According to Hippocrates, a doctor should be characterized by hard work, a decent and neat appearance, constant improvement in his profession, seriousness, sensitivity, the ability to win the trust of the patient, and the ability to keep medical confidentiality.

Hippocratic Oath

Main article: Hippocratic Oath

Byzantine manuscript of the Hippocratic Oath in the shape of a cross. 12th century

“Oath” (ancient Greek. Ὅρκος , lat. Jusjurandum) is the first composition of the Hippocratic corpus. It contains several principles that a doctor must follow in his life and professional activities:

1. Commitments to teachers, colleagues and students:

2. The principle of non-harm:

3. Refusal of euthanasia and abortion:

4. Refusal of intimate relationships with patients:

5. Maintaining medical confidentiality:

Payment for medical work

The question of payment for medical labor in modern society is quite relevant.

At the same time, there are two radically opposing points of view about the attitude of Hippocrates himself to this issue. On the one hand, many are sure that according to the Hippocratic Oath, a doctor is obliged to provide care free of charge. Opponents, citing the same Hippocrates, cite a legend about the treatment of a certain Anachersites, according to which Hippocrates, having provided the patient with first aid, asked his relatives if they were able to pay for the patient’s recovery. Having heard a negative answer, he suggested “giving the poor fellow poison so that he does not suffer for a long time.”

Neither of the two established opinions is based on reliable information. The Hippocratic Oath says nothing about paying a doctor. Also, in the writings of the Hippocratic Corpus, dedicated to medical ethics and deontology, there is no information about the treatment of the poor patient Anachersites. Accordingly, it can only be perceived as a legend.

There are several phrases in the works of the Hippocratic corpus, thanks to which one can assume the attitude of Hippocrates himself to this issue:

If you first deal with the matter of remuneration - after all, this is relevant to our whole business - then, of course, you will lead the patient to the idea that if an agreement is not made, you will leave him or will treat him negligently and will not give him currently advice. We should not worry about establishing remuneration, since we believe that paying attention to this is harmful for the patient, especially when acute illness: the speed of the disease, which does not allow for delay, forces a good doctor to seek not profit, but rather the acquisition of fame. It is better to reproach those who are saved than to rob those in danger in advance.

According to the above quotes, the sentence “and sometimes he would treat for nothing, considering a grateful memory higher than momentary glory” best reflects Hippocrates’ attitude to the issue of remuneration for medical work.

External and internal appearance of the doctor

In the works of the Hippocratic Corpus great attention paid to the doctor's appearance. Hippocrates emphasizes that an overly cheerful doctor does not command respect, and an overly stern one loses the necessary trust. According to Hippocrates, a doctor should have a thirst for new knowledge, which must be obtained at the patient’s bedside, and internal discipline. At the same time, he must have a clear mind, be neatly dressed, moderately serious, and show understanding for the suffering of the sick. In addition, he emphasizes the need to constantly have medical instruments at hand, appropriate equipment and the type of doctor’s office.

Idioms

Many of Hippocrates' expressions became popular. Although they were originally written in the Ionian dialect of ancient Greek, they are often quoted in Latin, a language widely used in medicine.

• The doctor heals, nature heals (lat. Medicus curat, natura sanat) - one of the aphorisms of Hippocrates translated into Latin. It means that despite the fact that the doctor prescribes treatment, it is always nature that heals, which supports the patient’s vitality.
• Life is short, art is [long]eternal (lat. Ars longa, vita brevis) - the expression represents the first sentence of Hippocrates' Aphorisms reformulated in Latin by Seneca. The original of this aphorism of Hippocrates looks like this: ρίσις χαλεπή" (Life is short, (medical) art is long, chance is fleeting, experience is deceptive, and judgment is difficult). Initially, Hippocrates emphasized that a lifetime was not enough to comprehend the great science of medicine.
• Medicine is the noblest of all sciences (lat. Omnium artium medicina nobilissima est ).
• Do no harm (lat. Noli nocere) is the main commandment of a doctor, formulated by Hippocrates.
• “With fire and sword” is a paraphrased aphorism “What medicine cannot cure, iron cures; What iron does not cure, fire cures" (lat. Quae medicamenta non sanant, ferrum sanat; quae ferrum non sanat, ignis sanat ) .
• “The opposite is cured by the opposite” (lat. Contraria contrariis curantur) - one of the aphorisms of Hippocrates. On this principle founded modern medicine. The founder of homeopathy, Samuel Hahnemann, proposed treating “like with like,” contrasting homeopathy with medicine that treats “the opposite of the opposite,” calling it allopathy.

Legends

Democritus - ancient Greek philosopher, to whom Hippocrates, according to legend, conducted the first psychiatric examination

Among contemporaries, Plato and Aristotle in their writings mention “the greatest asclepiadic physician, Hippocrates.” Thanks to the collection of works that have survived to this day, the “Hippocratic Corpus,” from which only some of the works are attributed by modern researchers to Hippocrates himself, one can judge his teaching.

Many legends and stories about the life of Hippocrates are implausible and are not confirmed by modern historians. Similar legends exist about other famous doctor Avicenna, which also confirms their legendary character. These include the legend about how Hippocrates, having arrived in Athens, where the plague was raging, carried out a series of events, after which the epidemic stopped. According to another legend, while treating the king of Macedonia, Perdiccas II, Hippocrates diagnosed him with aggravation - an unintentional exaggeration of his painful condition.

"Hippocrates refuses the ambassadors of Artaxerxes." Painting by Girodet-Triozone

Other unconfirmed stories include Hippocrates’ refusal to leave Greece and become the attending physician of the king of the Achaemenid Empire, Artaxerxes. According to another legend, the citizens of Abdera invited Hippocrates to treat the famous ancient Greek philosopher Democritus, considering him insane. Democritus without apparent reason burst out laughing, human affairs seemed so funny to him against the backdrop of the great world order. Hippocrates met with the philosopher, but decided that Democritus was absolutely healthy both physically and mentally, and in addition declared that he was one of the the smartest people with whom he had to communicate. This story is the first time a society has demanded to be subjected to medical examination for "abnormality".

In contrast to the legends that describe Hippocrates as an ideal doctor, the smartest and most principled person, Soranus of Ephesus cites a legend about the shameful act of Hippocrates, according to which he burned the asklepion (a medical temple in which people were simultaneously treated and the god of medicine Asclepius was worshiped) of the Cnidus school, which competed with the Kos. . The Byzantine grammarian of the 12th century, John Tzetz, transforms this legend about this act. According to his writings, Hippocrates burned the temple not of the rival Cnidus school, but of his own Kos school, in order to destroy the medical knowledge accumulated in it, thus remaining its only owner.

Modern medical terms in which the name of Hippocrates is present

Fingers in the form of “drumsticks” with nails in the form of “hour glasses” (Hippocratic nails)

Hippocrates nail

Main article: Drumstick symptom

A peculiar deformation of nails, better known as “watch glass nails.” Often combined with flask-shaped thickening of the terminal phalanges of the fingers - “drumstick-shaped fingers”. They are a sign of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy that occurs when long-term violations gas exchange against the background of chronic lung diseases (lung abscess, bronchiectasis, lung tumors, etc.). This deformation can also be noted when congenital defects heart (especially in the cyanotic group of these defects), in chronic septic endocarditis, with biliary cirrhosis of the liver.

The sound of Hippocrates splashing

The sound of Hippocrates splashing (lat. succussio Hippocratis) is the sound heard during hydropneumothorax, that is, with the simultaneous presence of gas and liquid in the pleural cavity. It is heard by grasping the patient's shoulders with both hands and quickly and vigorously shaking the upper half of his body.

Hippocrates mask

Main article: Hippocrates mask

The term “Hippocratic mask” became popular, denoting the face of a dying patient. For the first time, the main facial features of a patient in extremely serious condition were described in the work of the Hippocratic corpus “Prognosis”:

Reduction of a dislocated shoulder using the Hippocratic method

The victim lies on his back. The surgeon sits on the side of the dislocation facing the patient and takes the injured arm by the forearm above the wrist. After that it inserts middle section foot of the same name with a dislocated arm in the axillary fossa. In this case, the outer edge of the middle foot rests against the lateral surface of the chest, and the inner edge rests against the medial surface of the upper third of the shoulder. A double-sided lever is formed, short shoulder which are the head and the upper part humerus, and long - the middle and lower thirds of the shoulder. The surgeon begins to gradually, without jerking, increase the traction force along the axis of the arm, bringing it to the body. At this time, according to the principle of the lever, the head of the humerus is gradually brought into articular surface shoulder blades and falls into place. Shoulder joint acquires a normal shape, passive movements are restored. After this, the joint is immobilized.

Hippocrates' cap

It is a headband. Apply using a double-headed bandage or two separate bandages. One bandage is constantly making circular turns through the forehead and back of the head, strengthening the passages of the second bandage, covering the cranial vault from midline right and left. The ends of the bandage are tied in the occipital region.

Memory

In 1970, the International Astronomical Union assigned the name of Hippocrates to the crater on back side Moons.