Source edition
Hippocrates. Oeuvres complètes d'Hippocrate, Vol. 2. Littré, Émile, editor. Paris: Baillière, 1840
Source data
A Digital Corpus for Graeco-Arabic Studies · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This medical work provides a practical and detailed exposition on the treatment and regimen of acute diseases in ancient Greek medicine. Addressing a wide range of acute conditions—including fevers, pharyngitis, pneumonia, pleurisy, cholera, and dysentery—the text presents specific criteria for applying phlebotomy, clysters, drug therapies, and dietary management. In the first half, it details prognosis methods based on the observation of urine, excretions, and the progression of critical illness days, emphasizing the meticulous examination of the patient's body. The middle section discusses the adverse effects of irregular dietary habits and analyzes how specific foods and preparation methods affect the digestive system. The final part covers the contraindications of drug treatments, alternative therapies such as massage, and surgical interventions for conditions like hemorrhoids and eye diseases. Ultimately, the work underscores the importance of a flexible, step-by-step approach tailored to each patient's changing physical condition and specific clinical signs.