Source edition
Hippocrates. Oeuvres complètes d'Hippocrate, Vol. 8. Littré, Émile, editor. Paris: Baillière, 1853
Source data
A Digital Corpus for Graeco-Arabic Studies · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This ancient Greek medical treatise primarily addresses the treatment and prevention of pregnancy-related issues, difficult labor, infertility, and various gynecological disorders, starting with the phenomenon of superfetation (the conception of a second fetus during an ongoing pregnancy). The early chapters detail the development and loss of embryos in cases of superfetation, as well as hands-on emergency procedures and uterine fumigation during difficult labor or fetal death. The middle section introduces methods for newborn care, general precautions for pregnant women, and diagnostic tests for fertility, such as the famous galbanum scent test. The text then transitions to advice on promoting conception through lifestyle adjustments for couples and systematic treatments for infertility caused by uterine displacement or hardening. Finally, it outlines diverse pharmacological remedies and procedures for amenorrhea in young women, uterine prolapse, and postpartum pain, offering a comprehensive view of ancient obstetrical and gynecological practices.