Hippocratic Writings (Penguin Classics) [Paperback]

Various (Author), G. E. R. Lloyd (Editor), J. Chadwick (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 6, 1984 | ISBN-10: 0140444513 | ISBN-13: 978-0140444513

This work is a sampling of the Hippocratic Corpus, a collection of ancient Greek medical works. At the beginning, and interspersed throughout, there are discussions on the philosophy of being a physician. There is a large section about how to treat limb fractures, and the section called The Nature of Man describes the physiological theories of the time. The book ends with a discussion of embryology and a brief anatomical description of the heart.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Greek (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Hippocrates (460 BC- 377 BC) became known as the founder of medicine and was regarded as the greatest physician of his time. He based his medical practice on observations and on the study of the human body. He founded a medical school on the island of Kos, Greece and began teaching his ideas. He soon developed an Oath of Medical Ethics for physicians to follow; this Oath is taken by physicians today as they begin their medical practice.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (March 6, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140444513
• ISBN-13: 978-0140444513
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #276,717 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Language Nonfiction > More Languages > Greek

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Taste of Ancient Western Medicine, June 10, 2003

By 

John Vickery (Memphis, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hippocratic Writings (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

This work is a sampling of the Hippocratic Corpus, a collection of ancient Greek medical works. Hippocrates himself may have written some, but certainly not all, of the texts. The collection spans centuries and contains slightly differing views. This makes for a fuller picture of ancient Greek medicine. As one reads through the book, the reader gets a real sense of the medical theories and "facts" of the time. A majority of Hippocratic Writings is concerned with internal medicine and diseases. At the beginning, and interspersed throughout, there are discussions on the philosophy of being a physician. There is a large section about how to treat limb fractures, and the section called The Nature of Man describes the physiological theories of the time. The book ends with a discussion of embryology and a brief anatomical description of the heart. The work is not too difficult to read and seems to be very well translated. The large introduction to the book serves well to place the setting of the book and understand a bit of the translation. A Glossary of Names appears in the back. This seems to serve more as an academic reference as it is not necessary to refer to it as one reads the book. Along with the general index, there is the Supplementary Index to Medical Treatises. This index lists instances within Hippocratic Writings that, in the context of current medical knowledge, describes some now more commonly known medical conditions and diseases. Some knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and ancient Greek scientific philosophy are helpful in reading the book.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ancient Book that Remains Relevant, October 21, 2006

By 

Eagle Eye - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hippocratic Writings (Penguin Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)

For a book compiled in the 4th/3rd centuries B.C. it is interesting (but not surprising) how relevant this book remains, for sickness and the effort to heal are enduring aspects of the human condition.

"The Oath" at the beginning sets out some basic precepts, including: "I will not give a fatal draught to anyone if I am asked, nor will I suggest such a thing. Neither will I give a woman means to procure an abortion." "I will be chaste and religious in my life and in my practice."

There is an interesting idea here about the link between cooking and medicine. Early humans realized that they could not eat the same raw/uncooked foods as animals without getting sick, so they started cooking and making their diet more palatable in order to improve their health.

Some things have clearly changed: "Although the art of healing is the most noble of all the arts, yet, because of the ignorance both of its professors and of their rash critics, it has at this time fallen into the least repute of them all."

The greater significance of this work is as a contribution to science; a triumph of empiricism over superstition, the notion that logical observation could be brought to bear on healing rather than a primary reliance on folk medicine or strange ritual.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review of Penguin's Hippocratic Writings, March 2, 2010

By 

Ryan S. Mease "scott.godwin" (Chicago, IL, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hippocratic Writings (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

This is a great collection of Hippocratic writings. After 350 pages or so, the reader has a strong sense of ancient Greek medicine. To be honest, the material is often incredible boring, but this is a matter of the original subject matter, not the translation. For example, there are often lists and lists of plague victims or very specific medical aphorisms. Occasional footnotes supplement the readings. The introduction is well-done.