Customer Reviews

Soranus' Gynecology

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I teach college courses in the history of medicine and this gem of a translation is one of my favorite texts. Soranus himself provides clear descriptions of ancient procedures for many aspects of obstetrics and gynecology in antiquity including birth control, abortion, pre-natal care, delivery, neonatal care, and general treatment for common gynecological ailments in antiquity. It is written by an ancient professional for ancient professionals, and so the language is clinical and direct. The sensibilities are that of a physician of the 1st century CE, and may be jarring to some readers, but the information about what it was like to be a woman and a obstetrician in antiquity is invaluable to serious students of the subject. As someone familiar with the text in its original Greek, I can say that Temkin's English is a faithful representation of the original. For those who want to learn about such things from a primary source in an excellent translation, this book is a treasure.

In his book Gynecology, Soranus details the methods used to treat the ailments of women from before his time and during his time of the second century A.D. This translation is mainly for historians who are studying Soranus or methods of ancient medicine. It is not for those with a weak stomach, because it graphicly discusses many ailments and treatments that existed in the second century.