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4 Chapter 1 Table 1-1 History of Health Care in Ancient Times Historical Events of Health Care in Ancient Times 4000 bc–3000 bc Primitive Times Believed that illness and disease were caused by supernatural spirits and demons Tribal witch doctors treated illness with ceremonies to drive out evil spirits Herbs and plants used as medicines, and some are still used today Trepanation or trephining (boring a hole in the skull) was used to treat insanity and epilepsy Average life span was 20 years Earliest people known to maintain accurate health records 3000 bc–300 bc Ancient Egyptians Called upon the gods to heal them when disease occurred Physicians were priests who studied medicine and surgery in temple medical schools Imhotep (2635–2595? bc) may have been the first physician Believed the body was a system of channels for air, tears, blood, urine, sperm, and feces If channels became "clogged," bloodletting or leeches were used to "open" them Used magic and medicinal plants to treat disease Average life span was 20 to 30 years 1700 bc–220 ad Ancient Chinese Religious prohibitions against dissection resulted in inadequate knowledge of body structure Carefully monitored the pulse to determine the condition of the body Believed in the need to treat the whole body by curing the spirit and nourishing the body Recorded a pharmacopoeia (an official drug directory) of medications based mainly on the use of herbs Used acupuncture, or puncture of the skin by needles, to relieve pain and congestion Also used moxibustion (a powdered substance was placed on the skin and then burned to cause a blister) to treat disease Began the search for medical reasons for illness Average life span was 20 to 30 years 1200 bc–200 bc Ancient Greeks Began modern medical science by observing the human body and effects of disease Biochemist Alcmaeon in 6th century bc identified the brain as the physiological site of the senses Hippocrates (460–377 bc) called the Father of Medicine: • Developed an organized method to observe the human body • Recorded signs and symptoms of many diseases • Created a high standard of ethics, the Oath of Hippocrates, used by physicians today Aristotle (384–322 bc) dissected animals and is called the founder of comparative anatomy Believed illness is a result of natural causes Used therapies such as massage, art therapy, and herbal treatment that are still used today Stressed diet and cleanliness as ways to prevent disease Average life span was 25 to 35 years 753 bc–410 ad Ancient Romans First to organize medical care by providing care for injured soldiers Early hospitals developed when physicians cared for ill people in rooms in their homes Later hospitals were religious and charitable institutions housed in monasteries and convents Began public health and sanitation systems: • Created aqueducts to carry clean water to the cities • Built sewers to carry waste materials away from the cities • Used filtering systems in public baths to prevent disease • Drained marshes to reduce the incidence of malaria Claudius Galen (129–199? ad), a physician, established many medical beliefs: • Body regulated by four fluids or humors: blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile • An imbalance in the humors resulted in illness • Described symptoms of inflammation and studied infectious diseases • Dissected animals and determined function of muscles, kidney, and bladder Diet, exercise, and medications were used to treat disease Average life span was 25 to 35 years Copyright © Cengage Learning ®. All Rights Reserved.