Full text full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. Celsus was not a professional doctor of medicine or a surgeon, but a practical layman whose on medicine, written in a clear and neat style, for lay readers, is partly a result of his medical treatment of his household slaves included and partly a presentation of information gained from many greek authorities. Aulus cornelius celsus roman medical writer britannica. Publication date 1935 topics medicine, greek and roman. Although roman medicine was almost entirely in greek hands, the best account of it we have goes by the name of aurelius sic cornelius celsus. A brief introductory note outlines the most valuable features of the work and discusses the much debated question as to whether or not celsus was a physician or merely a translator of. On the true doctrine a discourse against the christians celsus translated by r. He is known for his literary work, the true word also account, doctrine or discourse. Now the characteristics of inflammation are four redness and swelling, with heat and pain. Rubin, ma philadelphia, pa presented at the society for ancient medicine, vancouver, b. Eight books concerning medicine world digital library.
The empirics can be classified as empiricists, while the dogmatics can be classified as rationalists. Kelsos was a 2ndcentury greek philosopher and opponent of early christianity. Although the contribution of aulus cornelius celsus to the development of several branches. Get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article 1. The life of the author is by johannes rhodius, in latin and english, on opposite pages.
Pdf the contribution of aulus cornelius celsus 25 b. The latin text is that of the teubner edition by f. Both protagonists agree in their basic platonic presuppositions, but beside this agreement, serious differences are argued. Book 1 is on greek schools of medicine and dietetics. Aulus cornelius celsus, flourished 1st century ad, rome, one of the greatest roman medical writers, author of an encyclopaedia dealing with agriculture, military art, rhetoric, philosophy, law, and medicine, of which only the medical portion has survived. On the true doctrine celsus oxford university press. Celsus clearly formulated his own opinion from the collected knowledge and wrote down his independent theories, involving one that ultimately becameand remainsthe basic principle in medicine. Nowhere is this art wanting, for the most uncivilized nations have had knowledge of herbs, and other things to hand for the aiding of wounds and diseases. It was celsus in the first century ad who named the famous cardinal signs of inflammation as calor, rubor, tumor and dolor in words which have subsequently become celebrated. Roman medicus, journal of the history of medicine and allied sciences, volume 46, issue 2, 1 april 1991, pages 143157, s. Aulus cornelius celsus, one of the greatest roman medical writers, author of an encyclopaedia dealing with agriculture, military art, rhetoric, philosophy, law, and medicine, of which only the medical portion has survived. While celsus work is the best account of roman medicine as practiced in the first century of the christian era and its influence persisted until the. Cornelius celsus was author, probably during the reign of the roman emperor tiberius 1437 ce, of a general encyclopaedia of agriculture, medicine, military arts, rhetoric, philosophy, and jurisprudence, in that order of subjects.
Cornelius celsus was author, probably during the reign of the roman emperor tiberius 14 37 ce, of a general encyclopaedia of agriculture, medicine, military arts, rhetoric, philosophy, and jurisprudence, in that order of subjects. From celsus to paul of aegina a detailed account is given, by a range of experts in the field, of the development of different conceptualizations of the mind and its pathology by medical authors from the beginning of the imperial period to the seventh century ce. Cornelius celsus ancient encyclopedist, surgeonscientist, or master of surgery. An accurate study of ancient medicine reveals that our forebears developed a large number of surgical ideas and techniques considered to be quite modern. Cornelius celsus was recorded to be passed down by the ancient writers. Elected king of hungary in 1458 at the age of 14, matthias won great acclaim for his battles against the ottoman turks and his patronage of learning and science. Celsus himself practised medicine or had only read about and observed its practice. On the true doctrine, a polemic written in the second century by the greek philosopher celsus an important early opponent of the christian churchhas survived only as quoted by the christian author origen in his extensive refutation, contra celsum. Celsus and the debate over the relative value of empirical observations. A brief introductory note outlines the most valuable features of the work and discusses the much debated question as to whether or not celsus was a physician or merely a translator of an old greek work on medicine. By searching through earlier medical literature an explanation for the.
Book 2 on prognosis, diagnosis, and general therapeutics. This text was converted to electronic form by data entry and has been proofread to a high level of accuracy. Ex libris royal college of physicians of edinburgh. Article pdf available in langenbeck s archives of surgery 3984 january 20 with 735 reads. Virtually nothing is known of celsus life and work apart from these books. Mental illness in ancient medicine from celsus to paul. Both protagonists agree in their basic platonic presuppositions, but beside this agreement, serious differences are. The following quotes are taken from celsus on the true doctrine, translated by r.
Page 10 ascertaining, therefore, to which kind it belongs, if the body be constipated, it ought to be relaxed. Hence we find that many who professed philosophy became expert in medicine, the most celebrated being pythagoras, empedocles and democritus. An illustration of a computer application window wayback machine an illustration of an open book. Cornelius celsus of medicine aulus cornelius celsus. On medicine, volume i celsus harvard university press. National library of medicine history of medicine division provided support for entering this text. Full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. Celsus wrote his work true discourse or, true reason as a polemic against the christians in approximately 178 ce. On the true doctrine, a polemic written in the second century by the greek philosopher celsusan important early opponent of the christian churchhas survived only as quoted by the christian author origen in his extensive refutation, contra celsum. Aulus cornelius celsus and empirical and dogmatic medicine. Just as agriculture a promises nourishment to healthy bodies, so does the art of medicine promise health to the sick. Celsus on medicine, in eight books, latin and english.
Celsus divided the work into two sections, the one in which objections are put in the mouth of a jewish interlocutor and the other in which celsus speaks as the pagan philosopher that he is. Jan 03, 2019 celsus has left the best account of roman medicine. For an author whose sole surviving text became so wellknown, celsus remains an elusive figure. Celsus on medicine, in eight books, latin and english by. Cornelius celsus was author, probably during the reign of the roman emperor tiberius 1437 ce, of a general encyclopaedia of agriculture, medicine, military. Nov 08, 2016 celsus and the debate over the relative value of empirical observations in history. The first book of our answer to the treatise of celsus, entitled a true discourse, which coneluded with the representation of the jew addressing jesus, having now extended to a sufficient length, we intend the present part as a reply to the charges brought by him against those who have been converted from judaism to christianity. Pdf cornelius celsus ancient encyclopedist, surgeon. In this book he describes some 120 surgical procedures, all of which are interesting but his treatment of a somewhat unpleasant, but not uncommon condition, called fistula in ano, presents first a surprise and then a conundrum. Celsus was probably not a professional physicianhis work seems to be a compilation of the work of othersechoing the greeks and especially. Celsus, a layman, provides in on medicine more information about the condition of medical science up to his own time probably first century ce than any other author. He is known for his literary work, on the true doctrine or discourse, account, word.
Celsus and the debate over the relative value of empirical observations in history. Aulus cornelius celsus, leonardo targa, alexander lee, johan rode full view 1831 aur. The empiricists hold that actual observations of ill health and treatment effects provide the main basis for trustworthy knowledge. For an author whose sole surviving text became so well known, celsus remains an. Celsuss decircumcision operation medical and historical implications jody p.
The rationalists insist that to identify the cure of disease, we need to understand the underlying and often hidden causes and mechanisms that explain. An enduring debate in the history of medicine exists between groups we might call empiricists and rationalists. One plan is to be adopted with acute, another with chronic, affections. Site contains many greek and latin texts, translations and related material. From no other source can we learn so much of the condition of medical science up to his own time. Yet much of celsus work draws on greek sources that were familiar to arab authors. There is no evidence that celsus was known in the medieval arabic tradition, primarily because latin authors like celsus were rarely translated. Celsus points out the obvious influence of greek myth and writings in the construction of the christian myth, and pokes fun at what he thinks of as greek myths being misinterpreted by christians as literal occurences. Get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article. Pdf cornelius celsus and the treatment of fistula in ano. New analysis is offered, both of the dominant texts of galen and of such important but. Mental illness in ancient medicine from celsus to paul of. Pdf cornelius celsus ancient encyclopedist, surgeonscientist. Written about ad 30, it remains the greatest medical treatise from ancient rome, and the first western history of medicine.