Christine Cao & Aileen Nguyen Period 5 Science and Medicine in Roman Times Even though the great

Roman Empire largely based its science on religion and superstition, it made numerous advancements that were the building blocks for modern day science and medicine (D.G. and R.K., 2000). These founding concepts were known to originate from the Ancient Greeks. From these ideas the Romans advanced in the field of medicine and science. Using their extensive knowledge, they created many tools and methods that evolved the fundamental understanding of medicine and the human body. (Medicine and Surgery in Ancient Rome, Retrieved 2/25/12). Their advancements were often derived from religious and superstitious beliefs. Without their discoveries, modern science would not be as advanced as it is today. Overall, the Romans contributions greatly affected the history of science and medicine. The Roman Empire was as its height when it easily conquered many different countries and people such as the Greeks, Etruscans, Egyptians, and Persians (Medicine and Surgery in Ancient Rome, Retrieved 2/25/12). As the Romans became a force of world power, they built their knowledge of science and medicine to help create a better understanding of anatomy (Medicine and Surgery in Ancient Rome, Retrieved 2/25/12). Ancient Rome used the ideas of the Greeks but did not directly copy them. For example, Greeks are well-known for their beautiful cities yet they did not pay attention to the roads, sewers, or aqueducts. (http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk, 2012). On the contrary, the Romans strongly believed that a healthy environment would result in positive effects for

society. By incorporating both ideas, the Roman Empire had a beautiful appearance and good public health. The Romans also emphasized the importance of personal hygiene and clean water since they believed that poor hygiene was one of the main sources of disease. Next, the Romans created many tools used for medical purposes. For example, bone hooks were long thin metal tools that were used to handle small pieces of tissue. These were often used by Roman and Greek doctors and are still used today for the same purposes. (Medicine and Surgery in Ancient Rome, Retrieved 2/25/12). This was how the Greeks and others affected the innovations of the Romans. The Romans had great achievements beyond the imagination of anyone at their time period. The Romans excelled in all areas: art, literature, and military tactics. But most importantly, they excelled in the field of science and medicine. For example, the Romans were the first to believe that illness was caused by bad water and sewage. They were the first to have a program of public healthcare for everyone, regardless of the wealth of a person (http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk, 2012). The Romans also drained marshes to rid of Malaria carrying mosquitoes. To help bring clean water to the Empire, the Romans invented the aqueduct. They were also the first to provide the poor with toilets. The city of Rome had a total of 144 public toilets which were flushed clean by running water. Because there were so many toilets, the Romans had to create an effective drainage system. Their drainage system was one of the most advanced and successful for a long period of time. The Romans were also the first to perform plastic surgery. At first, plastic surgery was only used on wounded soldiers, but soon became common for other people. Many freed slaves removed their branding mark on their body and some women received Otoplasty, which is ear surgery, because their ear lobes had stretched from wearing heavy earrings. They also

had a primitive form of what we would call today, a nose job. (http://www.unrv.com, 2011). The Romans were also the first to dissect a human body and therefore made great advancements in anatomy. Many Roman scientists and doctors would dissect a criminal that was trialed to death. They understood that the heart pushed blood around the body, that nerves controlled the movement of the body, and that people thought with their brains (Carr, 2011). They also understood the structure and movement of bones and muscles. These were some of the discoveries and achievements that the Romans are acknowledged for today. In addition, the Romans used their common knowledge to invent tools and methods to attempt to cure diseases. In the early years, no one in the Roman Empire would have a professional medical career. The main knowledge would consist of herbal cures and medicines to treat common sicknesses. (http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk, 2012). Some of the methods of the Ancient Romans interfered with religious beliefs such as reading livers, which was believed to reveal good or bad omens. It was believed that the gods were capable of communicating through a sacrificed animals liver. Thus showing they believed spells, rituals, and superstition would cure diseases. (Medicine and Surgery in Ancient Rome, Retrieved 2/25/12). Their knowledge was created from the method of trial and error; methods and medicines that were successful would be passed down to another doctor. Roman surgeons also had a plentiful supply of sedatives that would help during surgery such as morphine extracted from opium poppies and scopolamine from henbane seeds. To keep these methods for future generations, Romans recorded the new discoveries and later taught them in medical schools. (Medicine and Surgery in Ancient Rome, Retrieved 2/25/12). Plus, the Romans used multiple techniques that killed germs; yet they

did not grasp how germs were connected to disease. For example, they boiled their tools before each use and washed wounds with acetum. Last, Romans used many tools such as scalpels, bone hooks, bone drills, bone forceps, bone levers, rectal speculums, probes, and curettes. Most of these tools are still used today surgery such as scalpels which are used to make incisions. The Romans were advanced in the tools, methods, and treatments in which they used in the fields of medicines and science. The Roman Empire made much development in science; however, it was largely based on religion and its common knowledge, which is not accepted today. To fill in gaps in science and medicine, the Romans used religion. For instance, the Romans believed that disease was brought on by the disfavor of the Gods. Therefore, they deeply believed that practices such as superstition, rituals, and a belief in spells would rid them of disease. Since many diseases were soon cured, they believed they had managed to please the gods by performing religious and spiritual acts. Today scientists do not rely on religion as much as the Romans did. Nevertheless, modern society still uses religion to explain questions that cannot be proven by science. Today, someone, lying on deaths door, can suddenly be cured by what scientists can only explain as a miracle. Some people can be in the worst accidents, have the biggest tumor, or have a severe case of a life threatening disease and still make it through without any explanation. Many people turn to religion and believe that the reason they survived was because of their strong faith. Some of the common knowledge that the Romans had were also incorrect. For example, many thought that bloodletting was a good idea. Bloodletting was the process of withdrawing a small amount of blood to cure diseases or sickness. This practice was based on an ancient system of medicine in which blood and other bodily fluid were considered to be "humors" to the proper balance of which

maintained health. This practice was performed by doctors up until the late 19th century. Many Roman doctors and scientists also believed that air entered through the heart (Carr, 2011). Physicians now know that air enters through the lungs. The Romans also thought that the position that the surgeon was taking affected the quality of their work. The knees were slightly separated and above the groin and the elbows were never to pass the front of the knees or go behind the chest. Two hands had to be used at all time and hands were never over the breast. The forearms had to be kept at right angles to the arms and had to stay level on the ground at all times. Physicians today know the position that the surgeon takes does not matter with the health of the patient. (http://www.richeast.org, 2000) As shown, even though the Romans made great achievements in science and medicine, incomparable to anyone at the time, they explained many of their questions with their religion and common knowledge that is now proven to be incorrect. Finally, the advancements that the Romans made are used as the foundation for modern science and medicine. For example, the tools that the Romans invented helped design some of the basic medical tools today. These include dioptra, the cautery, and the hook. The dioptra is used in diagnosing uterine disorders. This tool did not change until the twentieth century. The cautery was a long rod with a square shaped handle. It was used as a haemostatic, a bloodless knife, and a tool to destroy tumors. Hooks were used to dissect and raise blood vessels, seize and raise small pieces of tissue for excision, and for fixing the edges of wounds. Modern scientists still use the hook for the same purposes today. Also, the Romans set an example for modern surgery and giving a model to improve upon. Even though many Roman surgeries failed, they helped modern scientists make progress in surgery. One of the things that Romans did that surgeons do today is keep their fingernails

short. If a surgeons fingernails are too long, then the patient may have get cut. Also, dirt may have built up underneath the fingernail that would cause infection inside the patients body. In addition, some of the things that the Romans started are still used today and have no changed very much. These include the house call, medical terms, prescriptions, and the Hippocratic Oath. These are all very essential things in the medical field today. For example, the Romans started the tradition of the Hippocratic Oath. This is an oath that is the model of medical ethics. Anyone entering the medical field still takes this oath. They also started to use treatments from herbs that would later progress into what we would call medicine. Even though none of the herbs the Romans used are used today, they helped set an example for modern pharmacists. Also, the use of dreams as a therapeutic practice greatly helped psychologists of today with their practices. Their practices led way to the field of psychology. (http://www.richeast.org, 2000). Therefore, without the help of the Romans, modern science and medicine would not be as advanced as it is today. In conclusion, knowledge in the well-known Roman Empire was mainly based on beliefs of religion and superstition, however, it managed to progress in what would become todays science and medicine. The understanding of medicine in ancient Rome helped set a basis and standard for todays science. (Carr, 2011). Even though they made great developments in science using their common knowledge, the Romans filled the gaps with superstition and religion. In addition to their progress, the Romans invented tools, techniques, and methods that would be used to cure and treat certain illnesses. The Romans made much improvement to the science and medicine during that time. Nevertheless, the Romans mainly used the knowledge of the ancient Greeks as a foundation for their

innovations. Therefore, the Ancient Romans are acknowledged for their great involvement in the field of science and medicine and will be remembered forever. Bibliography (2011) Roman medicine. Retrieved February 25, 2012. http://www.unrv.com/culture/roman-medicine.php Carr, K. (2011) Roman Science- kidipede. Retrieved February 25, 2012 http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/science/index.htm D.G. and R.K. (2000) Medicine of Ancient Rome. Retrieved February 25, 2012. http://www.richeast.org/htwm/Greeks/Romans/medicine/index.html Medicine and Surgery in Ancient Rome. Retrieved February 25, 2012. http://www.crystalinks.com/romemedicine.html Trueman, C. (2011) Medicine in Ancient Rome. Retrieved February 26, 2012.. http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/medicine_in_ancient_rome.htm