On Medicine, Volume I: Books 1–4

by Aulus Cornelius Celsus, W.G. Spencer (Translator)

A. 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. Of all this great work there survives only the 8 books on medicine ("De Medicina"). Book I: after an excellent survey of Greek schools (Dogmatic, Methodic, Empiric) of medicine come sensible dietetics or health preservation which will always be applicable. Book II: deals with prognosis, diagnosis of symptoms (which he stresses strongly), and general therapeutics. Book III: internal ailments: fevers and general diseases. Book IV: local bodily diseases. Next come two pharmacological books, Book V: treatment by drugs of general diseases; and Book VI: of local diseases. Book VII and Book VIII deal with surgery; these books contain accounts of many operations, including amputation.

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. From no other source can we learn so much of the condition of medical science up to his own time.

The Loeb Classical Library edition of Celsus is in three volumes.

Genres: Medicine, Classics

512 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1935

About the author

Aulus Cornelius Celsus (ca 25 BC—ca 50) was a Roman encyclopaedist, known for his extant medical work, De Medicina, which is believed to be the only surviving section of a much larger encyclopedia. The De Medicina is a primary source on diet, pharmacy, surgery and related fields, and it is one of the best sources concerning medical knowledge in the Roman world. The lost portions of his encyclopedia likely included volumes on agriculture, law, rhetoric, and military arts.

Reviews

[John Cairns · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found out tetanus is caused by a chronic disease of old horses, spread fromn their manure, and since there was a lot of dust causing eye trouble, I guess tetanus must've been fairly common. Celsus reads like a practitioner, grounded in Greek scientific medicine, a far cry from the old Roman placebos of Pliny which worked on faith alone. I'd only just heard of Celsus but he's good and readable.