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Aulus Cornelius Celsus (ca 25 BC—ca 50) was a Roman encyclopedist and physician.[1] He probably lived in Gallia Narbonensis. His only extant work, the De Medicina, is the only surviving section of a much larger encyclopedia, and is a primary source on diet, pharmacy and surgery and related fields. The lost portions of his encyclopedia likely included volumes on agriculture, law, rhetoric, and military arts. Celsus' De Medicina is one of the best sources on Alexandrian medical knowledge. The medical section of his encyclopedia contained the following Books:
- Book 1 the History of Medicine,
- Book 2 General Pathology,
- Book 3 Specific Diseases,
- Book 4 Parts of the Body,
- Book 5 and 6 Pharmacology,
- Book 7 Surgery and
- Book 8 Orthopedics
In the "Prooemium" or introduction to "De Medicina" there is an early discussion of the relevance of theory to medical practice and the pros and cons of both animal experimentation and human experimentation.
Celsus is credited with recording the cardinal signs of inflammation: calor (warmth), dolor (pain), tumor (swelling) and rubor (redness and hyperaemia). He goes into great detail regarding the preparation of numerous ancient medicinal remedies including the preparation of opioids. In addition, he describes many 1st‑century Roman surgical procedures which included removal of a cataract, treatment for bladder stones, and the setting of fractures.
Hippocrates used the Greek word carcinos, meaning crab or crayfish, to refer to malignant tumors. It was Celsus who translated the Greek term into the Latin cancer, also meaning crab.
The first printed edition of Celsus' work was published in 1478. His work became famous for its elegant Latin style.
Quotes
- "It is not cruel to inflict on a few criminals sufferings which may benefit multitudes of innocent people through all centuries." (De Medicina, Prooem. 26)
References
- ^ Michler, Markwart [May 1969]. Die Hellenistische Chirurgie (in German).
External links
- De Medicina at LacusCurtius (Latin original and English translation)
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