Roman medicine

H. F. J. Horstmanshoff, M. Stol, and C. Tilburg. 2004. Magic and Rationality in Ancient Near Eastern and Graeco-Roman Medicine. Leiden Brill Publishers. 

Sauerhoff, M. W. and Michaelson, I. A. (1973). Hyperactivity and brain catecholamines in lead-exposed developing rats. Science, 182, 1022 Scarborough, J. (1969). Roman Medicine. (New York Cornell University Press) Schlaepfer, W. W. (1969). Experimental lead neuropathy a disease of the supporting cells in the peripheral nervous system. J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol., 21, 401 Schroeder, H. A. and Mitchener, M. (1971). Toxic effects of trace elements on the reproduction of mice and rats. Arch. Env. Health, 23, 102 Schroeder, H. A. and Tipton, I. H. (1968). The human body burden of lead. Arch. Env. Health, 17, 965... 

King, Helen. Greek and Roman Medicine. London Bristol Classical, 2001. 

The recognition that vitamin A could be used as a treatment for infections dates to antiquity. Fish liver oils, a potent source of vitamin A, were used as a treatment for infections in Greek and Roman medicine. Experiments in the 1920 s suggested that vitamin A-deficient animals were more susceptible to infections, and Green and Mellanby dubbed vitamin A the anti-infective vitamin in 1928 [5]. At least thirty trials were conducted between 1920 and 1940 which examined the use of vitamin A as a therapy for a wide variety of infections in humans. Although these early trials were encouraging, the emergence of sulfa antibiotics in the late 1930 s and the disappearance of malnutrition in industrialized countries led to a caesura in research on vitamin A as an anti-infective therapy. The description of an association between mild vitamin A deficiency and increased child mortality renewed interest in vitamin A [6], and further controlled clinical trials were conducted in the 1980 s which provided more definitive evidence for vitamin A as a public health intervention [2]. 

Hydrocarbons were first used in the field of medicine by the Romans. Bitumen was used in ancient Mesopotamia as mortar for bricks, as a road constmction material, and to waterproof boats. Arabia and Persia have a long history of producing oil. 

Aluminum Sulfate (Alum). Alum, a double sulfate of potassium and aluminum having twelve waters of crystallization, KA1(S0 2 12H20, is the earliest referenced aluminum containing compound. It was mentioned by Herodotus in the fifth century BC. The Egyptians used alum as a mordant and as a medicine the Romans used it for fireproofing. Some alums contain sodium or ammonium ions in place of potassium. 

Information Gathering Research institute historians find accounts that Roman women preferred fair complexions and used whitening creams. Furthermore, Greco-Roman literature indicates that tin compounds had little medicinal value. 

Basic toxicity has been identified from careful observation and experimentation in the workplace and in the lab. Over the years, from the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans, and probably long before that, we have learned that exposure to certain substances can cause bodily harm. Hippocrates, the founder of medicine in Ancient Greece, described the occurrence of lead poisoning among lead miners and metal workers as long ago as 400 B.C. The Roman historian, Pliny, described in his encyclopedia in the second half of the first century A.D., the dangers of mercury poison-... 

Nowhere did he mention the touchy subjects of Freemasonry and alchemy. He portrayed himself as a devout Roman Catholic his mission had always been to manufacture medicines and elixirs that would reduce pain, heal the ill, and extend human life. Jeannes trump card, the diabolical seance, he persuasively dismissed as a harmless experiment in mesmerism, a piece of parlor play that had nothing whatsoever to do with diamonds. As for the mysterious sources of his wealth, he reported the truth, that bankers in Switzerland and Lyons had given him generous drafts in gratitude for his healing services. 

The ancient Egyptians have described several useful preparations such as opium and castor oil. They also used rotten bread for treating infections which resembles our use of antibiotics produced by moulds and fungi. The Roman physician, Dioscorides, studied the medical uses of hundreds of plants and wrote the first systematic materia mediea during the first century. He also described the medicinal properties of wines. 

Though the Roman Empire was declining, the trade in opium was rapidly expanding. This spread was due in part to military exploits abroad, in addition to the influences of Arab scholars and medicine men, who were part of the most advanced societies of the time. By 330 B.c, Alexander the Great had advanced... 

Pliny the Elder, 23-79 A.D. Roman philosopher. Author of a Natural History in 37 books, in which he discussed the astronomy, geology, zoology, botany, agriculture, mineralogy, and medicine of his time. 

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