Consider the nature of man (1)

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The observation of signs on which the physician could base his prognosis of the patient characterises both the Akkadian and the early Greek medicine.

Hippocratic Corpus, Epidemics 1.3.1:
The factors which enable us to distinguish between diseases are as follows: First we must consider the nature of man in general and of each individual and the characteristics of each disease. Then we must consider the patient, what food is given to him and who gives it - for this may make it easier for him to take or more difficult - the conditions of climate and locality both in general and in particular, the patient’s customs, mode of life, pursuits and age. Then we must consider his speech, his mannerisms, his silences, his thoughts, his habits of sleep or wakefulness and his dreams, their nature and time. Next, we must note whether he plucks his hair, scratches or weeps. We must observe his paroxysms, his stools, urine, sputum and vomit. We look for any change in the state of the malady, how often such changes occur and their nature, and the particular changes which induce death or a crisis. Observe, too, sweating, shivering, chill, cough, sneezing, hiccough, the kind of breathing, belching, wind, whether silent or noisy, haemorrhages and haemorrhoids. We must determine the significance of all these signs.

Source (list of abbreviations) (source links will open in a new browser window)
Hippocratic Corpus, Epidemics 1.3.1

Bibliography

Amar Annus

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