Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) - Volume 2.djvu/227

Rh GALENUS. for an account of Galen's views on anatomy and physiology. Galen's familiarity with practical anatomy is at- tested by numerous passages in his writings. In the examination, for instance, of the blood-vessels of the liver, he directs you to insert a probe into the vena portae, and from thence into any of its several larger ramifications ; then gently advancing the probe further and further, to dissect down to it. And thus, he says, you may trace the minu- test branches ; removing with tlie knife the inter- mediate substJince, called by Erasistratus the par- enchyma {De Anatom. Adviinistr. vi. 11, vol. ii. p. 575). Again, he notices what every one has often experienced in dissection, the occasional con- venience of dividing the cellular membrane, either by the finger or the handle of the scalpel {ibid. p. 476.) : and in describing the use of the blow- pipe and various other instruments and contri- vances employed in anatomical examinations, he continually introduces you, as it were, into the dissecting room itself (e'izc/. p. 476, 668, 716). As an instance of the boldness and extent of his ex- perimental anatomy, it may be mentioned, that, after observing that although a ligature on the inguinal or axillary artery causes the pulse to cease in the leg or in the arm, yet the experiment is not seriously injurious to the animal on which it is made, he adds that even the carotid arteries may be tied Avith impunity. {De Usu Puis. c. 1. vol. v. p. 150.) And the habitual' accuracy of his ob- servation is evinced when he corrects the error of those experimentalists, who, omitting to separate the contiguous nerves in tying the carotids, sup- posed that the consequent loss of voice depended on the compression of those arteries, and not on that of the accompanying nerves. {De Ilippocr. et Flat. Deer. ii. 6. vol. v. p. 266 ; Dr. Kidd's Cur- sory Analysis., ^c.) The question has often been discussed, whether Galen derived his anatomical knowledge from dis- secting a human body, or that of some other ani- mal. The writer is not aware of any passage in his writings in which it is distinctly stated that he dissected human bodies ; while the numerous passages in which he recommends the dissection of apes, bears, goats, and other animals, would seem indirectly to prove that human bodies were seldom or never used for that purpose. (See particularly De AnaU Administr. iii. 5. vol. ii. 384 ; De Muse. Dissect, c. 1. vol. xviii. pt. ii. p. 930. See also Rufus Ephes. De Corp. Hum. Part. Appellat. i. p. 33; Theophilus, De Corp. Hum. Fabr. v. 11. § 20.) In one passage, however, he mentions, as something extraordinary, that those physicians who attended the emperor M. Aurelius in his wars against the Germans had an opportunity of dissect- ing the bodies of the barbarians. {De Compos. Medicam. sec. Gen. iii. 2. vol. viii. p. 604.) On Galen's opinions respecting the nervous sys- tem there is a very complete and interesting thesis by C. V. Daremberg, Paris, 1841, 4to., entitled " Exposition des Connaissances de Galien, sur I'Anatomie, la Physiologic, et la Pathologie du Systeme Nerveux." IV. Works on Dietetics and Hygiene. 25. riepl 'ApicTTTjy KaTotTKeir^s rov 'S.wuaTOs VIJ.VV, De Optima Corporis nostri Constitutione Tvol. iv.). 26. Ilepi Eu€|ios, De Bom Habilu f vol. iv.). 27. noVepoj/ 'larptK^s, rj VvixvaaTinris GALENUS. 213 ecTTt TO 'tymv6v., Utrum Medicinae sit, vel Gym- nastices Hygieine (vol. v.). 28. De Attenuante Viclus Ratione (vol. vi. ed. Chart.). 29. "tyieivd^ De Su7iitate Tuenda (vol. vi.). One of Galen's best works. 30. Tl^pl Tpo<puy Avm/j-fus, De Aliment- arum Facultatibus (vol. vi.). 31. Tlepl EuxvfJ.ias Kal Ka/foxy,u/as Tpocpwy, De Probis et Fravis Ali- mentorum Succis (vol. vi.). 32. Tlepl YlTicaviqs, De Ptisana (vol. vi.) 33. Tlepl rov Sid MiKpds
 * S,(paipas Tv/xvaaiov, De Farvae Filae Ewercitio

(vol. v.). 34. De Dissolutione Coniinua, sive De A limentorum Facultatibus {yo. i. ed. Chart.) In Galen's directions respecting both food and the means of preserving health, we find many which are erroneous, and many others which, from the difference of climate and manners, are totally inap- plicable to us ; but, if allowance be made for these points, most of the rest of his observations will pro- bably be admitted to be very judicious and useful. Like the rest of the ancient medical writers, and in accordance with the liabits of his countrymen, he lays great stress on different species of gym- nastic exercises, and especially eulogizes hunting, as being an excellent exercise to the body, and an agreeable recreation to the mind. {De Farva Fila, vol. V. c. l,p. 900.) He particularly recommends the cold bath to persons in the prime of life, and during the summer season. With respect to the regimen of old persons, he says, that as old age is cold and dry, it is to be corrected by diluents and calefacients, such as hot baths of sweet waters, drinking wine, and taking such food as is moisten- ing and calefacient. He strenuously defends the practice of allowing old persons to take wine, and gives a circumstantial account of the Greek and Roman wines best adapted to them. He also ap- proves of their taking three meals in the day (while to other persons he allows only two), and recommends the bath to be used before dinner, which should consist of sea-fish. Of all kinds of animal food pork was almost uni- versally esteemed by the ancients as the best ; and Galen speaks of it in terms of the strongest appro- bation. He says that the athletes, if for one day presented with the same bulk of any other article of food, immediately experienced a diminution of strength ; and that, if the change of diet was per- sisted in for several days, they fell off in flesh. {De Aliment. Facult. iii. 2, vol. vi. p. 661.) Many other curious extracts from Galen's works on this subject may be found in Mr. Adams's Com- mentary on the first book of Paulus Aegineta, from which the preceding remarks have been abridged. V. Works on Pathology. 35. Tlepl ^AvwixdXov AvcTKpaalas, De Inaequcdi Intemperie (vol. vii.). 36. Tlepl Avffirpolas, De Diffidli RespiraUone (vol. vii.). 37. Tlep] UK^dous, De Plenitudine (vol. vii.). 38. Tlepl tmv irapd ^{/(TLV "OyKwu, De Tumoribus praeter Naturam (vol. vii.). 39. riepl Tpopiov, Kal TlaKfiov, Kal ^iraa- fiov, Kal 'Plyovs, De Tremore, Falpitatione, Con- vulsione, et Rigore (vol. vii.). 40. IlepJ t&v "OKov rov tJoat^ixaTos Kaipoiv, De Totius Morbi Tempor- ibus (vol. vii.) ; of doubtful genuineness. Much pathological matter may be found in va- rious other parts of Galen's writings, and perhaps some of the treatises noticed under the following head might with equal propriety have been classed under the present. p a