{"title":"On some ancient Greek and Latin medical recipes in verse. Their position in the world. Part A","authors":"Athanasios Diamandopoulos","doi":"10.12681/dj.38279","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/dj.38279","url":null,"abstract":"In Part A of our article, we examine medical recipes in verse within Greek literature, spanning from the Hellenistic period to the Roman Imperial era. We also briefly touch upon analogous recipes in Classical and Late Latin, as these two literary forms were intertwined for centuries. A comprehensive analysis of Latin literature in this domain remains a necessity. We explore the motivations behind these didactic poems and the metrical patterns employed in their composition. The article presents fragments of these recipes, all translated into English and several retained in their original language as well, arranged chronologically alongside succinct biographical details of their authors. These include Homer, considered their distant forebear, followed by Ovid, Aglaias of Byzantium, Andromachus the Elder, Philo of Tarsus, Damocrates, Nicander, Rufus of Ephesus, Eudemus of Pergamum, Galen, Serenus Sammonicus, The Carmen graecum de herbis, and Marcellus Empiricus. In Part B, we will continue to explore similar recipes from the Middle and Late Byzantine periods. This section will also feature examples from Medieval Latin and Islamic medical literature, illustrating the intercultural context in which these Greek verses stood. A General Discussion and Conclusions will be provided at the end of Part B.","PeriodicalId":91469,"journal":{"name":"Deltos","volume":"24 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141716848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Multum in parvo. Eight examples from the Louros Archive","authors":"Athanasios Diamandopoulos","doi":"10.12681/dj.38293","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/dj.38293","url":null,"abstract":"This paper begins with a brief overview of the late Professor Nikolaos Louros’ life, his residence, the eponymous Foundation for the History of Medicine, and his Archive. The main focus is the presentation of eight short entries from the Archive, which initially appear to concern medical matters. However, further research reveals their significance in shedding light on major political, social, and cultural events in Greece. The content of these eight notes includes: One and two - Louros’ instructions concerning the fate of his Archive after his death. Three - the peculiar circumstances surrounding the delivery of Queen Geraldine of Albania’s first son. Four - Louros’ appointment as director of the Evangelismos Hospital’s Department of Gynaecology. Five - a case of hymenorrhaphy. Six - events coinciding with the delivery of the Argentine Ambassador’s wife, Seven and eight - The tracing of Louros’ tomb.","PeriodicalId":91469,"journal":{"name":"Deltos","volume":"6 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141712591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Surprises as a bait to work harder – Four cases in the Louros Archive","authors":"Christos P. Marinis","doi":"10.12681/dj.38290","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/dj.38290","url":null,"abstract":"This brief paper discusses the author’s personal impressions from the process of recording, archiving, and categorising the N. Louros Archive during the summer of 2023, as well as the surprises that served as a motivation to continue this effort with increasing enthusiasm. Four cases of primary material with relevant photographs are indicative. Thus, the value of the Louros archive is emphasized for the history of medicine and other scientific fields, encouraging researchers to engage in a fruitful dialogue with related and unrelated sciences. Finally, a brief reference is made to the difficulties encountered during the project.","PeriodicalId":91469,"journal":{"name":"Deltos","volume":"334 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141691888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The teaching of the Art and Science of Medicine","authors":"Dennis V. Cokkinos","doi":"10.12681/dj.38284","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/dj.38284","url":null,"abstract":"Teaching of medicine hails back to the age of Hippocrates; in the “Oath” he considers his teachers equal to his parents. Teaching, clinical practice and research constitute the three pillars of medicine, and they are interconnected. The methods of teaching medicine are very important. Auditorium lectures are being replaced by teaching in small groups and problem-oriented teaching. Still the enthusiasm of the teacher who can also become a mentor is a critical ingredient. The teacher should not just transmit but also create knowledge. The advent of artificial intelligence provides new auxiliary tools but also poses new challenges. We must not forget that we are shaping the future of tomorrow.","PeriodicalId":91469,"journal":{"name":"Deltos","volume":"129 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141705621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Two Byzantine Medical Texts in Verse Translated into English: Diagnosis and Treatment of Disease","authors":"Petros Bouras-vallianatos","doi":"10.12681/dj.38280","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/dj.38280","url":null,"abstract":"This article aims to provide an English translation of two particularly popular Byzantine medical texts in verse, focusing on diagnosis by the examination of venesected blood and urine. Furthermore, these texts provide valuable therapeutic advice, especially for the use of drugs. They are composed in the form of liturgical hymns, combining mnemonic techniques. These hymns survive in various recensions and are often ascribed either to Nikephoros Blemmydes or Maximos Planoudes, both late Byzantine intellectuals and renowned teachers of advanced educational programs in Nicaea and Constantinople, respectively.","PeriodicalId":91469,"journal":{"name":"Deltos","volume":"52 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141689627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The German-American physician and philologist Achilles Rose (1839-1916), the grand Philhellene","authors":"Gregory Tsoucalas, Lazaros Vladimiros","doi":"10.12681/dj.38285","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/dj.38285","url":null,"abstract":"Achilles Rose, a German-American physician of the late 19th century, became famous for his persistent global struggle to promote the Hellenic language as the official language in medicine and science in general. Having studied in Zurich, Jena, and New York, he became a general practice physician. His most well-known medical treatise was “The Carbonic Acid in Medicine”, and he was the author of various works celebrating the Greeks and their vivid language. The Medical Society of Athens elected him as a member of a committee for such a purpose. Although Latin appeared to have won this linguistic battle, Hellenic terms eventually conquered international nomenclature. Greece must not forget this valiant Philhellene.","PeriodicalId":91469,"journal":{"name":"Deltos","volume":"58 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141713527","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Life expectancy from Prehistoric times to the 21st Century","authors":"John Yfantopoulos","doi":"10.12681/dj.38288","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/dj.38288","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this article is to investigate the factors contributing to significant improvements in longevity from the pre-historic times to the 21st century. Examining historical data, we witness an improvement in life expectancy from 20 years in prehistoric times to around 85 years in 2023. Several socio-economic and medical factors have contributed to this improvement, including living conditions, sanitation, housing, nutrition, education, disease prevention, medical advancements, environment, and economic growth. Analysing historical trends we can distinguish seven periods. In prehistoric times, primitive sanitary and living conditions, limited access to basic resources, high rates of accidents and infectious diseases resulted in short human longevity, ranging between 20 to 30 years. During ancient times, several historical sources from Egypt, Greece and Rome estimate life expectancy also at 20 to 35 years. Warfare, infectious diseases, malnutrition, and high rates of infant mortality are recorded as the main factors for this short life span. In the Middle Ages (500–1500 AD), the great killers like the Plagues (Black Death) had a significant impact on the reduction of population. Life expectancy fluctuated around 30 to 40 years. The Early Modern Period (1500–1800 AD) is marked by the advent of the agricultural revolution, enhancements in diet, and better sanitary conditions. Despite these advancements, life expectancy remained relatively unchanged, hovering between 30 and 40 years. With the Industrial Revolution (18th–19th centuries), life expectancy increased to 40-50 years. Advancements in the Twentieth Century, including medical care, sanitation, living conditions, nutrition, reforms in health systems for improved access to health services, and technological innovations, significantly increased life expectancy. These developments, predominantly in developed regions, led to life expectancy surpassing 70 years. The 21st Century is characterised by ongoing improvements in life expectancy, which has reached 85 years. However, significant health disparities persist between nations, regions, and socioeconomic groups. In 2022, the disparity in life expectancy among nations was as large as 33.5 years, with figures ranging from 52.5 years in Chad, Nigeria, and Central African Republic to 86 years in Monaco, Hong Kong, and Japan.","PeriodicalId":91469,"journal":{"name":"Deltos","volume":"49 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141715218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Luigi Taborelli (2022), Stamped Medicine Flasks nei ‘Virginia R. Grace Papers’ e i pogressi della ricerca, Roma: Edizioni Quasar, [2022]","authors":"Laurence Totelin","doi":"10.12681/dj.38294","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/dj.38294","url":null,"abstract":"Luigi Taborelli is the world expert on microcontainers produced in the Hellenistic period and stamped with the word ‘lukion’, referring to a medicinal preparation. In the book reviewed, Taborelli examines the archives of the famous American archaeologist Virginia Grace on the matter of these microcontainers. Examining archival material allows scholars to identify exemplars of these microcontainers which remain unexamined. As more examples of these microcontainers come to light, scholars will be able to better understand the trade in medicinal substances in the Hellenistic world.","PeriodicalId":91469,"journal":{"name":"Deltos","volume":"27 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141709892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Professor Nikolaos Louros, a concerned scientist in twentieth-century Athens","authors":"Katerina Gardikas","doi":"10.12681/dj.37730","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/dj.37730","url":null,"abstract":"The personal papers of Nikolaos Louros present an invaluable source of information on Louros’s place in the medical, social, cultural and political history of twentieth-century Greece. A royalist, liberal and keen observer of scientific and social developments, he participated actively in the shaping of the country’s post-war progress in medical education, institutions and ideas.","PeriodicalId":91469,"journal":{"name":"Deltos","volume":"54 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141702288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"“The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” by Shota Rustaveli: Salutogenic Aspects","authors":"R. Shengelia, Levan Jojua","doi":"10.12681/dj.38281","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.12681/dj.38281","url":null,"abstract":"The article provides a discussion of the specific salutogenic aspects of medical knowledge in Shota Rustaveli’s “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” – a distinguished piece of Georgian literature. Consideration of specific passages from the poem and corresponding commentary demonstrates the author’s medical knowledge, as he stresses the significance of positive emotions, a healthy environment, and mood on human health, thus having a therapeutic effect.. Regarding the knowledge reflected in similar scientific literature, which is significant for the history of Georgian medicine, the work offers a more specific and, in some cases, newer vision of the salutogenic aspects in “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin”. Along with the author’s knowledge, we emphasise the fact that during that period, there was a logical link between the medical-biological thinking of the era known as the “Golden Age”. This connection represents a natural expression of the level of the scientific sphere, simultaneously with cultural and political progress in the country. In addition to providing an overview of specific medical areas in “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin”, the article will explore the scientific and other literature of the era and a later period, where similar approaches are described. The issues discussed in the article, regarding their nature and different aspects, could be of interest for studying the history of medicine of that specific era.","PeriodicalId":91469,"journal":{"name":"Deltos","volume":"56 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141695569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}