Hippocrates Classics: On Airs, Waters, And Places

by Hippocrates, Francis Adams (Translator)

I wish to show, respecting Asia and Europe, how, in all respects, they differ from one another, and concerning the figure of the inhabitants, for they are different, and do not at all resemble one another. To treat of all would be a long story, but I will tell you how I think it is with regard to the greatest and most marked differences. I say, then, that Asia differs very much from Europe as to the nature of all things, both With regard to the productions of the earth and the inhabitants, for everything is produced much more beautiful and large in Asia; the country is milder, and the dispositions of the inhabitants also are more gentle and affectionate. The cause of this is the temperature of the seasons, because it lies in the middle of the risings of the sun towards the east, and removed from the cold (and heat), for nothing tends to growth and mildness so much as when the climate has no predominant quality, but a general equality of temperature prevails.

Genres: Classics, Philosophy, Science, Medicine, Nonfiction, History

24 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2004

About the author

Hippocrates of Cos or Hippokrates of Kos (ca. 460 BC – ca. 370 BC) was an ancient Greek physician of the Age of Pericles, and was considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine. He is referred to as the "father of medicine" in recognition of his lasting contributions to the field as the founder of the Hippocratic School of medicine. This intellectual school revolutionized medicine in ancient Greece, establishing it as a discipline distinct from other fields that it had traditionally been associated with (notably theurgy and philosophy), thus making medicine a profession.

However, the achievements of the writers of the Corpus, the practitioners of Hippocratic medicine, and the actions of Hippocrates himself are often commingled; thus very little is known about what Hippocrates actually thought, wrote, and did. Nevertheless, Hippocrates is commonly portrayed as the paragon of the ancient physician. In particular, he is credited with greatly advancing the systematic study of clinical medicine, summing up the medical knowledge of previous schools, and prescribing practices for physicians through the Hippocratic Oath and other works.

Reviews

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

short. This should be relooked at my modern thinkers on how the environment effects anatomy.

Air and water. We can not live without them but how shall their variation change our health, mind, appearance and movement. The founder of modern medicine muses and asks.

Enjoy :
http://classics.mit.edu/Hippocrates/a...

[Tess · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is thought that Hippocrates wrote this about 4-5 BCE. It is mostly advice to traveling physicians. He advised them to firstly always check the air quality of each city they were going to visit Also to observe: winds, water quality, terrain, and personal habits of the citizenry. Did learn a few new vocab words: fenny, meaning boggy. Hippocrates thinks he can evaluate the population of a city based on the above qualities of their environment. Amongst others he evaluates the Scythians, inhabitants of Phasis (eastern shore of the Black Sea), and the Macrocephali. (long headed people, normally of the head deformation tribes in Africa, but Hippocrates is probably referring to an area in Turkey called Pontus-- I had to look this up). This was a short copy that came from a packet given to me for additional reading for a class I took 30 years ago. I don't believe it's in its entirety--I'm not sure of the date or who published. Off the shelf! 48 pages (probably more, but the font was only 6-7 and in double columns)

[Tyler · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a easy read from Hippocrates. This book takes more of the Aristotle method of philosophy to start describing the cause and effects of how the environment effects overall health. It was interesting to see how Hippocrates explained early understanding effects of different water. Such as how stagnant water if not boiled will lead to dysentery; how water from sulfur rich areas lead to kidney stones; how salt water leads to a constant feeling of thirst, and how mountain springs yield the best form of water.

It is here that some of the early breakdown of city planning and geographical understanding related to the effects of population health and longevity is explored .

There is a good section in this book where Hippocrates attempts (like many other Athenians and Greeks) to describe the complex nature of the Scythians, and how this race was shaped medically by their environment (natural and social).

I will only recommend this book for those that are really curious in antiquity health medicine.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This dude is racist. He ties climate and culture/character together and claims that Europeans are “more courageous than Asiatics” because they endure a variety of weathers. Hippocrates is a physician, but obviously his tendency towards environmental determinism really breaks down his credibility as a healthcare professional.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hippocrates tries to show how one's health or lack of health is determined by natural causes depending on the region where they live.
Book is also found at https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/h/hipp...

[Aidan Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is marvelling what people knew back then. Skimmed through the second half however as I didn't want to encode such outdated medical information into my brain, was just reading this out of curiosity. Definitely worth looking through.

[Nikhil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of historical value if none else, from the Father of Medicine

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing. He was trying to find a natural cause explanation for various dispositions, body shapes, diseases, etc., but looking back from a post-microscope vantage point, he got most things to wrong as to seem silly. Though I hasten to note that he was the beneficiary of almost no similar inquiry before him, and presumably our most notable modern scientists would go amusingly awry if they attempted what he attempted given the general state of scientific knowledge at the time.

One little example: "...where the land is fertile, soft, and well-watered, and supplied with waters from very elevated situations, so as to be hot in summer and hold in winter, and where the seasons are fine, there the men are fleshy, have ill-formed joints, and are of a humid temperament..."

The ending is also amusing: "Thus it is with regard to the most opposite natures and shapes; drawing conclusions from them, you may judge of the rest without any risk of error." Nice to know there's no chance of error using Hippocrates approach. (What he lacks in truth, he makes up for with confidence.)

[Kendra · Rating 2 out of 5]

That was short but sweet. It was interesting the way Hippocrates made connections between climate and health of the people living there. There were bits here and there where he made an observation that science would later prove and expand upon.

[M.A. Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of a classical reading list. Interesting to decipher what Hippocrates was talking about and apply it to modern knowledge of healthcare.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worthwhile reading; recommended!

[Sasha Dofflemeyer]

Interesting. I thought the Hippocratic Oath was contained in this text, but it is not, it is treated as its own separate entity. However, this text offers a remarkable glimpse into ancient epidemiology as Hippocrates outlines how various ailments differ with location and with the weather.