Medical Compendium in Seven Books

Medical Compendium in Seven Books (also known as Paul of Aegina's Medical Compendium in Seven Books or Epitome of Medicine) is a comprehensive medical guide written in the 7th century AD by the Byzantine era physician Paul of Aegina. The work is an important part of the History of medicine and is considered one of the most influential medical texts of the Byzantine Empire.

Overview

The Medical Compendium in Seven Books provides a detailed account of medical knowledge from the Hellenistic period up to the late Byzantine Empire. It is divided into seven books, each dealing with a different aspect of medical science. The work is considered a culmination of all significant Greek medical thought and was widely used in the Middle Ages.

Content

The seven books of the Medical Compendium cover a wide range of medical topics:

• Book I deals with general principles, symptoms, and treatments of diseases.
• Book II covers the topic of surgery, including descriptions of surgical instruments and techniques.
• Book III discusses the treatment of localized diseases, arranged from head to toe.
• Book IV is about diseases that affect the whole body, such as fevers and inflammations.
• Book V covers pharmacology, including the preparation of drugs from plants, minerals, and animals.
• Book VI is dedicated to the topic of gynecology and obstetrics.
• Book VII discusses the treatment of skin diseases, poisons, and bites from venomous animals.

Influence

The Medical Compendium in Seven Books was widely used in the Byzantine Empire and had a significant influence on Islamic medicine. It was translated into Arabic in the 9th century and was a major source of knowledge for physicians in the Islamic Golden Age. The work was also used in the Latin West, where it was translated into Latin in the 12th century and used as a textbook in the University of Salerno.

See also

• History of medicine
• Byzantine medicine
• Islamic medicine
• Paul of Aegina
• Epitome of Medicine

Medical Compendium in Seven Books Resources
Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials	Wikipedia