Direct contributions to medicine Hippocrates

clubbing of fingers in patient eisenmenger s syndrome; first described hippocrates, clubbing known hippocratic fingers .

hippocrates , followers first describe many diseases , medical conditions. given credit first description of clubbing of fingers, important diagnostic sign in chronic lung disease, lung cancer , cyanotic heart disease. reason, clubbed fingers referred hippocratic fingers . hippocrates first physician describe hippocratic face in prognosis. shakespeare famously alludes description when writing of falstaff s death in act ii, scene iii. of henry v.

hippocrates began categorize illnesses acute, chronic, endemic , epidemic, , use terms such as, exacerbation, relapse, resolution, crisis, paroxysm, peak, , convalescence. of hippocrates major contributions may found in descriptions of symptomatology, physical findings, surgical treatment , prognosis of thoracic empyema, i.e. suppuration of lining of chest cavity. teachings remain relevant present-day students of pulmonary medicine , surgery. hippocrates first documented chest surgeon , findings , techniques, while crude, such use of lead pipes drain chest wall abscess, still valid.

the hippocratic school of medicine described ailments of human rectum , treatment thereof, despite school s poor theory of medicine. hemorrhoids, instance, though believed caused excess of bile , phlegm, treated hippocratic physicians in relatively advanced ways. cautery , excision described in hippocratic corpus, in addition preferred methods: ligating hemorrhoids , drying them hot iron. other treatments such applying various salves suggested well. today, treatment [for hemorrhoids] still includes burning, strangling, , excising. also, of fundamental concepts of proctoscopy outlined in corpus still in use. example, uses of rectal speculum, common medical device, discussed in hippocratic corpus. constitutes earliest recorded reference endoscopy. hippocrates used lifestyle modifications such diet , exercise treat diseases such diabetes, today called lifestyle medicine. quoted let food medicine, , medicine food , walking man s best medicine , quote let food medicine appears apparent misquotation , exact origin remains unknown.