Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-29T07:23:08.654Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Otorhinolaryngological diseases in Byzantium (A.D. 324–1453): information from non-medical literary sources

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

J. Lascaratos
J. Lascaratos*
Affiliation:
Athens University, Athens, Greece.
*
Address for correspondence: Dr. John Lascaratos, M.D., 164B Hippocratous str, Athens 11471, Greece. Fax: (0301) 7796745
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The knowledge of the Byzantine physicians in the field of otorhinolaryngology and especially of the eminent ones, Oribasius, Aetius of Ameda, Paul of Aegina and Alexander of Tralles is noteworthy. They knew an adequate number of diseases of the ear, nose and throat and treated them with a plethora of drugs and some of them, especially tonsillitis and tonsillar abscess, with operations. The writer, based on the texts of the Byzantine historians and chroniclers, presents information previously unknown. This includes analysis of cases of an epidemic of angina, speech defects, instances of otitis, epistaxis, ulcer of the mouth, acute laryngitis or pharyngitis and psychogenic aphonia. Most cases concern emperors and other prominent figures of the State and Church. This information complements, from the historical point of view, the scientific knowledge of the medical writersin the field of otorhinolaryngology.

Keywords

History of medicine, ancientOtolaryngology
Type
Historical Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 110 , Issue 10 , October 1996 , pp. 913 - 917
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bekker, I. (1838). Symeon Magister (Pseudo-Symeon), chronographia. In Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, I. Weber, Bonn, pp 619–620.Google Scholar
Bekker, I. (1839). Georgii Cedreni historiarum compendium. In Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, vol, II, I. Weber, Bonn, pp 72–522.Google Scholar
Briau, R. (1855). Chirurgie de Paul d'Égine, V. Masson, Paris, pp 154–168.Google Scholar
Büttner, T. – Wobst, T. (1897). Ioannis Zonarae epitomae historiarum, In Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, vol. III, I. Weber, Bonn, pp 644–646.Google Scholar
Ermerins, F. (1840). Leo the philosopher and physician, Synopsis of Medicine. In Anecdota Medica Graeca, Lugduni Batavorum, p 155.Google Scholar
Hunger, H. (1992). Byzantine Literary, vol. II. Cultural Foundation of the National Bank, Athens, p 223.Google Scholar
Lachmann, C. (1834). Iosephi Genesii, regum libri quattuor, In Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, I. Weber, Bonn, p 23.Google Scholar
Lascaratos, J. (1995). Diseases of the Byzantine Emperors, J. and J., Athens, p 458.Google Scholar
Meineke, A. (1836). Nicephori Bryennii, commentariorum Libri I–IV, In Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, I. Weber, Bonn, pp 33, 62–73.Google Scholar
Olivieri, A. (1950). Aetii Amideni Libri Medicinales V–VIII. Aedibus Academiae Litterarum, Berlin, pp 476–487.Google Scholar
Pinder, M. (1844). Ioannis Zonarae annalium, In Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, vol. II, I. Weber, Bonn, p 352.Google Scholar
Puschmann, T. (1963). Alexander von Tralles. II. Band. Verlag A.M. Hakkert, Amsterdam (repr.), pp 79–145.Google Scholar
Raeder, J. (1933). Oribasii collectionun medicarum reliquiae, vol I–IV, In Corpus Medicorum Graecorum, B. Teubner, Leipzig and Berlin, pp 190–193.Google Scholar
Schopen, L. (1829). Nicephori Gregorae, historiae Byzantinae, In Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, vol. I, I. Weber, Bonn, p 292.Google Scholar
Schopen, L. (1830). Nicephori Gregorae, historiae Byzantinae, In Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, vol. II, I. Weber, Bonn, p 601.Google Scholar
Schopen, L. (1839). Anna Comnena, Alexias, In Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, vol. I, I. Weber, Bonn, pp 42, 373–375.Google Scholar
Tafel, T. (1859). Theodosii Meliteni qui fertur Chronographia, T. Tafel, München, p 145.Google Scholar
Thurn, I. (1973). Ioannis Scylitzae, synopsis historiarum, In Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae, Gruyter, Berlin, pp 27, 397, 405.Google Scholar
Troianos, S. (1995). Sorcery and medicine in Byzantium. Themes of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 9: 309–327.Google Scholar
Wyngaarden, J., Smith, L., Bennett, J. C. (1992). Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 19th Edition., vol. II, W. Saunders, Philadelphia, p 2074.Google Scholar