EARLY SURGERY AND MEDICINE 



11 



blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile, were mixed in the proper 

 proportions. Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) was one of the first men to 

 realize that all phenomena should be investigated very carefully 

 before a conclusion is made. He is called the Father of Bi- 

 ology because he made extensive studies of plants and animals 

 and their development. Not only did he investigate, but he 

 wrote down his investigations. He thus enabled the scientists 

 who followed, to build on his work. Because so little dissection 

 was permitted at this time, his work was full of errors ; but, 

 nevertheless, his studies were 

 of tremendous value. This 

 was the first step in breaking 

 away from idle speculation. 

 He started scientific investi- 

 gation, reason based on ob- 

 servation. 



Early surgery and medi- 

 cine. Previous to the Middle 

 Ages, many scientists talked 

 and argued at great length 

 about health and disease, but 

 they were unable to make 

 scientific investigations be- 

 cause they were forbidden by 

 law to dissect the human 

 body. The only dissections 

 permitted were those of lower 

 animals such as dogs. Un- 

 skilled barbers usually made 

 these dissections for the scien- 

 tists. An instructor would 



read to his class from an anatomy book written by a Greek phy- 

 sician, Galen. At the same time the barber pointed out the part 



In the medical schools of the Middle Ages the 

 lecturer stood in a pulpit. Barbers made the 

 dissections and pointed out the structures as 

 they were mentioned. A few favored animals 

 received the discarded parts as they were cut off. 



