An ancient medicine site would not be complete without a mention of the father of modern medicine: Hippocrates. Most medical students know little about him, but even today, modern physicians still swear an oath in his name. He is an ancient historical figure whose influence is still felt today.

Hippocrates was born in 460bc on the greek island of Cos. He grew up in an age that believed that humans were helpless against the wills of the gods. Religion and medicine were intermixed--with most believing that divine intervention healed and that man had little power over their own health and well being.

Hippocrates sought to define medicine in scientific terms rather than religion. According to Hippocrates, medical diagnosis was made on the basis of examination, observation and inquiry. He also introduced essentialism- the belief that the body was made of 4 elements (earth, air water and fire) that manifested as bile, phlegm, urine and blood. The imbalance of these elements would result in sickness. This helped people take better care of themselves in an effort to keep these elements healthy.

As a physician, he showed that observing was key--he was the first to describe epilepsy in children and the signs and symptoms of pneumonia. He was a big proponent of hygiene and healthy living to combat disease.

Hippocrates gave physicians great power and responsibility. He trained new recruits in a medical school in his home of Cos. He is credited with writing the Hippocratic Corpus--60 treatises that detail his ideas on the practice of medicine. And of course, he wrote the Hippocratic oath that is still in wide use. It is the foundation of modern medical ethics. Many medical schools were founded on hippocrates principles and teachings. Hippocrates died in 337 BC.

The Hippocratic Oath:
I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfil according to my ability and judgment this oath and this covenant:

To hold him who has taught me this art as equal to my parents and to live my life in partnership with him, and if he is in need of money to give him a share of mine, and to regard his offspring as equal to my brothers in male lineage and to teach them this art - if they desire to learn it - without fee and covenant; to give a share of precepts and oral instruction and all the other learning to my sons and to the sons of him who has instructed me and to pupils who have signed the covenant and have taken an oath according to the medical law, but no one else.

I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice.

I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.

I will not use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as are engaged in this work.

Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves.

What I may see or hear in the course of the treatment or even outside of the treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account one must spread abroad, I will keep to myself, holding such things shameful to be spoken about.

If I fulfil this oath and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and art, being honored with fame among all men for all time to come; if I transgress it and swear falsely, may the opposite of all this be my lot.