Herophilus of Alexandria

Abstract

in the Univer8ity of Bri8tol. ABOUT the end of the fourth century B.C., very shortly after the death of Aristotle, we come to two great names in the history of medicine-Herophilus, who may be called the founder of Systematic Anatomy, and Erasistratus, the first scientific physiologist. They both migrated from their homes in Asia Minor to Alexandria, attracted thither by the prospect of material advancement and the facilities for prosecuting their advanced studies which Ptolemaic Egypt offered to all eminent students. Their works are entirely lost, but some details of their teaching may be recovered from the voluminous writings of Galen, who possessed their books in entirety, and from scattered references in later writers. Of Erasis-tratus it must suffice for the moment to say that he came very near to discovering the circulation of the blood, and if he had started on the investigation of the arterial system with an open mind he must almost inevitably have reached the right conclusion. As it was, however, he was handicapped by the "pneumatic " theories of his predecessors and contemporaries, and could not shake off their influence. Herophilus is described by Galen as a follower of the "logical" or "dialectical'; method, as opposed to mere empiricism. Galen sometimes accuses him of obscurity, but severer censure is generally reserved for his followers [31, who erred by misinterpreting their master's opinions. In the majority of cases he is classed by the historian among the great physicians of antiquity [1, 2], and commended for the soundness of his views, especially for the combination of observation with reasoning powers. He took a deep interest in general anatomy, which formed the basis of his scientific application of gymnastic exercises to remedial purposes, and also of his dietetics [4]. His chief work was in connexion with the brain and the reproductive organs-the latter being of great practical importance owing to the interest taken by Greeks of this period in gynecology-while he also wrote minor works on the eye and on the liver. He also had some reputation for the invention of a scientific vocabulary, parts of which remain in use to the present day. It is certain that he made a careful study of Hippocrates; in fact, he wrote commentaries on the great master's Prognostics and Aphorisms, and made a collection of glosses, i.e., rare words used in his writings [4]. How far his study of the whole Hippocratic Corpus, and the work of his predecessors in general and particularly of Aristotle, had extended, is a matter for conjecture; but since Galen frequently represents him as accepting or rejecting one view or another, we assume that he was thoroughly familiar with the current literature of his subject. BRAIN AND NERVES. His work on the brain seems to have been important-the great thing being that, in opposition to Aristotle, he gave it precedence over the heart' as the centre of the nervous system. It is true that Alcmaeon had anticipated him (though what his argument was we do not know), but the Aristotelian tradition was definitely in favour of the heart being the seat of the intellect. "Herophilus," says Galen, I The reference numbers in brackets in the text relate to the " Extracts " which follow the paper. 2 He had on one occasion seen a heart exposed in consequence, perbaps, of a wound. The fact that the patient recovered may have inclined him to assign less importance to the heart [14].