Soranus of Ephesus: the first Greco-Roman perinatologist and pediatrician
- Authors: Jarman O.A.1, Mikirtichan G.L.1
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Affiliations:
- St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation
- Issue: Vol 9, No 6 (2018)
- Pages: 119-128
- Section: Articles
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/pediatr/article/view/11243
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17816/PED96119-128
- ID: 11243
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Abstract
Soranus of Ephesus, a famous Greek physician and polymath, one of the most lucid authors of so called ‘Methodist Sect’, who lived in Rome in the 2nd century, composed a treatise that was unique for his time, ‘Gynekology’ (“Gynaikeia”), in four volumes; that treatise had been a bible of obstetrics, gynecology, and pediatrics in Europe till 17th century. One third of this treatise is dealing directly with a child. Especially important and distinctive are the achievements of Soranus not only as an obstetrician but also as a unique Greco-Roman pediatrician, neonatologist and, in certain degree, as a perinatologist. Soranus expremely thoroughly for his time described case management from the conception until weaning (severing the navel cord, baby’s clothes, baby care, swaddling etc.), the rules of breastfeeding and symptoms of some diseases of newborn children. The attention he paid to the little child is unique for both Greco-Roman culture and medicine. Soranus might well have used the midwives’ lore and transformed it from the point of view of rational medicine into the medicine practiced by males, keeping the best of it. He described conception, prevention of spontaneous abortion, severing the navel cord, the first baby’s hygienic procedures, bath, massage, breastfeeding, some children diseases; he also gave the characteristics of newborn’s vitality, which can be compared with modern Apgar score, i.e. he was considering the problems that are nowadays in the focus of perinatologists and neurologists. In this respect, his gigantic figure stands alone not only in the field of Greco-Roman medicine, but also medieval medicine with no rivals.
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##article.viewOnOriginalSite##About the authors
Olga A. Jarman
St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation
Author for correspondence.
Email: glm306@yandex.ru
MD, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Department of Humanities and Bioethics
Russian Federation, Saint PetersburgGalina L. Mikirtichan
St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation
Email: glm306@yandex.ru
MD, PhD, Dr Med Sci, Professor, Head, Department of Humanities and Bioethics
Russian Federation, Saint PetersburgReferences
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