What is it about?
This article explores how ancient Roman physicians used pain to understand where illness was located in the body. It focuses on the methods of a physician named Archigenes, who practiced in Rome during the first and second centuries CE. Archigenes distinguished dozens of pains (e.g. numb, heavy and salty) and believed that the type of pain could indicate the organ affected by the illness, helping in diagnosis and treatment. While his terminology is often seen as confusing, this paper argues that there was a logical basis behind Archigenes' approach. It suggests that he considered not only pain but also other sensations and physical signs observed by both physician and patient, reflecting a more comprehensive conception of the patient's condition.
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Why is it important?
This article reveals a different perspective about pain in ancient times. Some physicians didn't solely rely on what patients said about their pain. Instead, they paid attention to other signs they observed in the patient and took an active role in identifying and describing patients' pain. The historical discussion touches upon issues raised in ongoing contemporary discussions of the role of patients and their narratives in describing their pain and in the diagnosis process as a whole.
Perspectives
The process of writing this article enriched my reflection on the dynamics between patients and doctors throughout history and particularly regarding the place of open narrative and conversation in the modern diagnosis process. It also allowed me to bring to the fore the voices and ideas of ancient physicians that are often dismissed or misunderstood and who provide valuable insights into pain and its diagnosis, even in our present-day context.
Orly Lewis
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Perceiving and Diagnosing Pain according to Archigenes of Apamea, June 2023, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004677463_008.
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