This document provides a brief history of medicine from ancient times through Roman civilization. It describes early systems of medicine including Ayurveda in India dating back to 5000 BC, traditional Chinese medicine based on the principles of Yin and Yang from 2700 BC, and Egyptian medicine from 2000 BC which viewed medicine as intertwined with religion. Greek medicine from 460-136 BC is discussed in more detail, highlighting figures like Hippocrates and his emphasis on clinical methods and the four humors theory of health. Roman medicine expanded on Greek practices with an increased focus on public health, sanitation, and specialization of physicians.

1. Introduction- Evolution of
Community Medicine
By:-Kamlesh Sharma
Group No.:-217

2. History of Medicine

4. MEDICINEINANTIQUITY
PRIMITIVE MEDICINE (ABOUT 5000 BC)
“Supernatural Theory of Disease”

5. INDIAN MEDICINE
‘Ayurveda & Siddha Systems’(5000 BC)
Ayurveda means: “knowledge of life” or knowledge of
prolonging life.
 Mythological figures like Sages and seers
 Schools of Medicine and Public hospitals.
Sushruta- Father of Indian Surgery.

6. ‘Tridosha Theory of disease’
Disease was explained: Disturbance of equilibrium
of three humors or Doshas: Vata (wind), Pitta (gall),
Kapha (mucus)
Hygiene, sanitation and engineering.
Unani Tibb and homeopathy.

7. CHINESE MEDICINE (2700 BC)
First organized body of medical knowledge.
‘Yang and Yin’-Two Principles
Yang: Active masculine principle.
Yin : Negative feminine principle.
The balance of these two opposing forces meant
good health.
Hygiene, dietetics, hydrotherapy, massage, drugs
were used by physicians.
 Early pioneers of Immunization.
 Accupuncture.

9. EGYPTIAN MEDICINE (2000 BC)
Oldest civilization.
Art of medicine was mingled with religion.
 Pulse- speech of heart.
Picture writing and Papyrus recording.
Prescriptions (800 based on 700 drugs).
Planned cities, Inoculation against smallpox.

11. MESOPOTAMIAN MEDICINE
Cradle of civilization.
Basic concepts of medicine were religious, practised
by herb doctors, knife doctors and spell doctors.
Magic, necromancy, demons
Geomancy and Hepatoscopic divination.

12. ‘Code of Hammurabi’
Hammurabi- Great King of Babylon formulated set
of drastic laws for conduct of physicians.
Oldest medical prescription.

13. GREEK MEDICINE(460-136 BC)
Civilizers of the ancient world.
They taught man to think ‘why’and ‘how’.
‘Aesculapius bore two daughters’
Hygiea : Goddess of health
Panacea: Goddess of medicine
Dynasty of healers (Curative medicine)
Hygienists (Preventive medicine).

15. GREEK MEDICINE (CONT’D)
‘Hippocrates- Father of medicine’
Hippocrates- An epidemiologist
Book; Corpus Hippocraticum, 72 Volume:
Classification of diseases.
Introduced clinical methods
in medicine.

16. Greeks belief: Matter is made up of four elements - Earth, air,
fire, water. Represents in body as four humors; Phlegm, yellow
bile, blood, black bile.
Alexandria huge museum, first University in the world.
Hippocrates schools and libraries.

17. ROMAN MEDICINE
More powerful and practical minded than Greeks.
Sense of sanitation.
Public health awareness: baths, sewers, roads, pure
water, hospitals, and malaria treatment.
Galen- Amedical dictator.
Speciality in comparative anatomy and experimental
physiology.
Standard textbooks of medicine for 14 centuries.
Disease was due to: Predisposing, exciting and
environmental factors.