(), a celebrated Greek medical writer,
of whose personal history nothing is known except that he was a good deal, visiting, among
other places, Alexandria (4.49, p. 526). He is sometimes called Ἰατροσοφιστής (see Dict. of Ant. s. v.) and Περιοδευτής, a word which probably means a physician who
travelled from place to place in the exercise of his profession. The exact time when he lived
is not known; but, as he quotes Alexander Trallianus (3.28, 78, pp. 447, 495, 7.5, 11, 19, pp.
650, 660, 687), and is himself quoted by Yahya Ibn Serábí or Serapion (Pract. 7.9, pp. 73, 74, ed. Lugd. 1525), it is probable
that Abúl-Faraj is correct in placing him in the latter half of the seventh century
after Christ. (Hist. Dynast. p. 114.)
Works
Suidas says he wrote several medical works, of which the principal one is still extant,
with no exact title, but commonly called "De Re Medica Libri Septem." This work is chiefly a
compilation from former writers; and the preface contains the following summary of the
contents of each book : -- "In the first book you will find every thing that relates to
hygiene, and to the preservation from, and correction of, distempers peculiar to the various
ages, seasons, temperaments, and so forth; also the powers and uses of the different articles
of food, as is set forth in the chapter of contents. In the second is explained the whole
doctrine of fevers, an account of certain matters relating to them being premised, such as
excre-mentitious discharges, critical days, and other appearances, and concluding with
certain symptoms which are the concomitants of fever. The third book relates to topical
affections, beginning from the crown of the head, and descending down to the nails of the
feet. The fourth book treats of those complaints which are external and exposed to view, and
are not limited to one part of the body, but affect various parts. Also, of intestinal worms and dracunculi. The fifth treats of the wounds and bites of venomous
animals; also of the distemper called hydrophobia, and of persons bitten by dogs which are
mad, and by those which are not mad; and also of persons bitten by men. Afterwards it treats
of deleterious substances, and of the preservatives from them. In the sixth book is contained
every thing relating to surgery, both what relates to the fleshy parts, such as the
extraction of weapons, and to the bones, which comprehends fractures and dislocations. In the
seventh is contained an account of the properties of all medicines, first of the simple, then
of the compound, particularly of those which I had mentioned in the preceding six books, and
more especially the greater, and, as it were, celebrated preparations; for I did not think it
proper to treat of all these articles promiscuously, lest it should occasion confusion, but
so that any person looking for one or more of the distinguished preparations might easily
find it. Towards the end are certain things connected with the composition of medicines, and
of those articles which may be substituted for one another, the whole concluding with an
account of weights and measures." (Adams's Translation.) Of these books the sixth is the most
valuable and interesting, and contains at the same time the most original matter. His
reputation among the Arabians seems to have been very great. and it is said that he was
especially consulted by midwives, whence he received the name of
Al-kawábelí, or "the Accoucheur." (Abú-l-Faraj, l.c.) He is said by the Arabic authorities to have written a work, "De
Mulierum Morbis," and another, "De Puerulorum Vivendi Ratione atque Curatione." His great
work * This work is said by Abú-l-Faraj (l.c.) to have consisted of nine books, a statement which is
explained by Fabricius and others. by supposing that the seventh book, and either the third
or sixth, which are longer than the others, were divided by the Arabians into two; but
perhaps a more natural way of accounting for the statement is to consider "nine" a mere clerical error for "seven," the two words being
(with the exception of the diacritical points) almost exactly alike. was translated
into Arabic by Honain Ibn Ishak, commonly called Joannitius. (See J. G. Wenrich, De Auctor. Graecor. Version. et Comment. Syriac. Arab. Armen. et Pers.,
Lips. 81vo. 1842.) An account of the medical opinions of Paulus Aegineta may be found in
Haller's Biblioth. Chirurg. vol. i., and Biblioth.
Medic. Pract. vol. i. ; in Sprengel's Hist. de la Méd. vol.
ii.; and especially in Freind's Hist. of Physic, vol. i.
Editions
The Greek text has been twice published, Venet. 1528, fol. and Basil. 1538,
fol. There are three Latin translations, which were published altogether nearly
twenty times in the sixteenth century : 1. that by Albanus Torinus, Basil. 1532,
fol.; 2. that by J. Guinterius Andernacus, Paris. 1532, fol.; and 3.
that by Janus Cornarius, Basil. 1556, fol., which last translation is inserted
by H. Stephens in his "Medicare Artis Principes," Paris. 1567, fol.
Translations
Separate editions have appeared in Latin of the first, second, sixth, and seventh books;
and the sixth book has also been translated into French by Pierre Tolet, Lyons, 1539,
12mo. The whole work has been translated into English by Francis Adains, of
Banchory Ternan, near Aberdeen, with a very copious and learned commentary, intended to
furnish "a complete manual of the Surgery and Medicine of the Ancients, with a brief but
comprehensive outline of the sciences intimately connected with them, especially Physiology,
the Materia Medica, and Pharmacy." The first volume was published at London, 8vo, 1834, but
this edition was never finished; of the second and improved edition, the first volume
appeared in 1844, the second in 1846, and the third and last is expected to appear in the
course of the present year, 1847, London, 8vo, "printed for the Sydenham Society."
(Choulant, Handb. der Bücherkunde für die Aeltere Medicin.)