[Galen of Pergamum (129-216/217 AD) and his contribution to urology: part I: life, work and medical system].
Galen of Pergamum was, along with Hippocrates, the most influential physician and undoubtedly the most important medical scholar of classical antiquity. His anatomy and his concept of humoral pathology dominated western medicine until the sixteenth century and influenced all fields of medicine until after the seventeenth century. After referring to some biographical data the philosophical and epistemic fundamentals of Galen's"medical system" are outlined and brought into relation with the prevailing medical sects of the second century AD. The very treatises of his enormous work which are the most relevant with reference to the issue are briefly characterized.In the second part of the paper to be published in one of the next issues of this journal, Galen's significant contributions to the speciality we today define as urology are presented and analyzed. In addition pertinent case reports based on the Greek original texts will illustrate and substantiate his theoretical and clinical approach to the urology patient. Finally the significance of Galen's thinking for the present day physician will be evaluated.
Institut für Geschichte und Ethik der Medizin, Universität zu Köln, Joseph-Stelzmann-Straße 20, 50931 Köln, Deutschland. fjmarx@t-online.de
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D000715:Anatomy / Q000266:history*; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians / Q000266:history*; D018644:Roman World / Q000266:history; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000266:history*; D014572:Urology / Q000266:history*