History of the Development of Medicine

 

   Introduction

 

   Medicine is a great science whose subject is "the study of man". This science discusses all aspects of the health and disease state of mankind. This science is concerned with biology, anatomy, physiology and pathology i.e. those sciences which are related to humans. That is why she is called the mother of all sciences. Medicine is the science and art by which the principles of diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases are adopted and the knowledge of cure is obtained and methods are devised to keep man healthy and well.

 

   Various methods of treatment came into existence in different periods and each new physician rejected the old method of treatment as obsolete and called the new method of treatment modern healing and complete method of treatment. Whatever the results, the aim of every physician was to serve mankind, achieve complete healing and deliverance from disease.

 

   History of Medicine

 

History of Medicine

   The knowledge sought is called accidental, divine and spiritual knowledge. According to the inspired theory, the knowledge of medicine has been revealed by Allah through angels to humans at different times according to the diseases of that time. This is the belief of the followers of Hazrat Musa (peace be upon him). According to Ibn Abbas, the science of medicine began with Hazrat Sulaiman (peace be upon him). Which continues till now for future generations. A Muslim physician, Abul Qasim Zahrawi, says that the knowledge of medicine was taught by Allah Almighty to Hazrat Adam (peace be upon him) and thus this knowledge was passed down from generation to generation.


In a tradition, many diseases spread on one occasion during the time of Hazrat Idris (peace be upon him).  Allah Almighty taught Hazrat Idris (peace be upon him) the knowledge of medicine to cure these diseases on the supplications of Hazrat Idris (peace be upon him).  Then he taught this knowledge to one of his followers, Aesculapius, because Aesculapius was a Greek, so he was called the founder of Greek medicine.  Ever since man was born and has been living on this planet, he has often suffered from diseases either individually or collectively due to physical or moral causes, since in the beginning man lived a simple life and suffered from few diseases.  Therefore, less therapeutic workers (medicine) were required.  If he ever fell ill, the herbs of the forest would come with a message of healing for him.  In this way the knowledge of medicine increased accidentally.  In the beginning, man used plants, fruits and flowers as food to satisfy his hunger.  He used to eat the things that were harmful to him and those that were beneficial to him, and he encouraged others to use them as well.  History of medicine can be studied under two subheadings.

  1. ·        Ancient medicine
  2. ·        Modern medicine

 

 Ancient Medicine

 

 In this era, medicine was not based on any fundamental principle or theory, but the concept of disease was based on assumptions and factors that could affect the human body externally.  These concepts mainly involved poisoning or magical effects and usually involved the application of heat and cold, massage and the extraction of blood or pus etc.


Diseases



According to Rousseau

  Before civilization and economic life there was no disease in the world.

     Dr. Merritt and Evaz In ancient times man considered sickness as a magical influence and went to a spiritual or religious leader, and even in modern times many ignorant people believe in the same theory. The amulets are attacked by goons and kill the patient but do not give him proper treatment.

   People from Central Africa or Australia

It was believed that disease is actually witchcraft or an evil spirit that attacks a person and that diseases enter the body through ghosts or ghosts and are cured by blowing brooms. There was and along with blowing the bush most of the medicinal items like cypress, tarchin, castor oil and fig etc. were frequently used.