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Socio-psychological Sciences - mod. HISTORY OF MEDICINE
STEFANIA FORTUNA

Seat Medicina e Chirurgia
A.A. 2013-2014
Credits 2
Hours 24
Period 1^ semestre
Language ENG
U-gov code MT04-11-11 MT187

Development of the course

History of medicine and obstetrics from the ancient world to the twenty century.

Learning outcomes

To know the past in order to understand the present.

Program

Ancient medicine: Homer’s myths, Asclepius’ cult, the medical literature from Hippocrates to Galen. Decline and revival of medicine in the Middle Ages: the foundation of universities and hospitals. The medical humanists and their new translations of Galen from Greek. The first attack against Galen in the sixteenth century: Andreas Vesalius and his human anatomy in contrast to the animal anatomy of Galen. The first biological revolution in the sixteenth century: William Harvey and the discovery of blood circulation. The evolution of medicine and the achievements of the second biological revolution in the nineteenth century: from microscopic anatomy to Claude Bernard’s physiology and Rudolf Virchow’s cellular pathology; from miasmic theory to Louis Pasteur’s germs and Robert Koch’s postulates; the history of hospitals and surgery. Obstetrics in the ancient world: the myths of extraordinary births, the obstetrician texts from Hipporates to Soranus, midwifery descriptions from Platon to the Roman empire. Trotula and the Salernitan School. The evolution of midwifery in the modern age. The laws regarding midwifery after Italy’s unification.

Development of the examination

Written test

Recommended reading

R. Porter, Breve ma veridica storia della medicina occidentale. Roma, Carocci, 2011.

C. Pancino, Il bambino e l’acqua sporca. Storia dell’assistenza al parto dalle mammane alle ostetriche (secoli XVI-XIX), Milano, F. Angeli, 1984.

Courses

• Ostetricia