As well as Hippocrates theories on how the body works (4 bodily humours) he also used a number of techniques to help stop the pain of sick patients. Historians have found that in Hippocrates time (Ionic Greek period) that when patients were sick, they would be carried on stretches up to a temple dedicated to their healing god, Asclepius,and pray that the illness would pass over them. Hippocrates, however, resorted to more physical methods of pain relief for the sick. One example of this is described in the writings of Aristotle which date form the 4Th century BC. It describes a device invented by Hippocrates that applied tension to a patient to aid in the setting of bones. A patient would lay down on a rack and have their arms legs etc tied with ropes. Winches would then pull the ropes apart, correcting any badly healed fractures and straightening any bends in the spine. This was predecessor of devices that are used in modern orthopedics today and has been used for the foundation of an instrument of torture. Some Modern day devices to relieve pain have been modeled off Hippocrates cleverly thought out ones, and has allowed patients to live better lives.
Time 10-15min
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