THE GREAT ONES
Hippocrates
V.K. SUBRAMANIAN
|
Hippocrates (460 B.C. – 400 B.C.) established a code of conduct known as the Hippocratic Oath for those in the medical profession.
|
Illustration by V.K. SUBRAMANIAN
Hippocrates, generally accepted as the “Father of Medicine” was a Greek Physician.
He was the first to separate medicine from priesthood. His greatest gift to mankind is the code of conduct to be followed by the medical profession, known as the “Hippocratic Oath”.
Even today, the Hippocratic Oath is taken at graduation ceremonies in most medical colleges.
Some extracts of the Hippocratic Oath:
“I will use treatment to help the sick according to my ability and judgement but never with a view of injury or wrongdoing…”
“I will keep pure and holy both my life and my art…”
Still relevant
“Whatever house I enter, there will I go for the benefit of the sick, refraining from all wrongdoing or corruption and especially from any act of seduction, of male or female…”
Hippocrates was one of the first to decry the superstition that disease was a punishment sent by the gods.
Some of Hippocrates’ sayings are pithy and valid even today:
“Every disease has its own nature and arises from external causes.”
“Our natures are the physicians of our diseases.”
“Wherever a doctor cannot do good, he must be kept from doing harm!”
“To do nothing is sometimes a good remedy!”
“Everything in excess is opposed to nature.”
This is an extract from the book The Great Ones by V.K.Subramanian, Abhinav Publications, New Delhi
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Young World
