[The Greek-Roman physician Galen of Pergamum and his neurological case histories].

BACKGROUND

The case histories in the writings of Galen of Pergamum have so far been interpreted primarily in literary and socio-historic terms. The analysis focused on the medical aspects is still incomplete.

QUESTION: Which neurological competences do the galenic case reports communicate?

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The 400 galenic case histories were studied for anamnestic, clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic statements on neurological and psychiatric diseases.

RESULTS

In about every tenth case report, neurological and/or psychiatric disorders are discussed. Most of them are found in the works Anatomical procedures, On the affected parts and Method of Healing. Both individual patients and patient groups are reported. The author calls prominent patients by name. The descriptions do not follow a fixed structure. The texts are governed by information on the anamnesis and catamnesis and the results of the physical examination. The author has repeatedly combined the description of the individual cases with theoretical remarks. The most common diseases of the nervous system Galen encountered were traumatic palsy, paresthesia, incontinence, rabies, epilepsy, depression and insanity. Symptoms associated with fever and epidemics also played an important role. In most cases, Galen was the attending physician. Secondhand medical histories are also told. The most invasive treatment procedure was trepanation.

DISCUSSION: The case reports cover much of the spectrum of diseases of the nervous system mentioned by Galen. The doctor-patient tales are the most ingenious element in terms of style and content. The often sparse statements on the choice of treatment show that the ancient doctor hardly had any specific measures available for patients suffering from neurologic diseases with the exception of the rarely indicated and practiced surgical interventions.