Citations & References:"Aelius Galenus or Claudius Galenus—often Anglicized as Galen or Galen of Pergamon—(ad 129–c. AD 216), was the most influential physician in the second Century, whose work was to influence medical theory and practice for more than 1,500 years. He was a prolific writer on anatomy, physiology, diagnosis and prognosis, pulse-doctrine, pharmacology, therapeutics and the theory of medicine; but he also wrote extensively on philosophical topics, making original contributions to logic and the philosophy of science, and outlining a scientific epistemology which married a deep respect for empirical adequacy with a commitment to rigorous rational exposition and demonstration. He developed his own tripartite soul model following the examples of Plato; some scholars refer to him as a Platonist. Galen developed a theory of personality based on his understanding of fluid circulation in humans, and he believed that there was a physiological basis for mental disorders. Galen connected many of his theories to the pneuma and he opposed the Stoics' definition of and use of the pneuma.The Stoics, according to Galen, failed to give a credible answer for the localization of functions of the psyche, or the mind. Through his use of medicine, he was convinced that he came up with a better answer, the brain. The Stoics only recognized the soul as having one part, which was the rational soul and they claimed it would be found in the heart. Galen, following Plato's idea, came up with two more parts to the soul.Galen also rejected Stoic propositional logic and instead embraced a hypothetical syllogistic which was strongly influenced by the Peripatetics and based on elements of Aristotelian logic.He was also a vigorous polemicist, deeply involved in the doctrinal disputes among the medical schools of his day," Laluna opened a topic after saying Basmalah and Salaam."So, apart from Galen, there was a physician who was—and that is worse—an Astrologer, who cast the nativity of Colin his servant—a brisk, fresh, vigorous, young Fellow—and according to his scheme, found plainly, that he and his man should both die in one Day.He calculated it a hundred times, and tumbled over many a learned folio, and still, their destiny was the same; he scarce should live an hour after his Colin. Now judge you, if Colin's health was not dear to the doctor. He was a;ways with him, and never let him stir a step out of his sight. How is it child ? How fares thy health? May Heaven long continue it to you. Nay, he would see him eat, and filled out his wine for him, and if he slept ill, he was sure to give him betimes in the morning an anodyne clyster—to take of either linseed-tea, or new milk, from half a pint to three quarters of a pint, and add from 40 to 60 drops of laudanum.By this exact regimen, the learned doctor did so much to poor Colin, that partly by diet, partly through vexation, the flower of his youth and vigour, withered away. At last the poor meagre Boy was attacked by a slight cholick, the doctor opens the a vein, a fever ensues, then he must be vomited; his malady redoubles on a sudden, and he grows light headed, and through too much care, poor Colin is in grave.The Doctor is alarmed, his blood freezes in his veins, he has but one hour longer to breathe, he sends for the Attorney and makes his Will; in short, the fatal hour passes away, then a whole day and night, nay, a whole week, and still the doctor lives. Experience, at last, opens his eyes, and he abjures the doctrine both of Gerolamo Cardano—a phisician that ran mad with astrology, tough his prediction very often deceived him—and Hippocrates of Kos—commonly called the Prince of Physicians—being convinced that both axs are founded of error and folly."Laluna took her leave as saying, "Happy for him to be cured at once both of Physick and Astrology. And Allah knows best."
- R.J. Hankinson (Ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Galen, Cambridge University Press
- George Sarton, Galen of Pergamon, University of Kansas Press
- Sieur De La Motte, One Hundred New Court Fables, Peter-Nofter-Row
