130-200 AD. Greek physician and philosopher. Born in what is now known as Turkey, (129- 199 AD). Prolific writer on medical subjects, gathering recorded knowledge up to his time and confirming it on such a foundation of truth that his works were studied up to the 17th century. He gained such a reputation in Rome that he received, but declined, an offer of the post to Physician to the Emperor. He attended Marcus Aurelius and his son, heir to the throne. He was an accurate observer, especially of muscles and bones, and demonstrated that arteries carry blood and not air.
In his diagnosis he laid great stress on the pulse, which is observed today. He believed in ‘critical days’ when men and women are more accident-prone and gave diminished performance due, he believed, to the moon.
Galenist physicians who followed him did not deviate from his ancient formulae, for better or worse, largely of herbs of the whole plant given in tincture or extract form. Apothecaries and chemists departed from the tradition when they isolated what they believed to be the active principles of the plant – often in a form of extreme concentration and small bulk.
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