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Management of childhood diseases in the Byzantine period: I − Analgesia
Author(s) -
Ramoutsaki Ioanna A.,
Dimitriou Helen,
Kalmanti Maria
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1046/j.1442-200x.2002.01548.x
Subject(s) - medicine , byzantine architecture , opium , sick child , sedative , period (music) , anesthesia , pediatrics , traditional medicine , psychiatry , classics , political science , acoustics , law , history , physics
Evidence on the use of pain relievers for medical purposes in childhood was traced in medical treatises during Byzantine times(4th to 15th century ad ). The texts of Aetius, Paulus Aeginitis, Orivasios and others strongly reveal influences fromancient Greek medicine. Greek physicians of the times, who helped the medical thinking of antiquity to stay alive, used opium withmandragoras, hyoscyamos and other sedative herbs to produce a kind of anesthetic state and to relieve pain. However, in children’scases they chose to selectively use substances in more standardized quantities, mainly in mixtures. Less aggressive methods such aswarm baths, or appropriate food were highly respected by them and recommended for the treatment of sick children.