We donot attribute middle ages or the medieval period, with any major scientific advancement. Europe, in these times was a battleground for religions. Since christianity was on a rise, ancient pagan believers and jews were cajoled, coerced and even threaten to embrace this new religion. By 10th century AD, Christianity was firmly placed as a state religion across Europe, and remaining jews became a persecuted minority.
Meanwhile Islam had also emerged as a dominant religion in the middle-east, and muslim kingdoms ruled middle-east, Mediterranean lands and southern Spain. By 11th century crusades or holy wars between christian and muslim states had begun. During these troubled times in 1138, Maimonides was born in a prosperous, educated Jewish family in Southern Spain.
Exile and migration
Maimonides was only 10, when in 1148 his family opted for exile from Spain, and eventually moved to Morocco in Nothern Africa. Death or conversion to Islam were other two choices. He studied philosophy, medicine and astronomy, from his father and another Rabbi in Morocco. In 1168, he and his family has moved to Alexandria (now in Egypt). Maimonides worked and lived in this part of the world, till his death in 1204. The year 1985 was his 850th birth anniversary and year 2004 was his 800th death anniversary. Various countries have issued postage stamps on these occasions.
Maimonides must have been an prolific reader, since his
medical writings show a profound knowledge of ancient
Greek authors. He frequently quoted Hippocrates, Galen, and Aristotle in his writings. He also quoted Persian physicians such as Rhazes, Avisenna, and Ibn Zuhr. Thus, living at an intersection of European and middle-east cultures, Maimonides was a bridge between these two civilisations. In 1170, he was appointed as a court physician to Vizier al-Fadil, regent of Egypt. As his fame grew, he provided care for a large number of patients, from all walks of life. In addition to being a physician, he was also leader of Jewish community in Egypt, and a philosopher who wrote extensively about Jewish traditions.
Medical Writings
In addition to his extensive texts on Jewish philosophy, Maimonides also wrote prominent medical works. The first is called Extracts from Galen, where he compiled Galen’s pronouncements as a summary for the use of medical students. His second book was a Commentary on the Aphorisms of Hippocrates, and third one on similar aphorisms by Moses. This was also a critique of some of these pronouncements. Some of his observations are quite true till date. For instance “One can prognosticate regarding a stroke, called apoplexy. If the attack is severe, he will certainly die but if it is minor, then cure is possible, though difficult…the worst situation that can occur following a stroke is the complete irreversible suppression of respiration…”
His fourth work was on hemorroids, fifth on cohabitation, and sixth on Asthma. In his sixth book, he writes
“The first thing to consider…is the provision of fresh air, clean water, and a healthy diet….City air is stagnant, turbid, and thick, the natural result of its big buildings, narrow streets, the refuse of its inhabitants…one should at least choose for a residence a wide-open site…living quarters are best located on an upper floor…and ample sunshine…. Toilets should be located as far as possible from living rooms. The air should be kept dry at all times by sweet scents, fumigation, and drying agents. The concern for clean air is the foremost rule in preserving the health of body…..”
His other writings are on fits (seizures), poisons and antidotes, health, and drug names. These ten writings are a compendium of medical knowledge in the medieval world.
Maimonides and his influence on Medicine
As per Fred Rosner, Maimonides was a polymath. “When he died on December 13th 1204, he was mourned by all. He mastered nearly everything known in the fields of theology, mathematics, law, philosophy, astronomy, ethics, and, of course, medicine. As a physician, he treated disease by the scientific [as opposed to the
empiric and/or popular] method, not by guesswork, superstition, or rule of thumb. His attitude towards the practice of medicine came from his deep religious background, which made the preservation of health and life a divine commandment. “
William Osler describes Maimonides as a “Prince of Physicians.” In the Jewish world he symbolises a highest spiritual and intellectual achievement of man on this earth. Many hospitals in New York, funded by the Jewish community are named after Maimonides. A dedicated physician, in one his writings he states:
” I go forth to attend to my patients, and write prescriptions and directions for their various ailments. Patients go in and out until nightfall, and sometimes even … until two hours or more into the night. I converse with them and prescribe for them even while lying down from sheer fatigue; and when night falls, I am so exhausted that I can hardly speak…..”
