ippocratic Corpus: “on the Sacred Disease” Views on Epilepsy

Abstract

“on the sacred disease” is thought to contain one of the first recorded observations of epilepsy in humans and is described as a milestone in the history of science. The author of this treatise certainly manages to overcome the legacy of his era and comes into direct conflict with prevailing beliefs that hinder the rational practice of medicine. he does not hesitate to demystify a disease that for most of his fellow citizens is considered “sacred” and unapproachable. he recognizes the importance of the brain and identifies it as the seat of emotions and higher mental functions and accurately perceives the organic causes of mental illness. The description of seizures, their classification and the thoughts of the writer upon the hereditary predisposition of the disease are real scientific data. he even reveals the fraudulent motives of dishonest practitioners and condemns quackery. This turn from a supernatural to a naturalistic explanation is considered a major break in the history of medicine. “on the sacred disease» is a revolutionary book of high scientific value that approaches the concept of health in a broad and insightful way, attributes the disease to disorders of physiology, condemns “the foolish and shameless quackery” and attempts to explain the nature of the disease in a rational manner. finally, this treatise of the hippocratic collection represents a rare and priceless spiritual heritage to the world that reminds to the scientific community the barriers in the progress of human civilization and the brave human persistence in his struggle for knowledge and truth.