-- The oldest civilized people (Chinese, Indians, Egyptians) were under the impression that disease occurred when demons or evil spirits were displeased with an individual. The medicine men were concerned with appeasing these evil spirits.
-- During the Tigris-Euphrates era, veterinary medicine was first mentioned in recorded history. Veterinary medicine received a considerable degree of attention because of the importance of the horse to society. The "Laws of Hammurabi" (2100 B.C.) established rigid rules and regulations for veterinary practitioners, and these rules included the regulation of fees. In addition, the Hebrews, Babylonians, Greeks and Carthaginians made important contributions to the medical literature. However, the majority of this recorded history was destroyed by the Crusades and barbarians.
-- The Egyptians began to influence medicine around 4000 B.C. These people were adept in certain phases of medicine, especially skull surgery. In addition,
embalming was an art employed by the Egyptians; many of these bodies (mummies) are still well preserved. There is no record of the Egyptians finding lesions or diseases during the embalming process.
-- The Mosaic Doctrine (1500 B.C.) is the first recorded evidence of systematic meat inspection. These lays, as formulated by Moses and described in the books of Exodus and Leviticus, are similar to those we have today. Even though the Hebrews were advanced in food sanitation, they still accepted "divine displeasure" as the cause of disease.
-- The Greek culture had a profound effect on the scientific approach to medicine. Greek physicians elucidated the principles of exact and careful clinical observations. However, they did not deal with the nature or the changes that occurred subsequent to disease.
1. HIPPOCRATES (460-375 B.C.)
AGreek physician, introduced the humoral theory of disease. He recognized four humors or fluids in the body:
(1) blood which came from the heart;
(2) phlegm which came from the brain;
(3) yellow bile which
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