The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 2 (of 3) : translated from the Greek: with a commentary embracing a complete view of the knowledge possessed by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabians on all subjects connected with medicine and surgery

A remarkable 19th‑century translation brings the fourth‑century Byzantine physician’s encyclopedic knowledge to modern ears, pairing the original Greek text with a scholarly commentary that weaves together the medical traditions of the Greeks, Romans and Arab scholars. The work unfolds as a systematic survey of disease, ranging from skin disorders and ulcerations to the management of burns, gangrene and internal swellings. Its clear, measured prose lets listeners trace the evolution of diagnostic ideas long before modern pathology emerged.

The volume delves into the ancient understanding of poisons and venom, cataloguing bites from snakes, scorpions and even exotic sea creatures, then guiding the reader through the eclectic remedies—herbal, mineral and animal‑derived—that were believed to counteract them. Detailed sections on surgical practices describe procedures for cataract extraction, arterial ligatures and even early approaches to treating hydrocephalus.

For anyone curious about the roots of Western medicine, this audiobook offers a vivid tour of medieval healing art, revealing how early physicians categorized and tackled the ailments that still occupy our clinics today.