
audiobook
This volume presents a meticulous translation of an ancient Greek medical compendium, the third in a three‑part series that gathers the wisdom of Greek, Roman, and Arab physicians on medicines and surgery. The focus here is on the materia medica—the substances and preparations that formed the backbone of early therapeutic practice. Listeners are guided through the original terminology while being shown how those old names map onto the language of modern pharmacology.
The accompanying commentary distinguishes this work, weaving together notes from classical authors such as Dioscorides and Theophrastus with insights from 19th‑century botanists, mineralogists, and medical scholars. By aligning ancient descriptions with contemporary scientific understanding, the text clarifies what each historic remedy actually was and how it was used. This blend of scholarship makes the volume both a reference for historians and a practical guide for anyone curious about the roots of modern medicine.
Published under the auspices of a respected medical society, the author explains his methodological shift to a more accessible, cross‑referenced approach, ensuring that the wealth of ancient knowledge remains usable today. The result is a comprehensive, well‑annotated repertory that illuminates centuries‑old medical thought without sacrificing clarity.
Language
en
Duration
~26 hours (1542K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United Kingdom: Printed for the Sydenham Society, 1844, pubdate 1846, pubdate 1847.
Credits
Tim Lindell, Turgut Dincer and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
Release date
2023-04-13
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

A 7th-century Byzantine physician, this writer is remembered for a major medical encyclopedia that gathered and organized the knowledge of his time. His work traveled widely and shaped medical learning for centuries in both Byzantine and later Arabic and European traditions.
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