Galen's masterwork on therapeutic method, spanning fourteen books. He develops a comprehensive system for treating disease based on rational principles — identifying the cause, understanding the affected part, and selecting the appropriate remedy through logical deduction rather than mere experience.
Start ReadingThe foundations of therapeutic method. Galen establishes the rational principles on which all medical treatment should be based.
Simple diseases and their treatment. Galen examines conditions affecting the homogeneous parts — bones, flesh, nerves — and the logical approach to curing each.
Compound diseases. Galen examines conditions where multiple factors combine, requiring the physician to identify and address each component.
Treatment of wounds and ulcers. Galen develops his therapeutic principles for injuries to the flesh, applying rational method to surgical healing.
Treatment of fractures and dislocations. Galen applies his method to the surgical management of broken bones and displaced joints.
The treatment of fever. Galen addresses the most common medical problem in antiquity, developing a rational approach to managing febrile illnesses.
Drug therapy for specific conditions. Galen teaches the principles of selecting medications — matching the drug's qualities to the disease.
Advanced pharmacology. Galen examines compound drugs and the principles of combining simple medications to produce more effective treatments.
Chronic conditions. Galen addresses the long-term management of diseases that resist quick cure, requiring sustained therapeutic regimens.
Complex cases. Galen examines diseases where multiple systems are affected simultaneously, requiring the physician to prioritise and sequence treatments.
The treatment of specific organ diseases. Galen applies his therapeutic method to conditions of the liver, spleen, kidneys, and other major organs.
Diseases of the nervous system. Galen examines the treatment of paralysis, convulsions, and other neurological conditions.
Surgical interventions. Galen discusses when operative treatment is necessary and the principles that should guide the surgeon's hand.
The complete therapeutic method reviewed. Galen concludes by synthesising his approach and reflecting on the rational foundations of medical practice.