Praxagoras

Praxagoras of Kos was a 4th century BC Greek physician living. He is considered one of the most famous physicians of antiquity, and was often quoted by other ancient physicians.

Life

Praxagoras came from the prestigious family of Asklepiads of Kos, his father called Nikarchos. With regard to diagnosis and therapy was Praxagoras in the tradition of Hippocrates of Kos. The highlight of his ministry, he reached around 300 BC He probably used the facilities of the extended Asklepios sanctuary in Kos, can not be excluded a stay in Alexandria.

Praxagoras was a contemporary of the physician Diocles of Carystus, where there are both points of contact with this and the Aristotelian doctrine as well as deviations. Overall, however, represented Praxagoras own medical viewpoints. In the tradition of western Greek medicine, he conceded the heart a central role and assumed that the nerves have their origin there. As one of the first physicians Praxagoras had also distinguished between veins and arteries. With regard to the pulse he was the first to go to the doctor diagnostic possibilities related.

With regard to the development of diseases or for the maintenance of health, the humoral theory was central to him. According to Galen, the quoted Praxagoras, he modified the juices theory of Hippocrates, so he came to a total of eleven humors. In terms of physiology played in the minds of the pneuma Praxagoras a not unimportant role.

Praxagoras relatively strongly devoted to the anatomy, examined the brain, spinal cord and possibly led operations on the intestine through. This anatomical approach was later continued by his famous pupil Herophilus of Chalcedon. Of his numerous medical writings only fragments have been preserved.