98CE

Birth of Soranus of Ephesus (Asia Minor). His Greek Gynecology “represents ancient gynecological and obstetrical practice at its height. Through the work of translators, abbreviators, and compilers, much of Soranus’ views and practices survived through the middle ages into the sixteenth century” (Temkin,xxv). The work comprises four books, the first on midwives, menstruation, conception, abortives, and contraceptives; the second on parturition and care of newborns; the third on various gynecological afflictions and their treatment; and the fourth Materia Medica and an index of names and subjects. His work on the skills of midwives is especially noteworthy and gained expression in medieval midwifery through the work and writings (possibility via an amanuensis) of Trotta of Salerno (Dunn; Karamanou, et al.) The most influential of the Latin translations of Gynecology was that of Muscio, who abbreviated and simplified Soranus text to make it even more accessible to midwives (Karamanou, et al.; M. H. Green, loc 592ff.) As a member of the methodist sect (i.e., school of medicine), Soranus replaced Galenic humors with categories of flux (status laxus) calling for a styptic treatment; constriction/tension/tightness (status strictus) calling for a relaxing therapy; and a mix of the two. These categories gained expression in the symptoms of different classes of diseases. E.g., hysterical suffocation with convulsions exemplified status strictus calling for relaxing treatment. “It is largely from the treatment of diseases as recommended by Soranus that the underlying nosologic notion becomes evident” (Temkin, xxxi). The connection between pathology and treatment gains expression in Soranus’ attention to the whole course of a disease, and its differentiation into stages (xxxiv).