Ed.: Mul. I and II, Steril.: Littré 8; some sections, with German trans., in H. Grensemann, Knidische
Medizin 1 (1975), Hippokratische Gynäkologie (1982), Knidische Medizin 2 (1987); Nat. Mul.: Littré 7; H.
Trapp, (Diss. Hamburg, 1967); Superf.: Littré 8; C. Lienau, CMG 1.2.2 (1973), with German trans.;
Foet. Exsect.: Littré 8; Oct. (and Sept.): Littré 7; H. Grensemann, CMG 1.2.1 (1968), with
German trans.; R. Joly, Hippocrate 11 (CUF 1970); Genit./Nat. Puer.: Littré 7; Joly (1970); Virg.:
Littré 8.
Trans.: Mul. I: A.E. Hanson, “Hippocrates: Diseases of Women I,” Signs 1 (1975) 567–584 (selected
chapters); Genit./Nat. Puer.: I.M. Lonie, The Hippocratic Treatises “On Generation”; “On the Nature of
the Child”; “Diseases 4” (1981); Mul. I and II, Nat. Mul., Oct., Virg. (excerpts): in M. Lefkowitz
and M. Fant, Women’s Life in Greece and Rome (1992) 230–243; Virg.: A.E. Hanson and R. Flemming,
“Hippocrates’ Peri parthenion (Diseases of young girls): Text and Translation,” Early Science and Medicine
3 (1998) 241–252.
Lesley Dean-Jones, Women’s Bodies in Classical Greek Science (1994); N. Demand, Birth, Death and Motherhood
in Ancient Greece (1994); H. King, Hippocrates’ Woman (1998).
Lesley Dean-Jones
Hippokratic Corpus, On Head Wounds (ca 400 BCE)
Included by G among the genuine and most useful of the Hippokratic works
(17[1].577 K.), this treatise contains vocabulary, dialectal forms and grammar consistent
with a date of composition ca 400 BCE. Other Hippokratic treatises have similarities: in
particular, E V presents case histories illustrating its advice, and On Ulcers (see
H C S) contains almost identical language.
On Head Wounds survives in nine MSS, the most authoritative being the beautiful 10th c.
codex, Laurentianus Gr. 74.7. The treatise begins with a description of cranial anatomy,
then lists the types of skull injury, discusses clinical evaluation of the patient, and concludes
with advice on treatment. It falls short of modern knowledge in some aspects of anatomy, in
the use of the neurological examination, and especially in the indications for surgery. How-
ever, some of the anatomical description is accurate; there is clear evidence of the emer-
gence of a technical medical vocabulary (bregma, diploe ̄, suture [raphe ̄], linear fracture [ro ̄gme ̄],
depressed fracture [esphlasis]); the relevance of brain function (state of consciousness, con-
tralateral paresis/paralysis) is acknowledged; the importance of a good trauma history is
stressed; and excellent advice is given on examination of the wound and on surgical tech-
nique. The examining surgeon is warned to distinguish between sutures and fractures, and
in cases where fracture is suspected but not seen to apply a black solution which will enter a
fracture but not normal skull, and to enlarge by incision any wound too small to allow
adequate visualization of the injury. Trephination is described in detail with emphasis on
recognizing when the inner table of the skull is perforated and in allowing for the relative
thinness of children’s skulls.
The advice in this treatise, itself only a small remnant of a surgical tradition ancient
at the time of its composition, clearly represents the experience not just of one
talented surgeon but of many generations of surgeons. Following its translation into Latin
in the 16th c. (Calvus, 1525; Vidius, 1544), it remained a surgical reference work well into
the 19th c. (Littré 1. and 3.150–261). It is a good example of a practical surgical
handbook.
Maury Hanson, CMG 1.4.1 (1999): Greek text, English translation, commentary; Withington (1928)
6 – 51.
Maury Hanson
HIPPOKRATIC CORPUS, ON HEAD WOUNDS