Writers more informed than myself have touched upon the context of the highly regarded medical treatise, as one can read here* , quoted below:
"The work recognizes the importance of anatomy as a basis of medicine, and the anatomical knowledge displayed is sound. Stress is laid on diagnosis and prognosis, which it is said must precede treatment — a true Hippocrates touch. Drugs are recommend more than they are by Greek writers on medicine. On the other hand, all due importance is attached to general hygiene and to physical exercises. Scholars have noticed that sport is preferred to gymnastics, wherein the writer agrees with both Roman feeling and Roman practice. In the treatment of fevers the De Medicina is more empirical than usual. It "regards exclusively the clinical picture and the empirical remedy."
The style of the work has won the praise of Latinists in all ages. The whole book is remarkable for its symmetry and completeness, and the language is strong, lucid and elegant. It has been said with justice that the writer did for science what Cicero did for philosophy."
Inspired by De Medicina, I have undertaken the development of this site, which I intend to be an online journal to record insights, experiences, and ultimately the perspective I achieve from endeavoring to learn the art of medicine during and following medical school.
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*Sources:
Thayer, Bill (2005-03-19). "Introduction, Celsus, On Medicine". Penelope. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
