Overview

Aulus Cornelius Celsus (ca 25 BC---ca 50) was a Roman Encyclopedist and possibly a physician. His only surviving work De Medicina was only a small part of his larger encyclopedia but is one of the best sources of Alexandrian medical knowledge. He is also one of the first to practice human experimentation. Celsus is credited with recording the cardinal signs of inflammation: calor (warmth), dolor (pain), tumor (swelling) and rubor (redness and hyperaemia). He goes into great detail regarding the preparation of numerous ancient medicinal remedies including the preparation of opioids.

Toxicological Perspective

Celsus' De Medicina is one of the best sources of Alexandrian medical knowledge present and he is also credited with recording the cardinal signs of inflammation. Additionally, he wrote at length about the preparation of numerous medical remedies including the use of opiods.

Celsus also describes many first century Roman medical and experimental techniques such as removing cataract, treatment of bladder stones, and setting fractures.

Biography

"It is not cruel to inflict on a few criminals sufferings which may benefit multitudes of innocent people through all centuries." (De Medicina, Prooem. 26)

Celsus was a Roman encyclopedist and possibly a physician who lived from 25 BC-50 AD. His only surviving work is De Medicina which itself is only a part of a much larger encyclopedia. The lost portion of the encyclopedia included workson agriculture, law, and military arts. De Medicina is however one of the best known compilations of Alexandrian medical knowledge.

External Links

• Celsus on wikipedia.