{{Unreferenced|date=February 2008}}

{{Unreferenced|date=February 2008}}

”’[[Ancient Roman]] [[medicine]]”’ combined various techniques using different tools and rituals. Ancient Roman Medicine is split among a number of specializations such as [[intemistic]], [[ophthalmological]] and [[urological]]. Romans believed in supernatural causes for many diseases and in some supernatural cures (see bottom of article). The Romans favoured the prevention of diseases over the cures of them; unlike in Greek Society where Health was a personal matter, Public Health was encouraged by the Government at the time; they built bath houses and aqeuducts to pipe water to the cities. Many of the larger cities, such as Rome, boasted an advanced sewage system, the likes of which would not be seen in the Western world again until the late 17th and 18th centuries (see [[Cloaca Maxima]]). [[Image:Pont du gard.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Pont du Gard]], [[France]], a [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] era aqueduct circa 19 [[BC]]. The Romans built aqueducts similar to this to transport water to the major settlements.]]They also did not fully understand that [[germ]]s were related to diseases. Roman surgeons carried a tool kit which contained [[forceps]], [[scalpel]]s, [[catheter]]s and arrow extractors. The tools had various uses and were boiled in hot water before each use. In surgery, surgeons used painkillers such as [[opium]] and [[scopolamine]] for treatments and acetum (the acid in vinegar) was used to wash wounds. Romans didn’t believe in the supernatural as much as the Greeks; the Greeks used temples and religious belief to try and cure someone, yet the Romans developed specific hospitals which enabled the patients to be fully rested and relaxed so they could completely recover. By staying in the hospitals, the doctors (which now had different levels of qualification) were able to observe the illness rather than rely on the supernatural to cure him/her.

”’[[Ancient Roman]] [[medicine]]”’ combined various techniques using different tools and rituals. Ancient Roman Medicine is split among a number of specializations such as [[intemistic]], [[ophthalmological]] and [[urological]]. Romans believed in supernatural causes for many diseases and in some supernatural cures (see bottom of article). The Romans favoured the prevention of diseases over the cures of them; unlike in Greek Society where Health was a personal matter, Public Health was encouraged by the Government at the time; they built bath houses and aqeuducts to pipe water to the cities. Many of the larger cities, such as Rome, boasted an advanced sewage system, the likes of which would not be seen in the Western world again until the late 17th and 18th centuries (see [[Cloaca Maxima]]). [[Image:Rimini219.jpg|thumb|Roman painting; surgery on a soldier; from the "Surgeon's House"; in [[Ariminum]] (Rimini, Italy); mid 3th century.]]They also did not fully understand that [[germ]]s were related to diseases. Roman surgeons carried a tool kit which contained [[forceps]], [[scalpel]]s, [[catheter]]s and arrow extractors. The tools had various uses and were boiled in hot water before each use. In surgery, surgeons used painkillers such as [[opium]] and [[scopolamine]] for treatments and acetum (the acid in vinegar) was used to wash wounds. Romans didn’t believe in the supernatural as much as the Greeks; the Greeks used temples and religious belief to try and cure someone, yet the Romans developed specific hospitals which enabled the patients to be fully rested and relaxed so they could completely recover. By staying in the hospitals, the doctors (which now had different levels of qualification) were able to observe the illness rather than rely on the supernatural to cure him/her.

== Greek Influences on Roman Medicine ==

== Greek Influences on Roman Medicine ==