CITADELS OF HEALING-HISTORY OF HOSPITALS
Indep Rev Jul-Sep 2015;17(7-9)
IR-393
CITADELS OF HEALING;
HISTORY OF HOSPITALS
Dr. Awais Shuja
MBBS, FRCS, FCPS
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Independent Medical College,
Faisalabad.
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Awais Shuja
MBBS, FRCS, FCPS
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Independent Medical College,
Faisalabad.
Article received on:
18/09/2015
Accepted for Publication:
21/09/2015
Received after proof reading:
21/09/2015
Article Citation: Shuja A, Citadels of healing; history of hospital. Indep Rev Jul-Sep 2015;17(7-9): 205-207.
Key Concepts
• Origin of Hospital
• Ancient period of hospital
• Foundation of modern day hospitals
• Hospitals as industry
Abstract: The Ancient temples of Greek and Egyptian civilizations were initial health facilities for sick , which were
run by religious powers. The roman period was overwhelmed by hospitals for military. The oldest evidence of hospital is from Srilanka. On European continent. Hotel Dieu was the first modern hospital set up in france. This was preceded by development of Bimaristan in muslim empire. exchange of intellect lead to renaissance followed by shifting
of power from religious fraternity to sinetific community. Hospitals progressed to an industry.
Key Words: Hospital, Asclepius, hotel-dieu, Bimaristan , Mihintale
The word hospital originates from the latin
word “hospitium” meaning a guest , as these
institutions were initially established for pilgrims, warriors and sick from faraway places.
In ancient times institutions are mentioned
which may well be resembling our modern
day hospitals. The understanding and methods of treatment have gone through changes so have the institutions of healing have
evolved from temples to current healthcare
facilities.
In early civilizations the medical treatment
was always identified with religious services
and ceremonies. The methods were spiritual
and dominated by religious part of society.
The priests , monks, nuns and spiritual healers had control on these centres of healing.
Indep Rev Jul-Sep 2015;17(7-9) 205-207.
Temple of Aslcepius
In Egyptian period the temples dedicated
to healing gods were used for helping sick.
After that in 5th century BC the temple of
Aslcepius was known to be delivering care
to sick. Prayers , sacrifices and dream interpretations played role in the healing process.
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CITADELS OF HEALING-HISTORY OF HOSPITALS
However the ancient physicians also stitched
wounds, set broken bones and used opium
for pain. The temples is known to have large
rooms for multiple patients.
2
es emphasized on well being of soul rather
than curing bodily ailments. But these still
exist as hospitals to this date.
The Romans introduced organizations similar to hospitals but mostly among military
legions. The soldiers were cared for in field
tents and then moved to Valetudinarians, a
form of hospital erected in all garrisons along
all frontiers. These stone and wooden structures were stocked with instruments , supplies and medications.
Ancient writing indicate that Sinhalese King
Pandukabhaya had hospitals built in the 4th
century BC. The oldest hospital appears to be
at Mihintale in Srilanka which can be dated
to the 9th Century AD. The extensive ruins
suggest there were patient rooms close to
patient rooms used today.
The rise of Christianity led to demise of religious temples as healing centres. Emperor
Constantine in 370 AD established hospitals
around the empire. These had isolation units
for lepers , buildings to house elderly and
the sick. Famous institutions were St Basil
of caesarea in Cappdocia and St Benedict at
Monte Cassino. By the 6th century these developed into first medical schools in Europe
as in Salerno. Many similar monastic infirmary sprung all around the empire. The theologians dominated the delivery of health as a
sacred duty using mostly spiritual methods.
The middle ages saw great increase in number of hospitals as the wealthy Christians
sponsored these projects in every town as
a religious duty. The oldest hospital still in
existing are Hotel-Dieu in Lyon and Paris,
france. These were around 580 AD. These
were founded by bishop of Paris. These placIndep Rev Jul-Sep 2015;17(7-9) 205-207.
Hotel - Dieu Paris.
After centuries of darkness the first hospital
formed by physicians was founded in Damuscus, Syria around 707 AD. The public hospital was opened during the Abbasid caliphate
of Harun al Rashid in 8th century. The BIMARISTAN were established by renowned
physicians. These facilities had qualified staff
and were organized having waiting rooms
and wards for various ailments. Many were
trained as physicians at these places. This
period initiated the decline of religious dominance on health.
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CITADELS OF HEALING-HISTORY OF HOSPITALS
After the renaissance period of Europe as
light of knowledge encroached the society
the health provision freed itself from religious stranglehold. The healing art characterized itself by scientific and rational approach.
As the King Henry of Britain abolished monasteries in 1540 the hospitals suffered for
many years. The shape of modern day hospitals began to appear in London when citizens
established St Barts, St Thomas and St Mary
hospitals. This was the first instance of secular support of Hospitals. These were early
form of hospitals of today with wards , theatres and attached medical schools.
3
developed these institutions on modern
pattern. After world War I the government
started involving in healthcare by building
new and running existing hospitals. Medical
scientist controlled them and used them for
training new physicians.
The dawn of 21st century saw hospitals to
grow into industrial pattern run by managers. The modern hospitals have progressed
from healing centres to hubs of scientific
research. Every country has hospitals as essential part of social set up caring for sick,
training helath professionals and developing
new methods of care.
Guy’s Hospital London
Modern Day Hospital
References
1. D Hall. “Altar and Table: A phenomenology of
the surgeon-priest”. Yale Journal of Biology and
Medicine 2008;81(4):193–8.
2. Guenter B. Risse, Mending Bodies, Saving Souls: A
History of Hospitals (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999).
Hospital of Florence Nightingale
For next few centuries hospitals were formed
and run by volunteers of society. The Napoleanic wars and era Florence nightingale
Indep Rev Jul-Sep 2015;17(7-9) 205-207.
3.
Vern L. and Bonnie Bullough “Medieval Nursing,”
Nursing History Review 1 (1993): 89-104.
4. Nancy G. Siraisi, Medieval and Early Renaissance Medicine: An Introduction to Knowledge
and Practice (Chicago: University of Chicago
Press, 1990).
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