Themison of Laodicea facts for kids

Themison of Laodicea was an important doctor who lived a long time ago, from 123 BC to 43 BC. He started a new way of thinking about medicine called the Methodic school. Many people thought he was one of the best doctors of his time.

The Life of Themison

Themison was born in a city called Laodicea in Syria. He learned a lot about medicine from his teacher, Asclepiades of Bithynia. Themison also had a son named Proclus of Laodicea.

We don't know much about his daily life, but it seems he traveled a lot. He mentioned visiting places like Crete and Milan, so he probably saw them with his own eyes. It's also likely he visited Rome, a very important city back then.

Starting a New Medical School

As Themison got older, he started to disagree with some of his teacher's ideas. Because of this, he began his own group of doctors and a new way of practicing medicine. This group was called the Methodic school. Their ideas became very popular and had a big impact on medicine for a long time.

Themison wrote many books about medicine. We don't know what language he wrote them in, but we only have small parts and titles of his books left today. Another doctor named Caelius Aurelianus helped keep some of his writings safe. Some of his book titles were Libri Periodici and Epistolae.

Themison's Medical Practices

Themison might have been one of the first doctors to use leeches in his treatments. Leeches are small creatures that were sometimes used to help with certain health problems.

It is also said that Themison once got a very serious illness called hydrophobia, but he got better. Some other doctors, like Eudemus and Proculus, followed Themison's ideas and were part of the Methodic school.

Challenges and Criticisms

Not everyone agreed with Themison's methods. Another doctor named Soranus thought Themison was too harsh with patients who had mental health issues. Themison's treatments sometimes included keeping patients in dark rooms, using chains to restrain them, and not giving them food or water.

A writer named Juvenal once made fun of a doctor named Themison, saying he caused more harm than good. We don't know for sure if he was talking about this Themison or another doctor from that time.

Sources

• Greenhill, Willlam Alexander. “Themison.” In Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, edited by William Smith, 3:1023–24. Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown & Co., 1870.