The History of Western Medicine: An Intersection of Science and Storytelling

written by Kyla Pehr for Special Project: Experiential Learning in Journalism

Miasma theory, an ancient Greecian concept advanced by Hippocrates, proposed that airborne vapors or “miasmata” was the root of most diseases. In Italian, mala means bad and aria means air, and the theory was built on the association between disease and poor sanitation, thus resulting in the assumption that sanitary improvements would reduce disease. 

Widely accepted among academics, this concept remained largely unchallenged until the late 1800s, when, through experimentation, Robert Koch proved that bacteria caused anthrax. It was then that the germ theory, where specific living microorganisms cause specific diseases, overtook miasma theory, emphasizing a need for an intersection of research by observation and experimentation — a notion that is explored in FUA’s History of Western Medicine.

In this course, students learn about the important ideas, instruments, and individuals shaping the progression of Western medicine over the centuries while simultaneously diving into the stories surrounding the science. According to Professor Claudio Zabatta, this three-credit course is divided into four historical subsections: the period of ancient Greece and Rome, medieval medicine, the period of scientific revolution, and the 19th century's most important discoveries. 

“Science was made by humans and humans made history,” Zabatta said. “We should understand the reason why people felt this necessity — a strong necessity — to prove what was true.” 

In order to gain a greater understanding of said history, the class discovers the spaces in which the scientific art was practiced, some of which might include pharmacies like the Officina Santa Maria Novella, ancient hospitals like Santa Maria Nuova, and Galileo landmarks like Palazzo dei Cartelloni.

This course is important for students today, specifically, because the fields of medicine, law, religion, art, and culture all “have key links between them,” said the Professor.

“I think in schools, one of the most important things is to create intersections and connections between the subjects because that's how the human history worked,” Zabatta said. “So, for example, Leonardo Da Vinci: he was an artist, but also he was an engineer who was also a dissectionist because he dissected human bodies. And, thanks to these practices, he was able to create his works. So, we should understand that everything is connected,” he added.

FUA’s History of Western Medicine offers students an immersive course allowing them to explore facets of the medical world that they may not have previously known about. By delving into the stories of some of the greatest medicinal advancements, the course provides both a human aspect and a critical perspective on health and healing.

“The miasma theory was accepted for 1,400 years,” Zabatta said. “So, the most important thing is that we don't just accept theories or concepts that people used to say; we have to have the passion to go [deeper].”