Abstract
Geomedicine refers to a renewed field of science that deals with the relationship between distinct aspects of geology and human/animal health. In spite of its current relevance, it is believed that Hippocrates (460–377 BC) was the founder of this discipline, by recognizing the influence of environmental factors on health. History of geomedicine provides many other examples that may be effective to study history of science and to promote students’ scientific culture and health literacy. For example, Amato Lusitano (1511–1568), a Renaissance Portuguese physician, refers to the use of bezoar as antidote and of mercury to treat sexual diseases. In this research, the data were collected by document analysis of the works of Amato Lusitano, including the Seven Centuries of Medicinal Cures, edited by the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, in 1980. After a careful review of literature, the main objectives of this research are to enhance global knowledge of the history of geomedicine, pointing out the Amato Lusitano contribution and reflecting on the importance of geomedicine history curricula as a way to improve the scientific culture of the students. As a result, some strategies and examples to teach this thematic are provided, such as the interpretation and analysis of primary sources and historical controversies.
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Notes
- 1.
Mercury – also known as living silver.
- 2.
Antimony – a metalloid used as cosmetics and as a drug (antimony sulfate).
- 3.
Nitro – natron or natrum,, which corresponds to sodium carbonate.
- 4.
Salt is sodium chloride.
- 5.
Burnt lime (or quicklime) is calcium oxide.
- 6.
Etching – nitric acid diluted with water.
- 7.
Alum corresponds to potassium aluminum sulfate.
- 8.
Vitriol – or maybe blue vitriol or copper sulfate, chalcanthite, white vitriol or zinc sulfate, and other sulfates.
- 9.
Ultramarine blue – pigment made from lapis lazuli.
- 10.
Precious stones – at which is assigned a therapeutic value generally connected to the magical and religious, the most used were the emerald and ruby.
- 11.
Bezoar – calcareous concretions developed in the stomach of some animals. The word derives from the Persian padzahr, which means antidote against poisons.
- 12.
Syphilis – also known as morbus Gallicus, sarna Gallica, enemy of disease, or Spanish scabies. Girolamo Fracastoro (1478–1553) gave the disease its final name in Syphilis, sive morbus gallicus, in 1530.
- 13.
For vitriol oil means the sulfuric acid.
- 14.
Fifth century, Cure X, p. 190.
- 15.
Sixth century, Cure XXXVIII, p. 58.
- 16.
Fourth century, Cure IX, p. 29–31.
- 17.
Seventh century, Cure XXXIII, p. 255.
- 18.
Borax can be sodium borate.
- 19.
Second century, Cure XVIII, p. 43.
- 20.
First century, Cure LXIV, p. 191.
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We especially thank the Digital Library Alma Mater, University of Coimbra, for providing the figures.
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Rodrigues, I., Torres, J., Favas, P. (2016). Geomedicine and History of Science: A Contribution to Scientific Culture. In: Vasconcelos, C. (eds) Geoscience Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43319-6_12
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