Galen Galen (129 – 201) Systematized Hippocrates’ bodily humors theory and cathartic medicine. There is only one disease—humoral imbalance. And so only one cure—discarding excess blood (the dominant humor). 150 – 1858 Humoralism and catharsis dominate European medicine Pneuma: the vital principle There is one disease, and one cure Is disease one or many? Van Helmont vs the Galenists
