The teaching of surgery.

Abstract

In the first part of the paper, the widespread and enduring tradition that Asclepius was taught medicine by Chiron, with whom he had a quasi-filial relationship, is examined. In the second part, on the basis of language used by the Hippocratic writers, especially in the deontological and surgical works, some deductions are made about methods of and attitudes to teaching and learning. The nature of Hippocratic surgery is discussed and two types of surgical treatise are distinguished. Finally, these questions are addressed: who wrote and for whom; why, when and where?