De medicina

work by Celsus

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June 25, 2026

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De medicina is a medical encyclopedia written by Aulus Cornelius Celsus, a Roman nobleman who lived in the 1st century AD. Although largely overlooked by his contemporaries, it is now considered a medical classic. The work details advanced medical practices for its time, including wound cleanliness, the use of antiseptic substances like vinegar and thyme oil, and descriptions of plastic surgery. Celsus also identified the four cardinal signs of inflammation: heat, pain, redness, and swelling.12

The treatise is divided into three sections based on treatment types: dietetic, pharmaceutical, and surgical. It includes significant accounts of heart disease, insanity, and the use of ligatures to control arterial bleeding. De medicina is also a crucial source of information on Hellenistic medicine and Alexandrian anatomy and surgery. The work was rediscovered and published in 1478, making it one of the first medical texts printed after the invention of the printing press.12

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Aulus Cornelius Celsus
De medicina, now considered one of the finest medical classics, was largely ignored by contemporaries. It was discovered by Pope Nicholas V (1397–1455) and was among the first medical works to be published (1478) after the introduction of the printing press.
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De medicina, now considered one of the finest medical classics, was largely ignored by contemporaries. It was discovered by Pope Nicholas V (1397–1455) and was among the first medical works to be published (1478) after the introduction of the printing press.
Read More