On terminology of disease in the work of Caelius Aurelianus

The use of Latin and Greek terms in medical sciences has a long tradition – as long as the Western medicine itself. For practical reasons, particularly because of its accuracy and internationality, the use of Latin-Greek medical terminology has survived to this day, but the current state of medical terminology and its status in ancient times differ significantly – despite their apparent continuity. Until now, medical terminology has been based on two roots: Latin, which most anatomical terms originate in, and Greek, which is mostly used in the clinical pathological field. In the work of Caelius Aurelianus De morbis acutis et chronicis libri VIII, we can find both roots of modern medical terminology. This text is namely a translation of the now lost Greek "medical textbook" on diseases by Soran: Περὶ ὀξέων καὶ χρονίων παθῶν (On Acute and Chronic Diseases). The terms from the field of pathology occupy the central position in the work of Caelius Aurelianus and appear almost always along with their Greek synonyms, and thus the index of pathological terms in this work provides a very good basis for the research of medical terminology development.