This presentation is designed to share with fellow neurosurgeons a topic, namely the oath of Hippocrates, that has been a subject of fascination to physicians, scholars, historians, and even the public for the past 2500 years. Its moral and ethical message has exhibited remarkable resiliency through the ages, in varied cultures. Although its language may appear odd, its precepts are as valid today as they were in Hippocrates' time. This can be best understood through an historical review of the oath's transmission and acceptance in different eras of western history. The longevity of the oath, however, is clearly attributable to its intrinsic merit, its high moral reverent tone, and a literary eloquence that placed Hippocrates among the best writers of antiquity. Despite the fame of its author, the oath has experienced a life of its own, from relative obscurity during the Dark Ages to reverential study since the Renaissance. Five aspects are considered in this discussion, i.e., 1) oaths in antiquity; 2) a biographical sketch of Hippocrates; 3) the chain of transmission from antiquity to modern times; 4) comments on other oaths, prayers, codes, and credos; and 5) an analysis and some personal views of the oath.
A case is presented with the acute development of a pineal region syndrome secondary to hemorrhage into a pineal cyst in a patient who was under anticoagulant therapy. Resolution of the symptoms and signs followed excision of the lesion.
This is a literary portrait of Louise Eisenhardt, M.D., associate of Harvey Cushing, scholar, investigator, editor, teacher, and curator of the Brain Tumor Registry at Yale. She was a Charter Member of the Harvey Cushing Society which she served as President, long-term Secretary-Treasurer, and Historian. She achieved many "firsts" for women in medicine. A figure in the Homeric tradition of observing accurately and reporting honestly, Dr. Eisenhardt set high standards for both colleagues and students as well as for aspiring medical authors. She left a tradition worthy of emulation.
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