/oss/taxonomy/term/1593/all en /oss/article/controversial-science-health-history/physicians-oath-humanity <p>Hippocrates is often regarded as the father of modern medicine in spite of his mistaken belief that illness and health were determined by the ups and downs of the four “humours,” namely black bile, yellow bile, phlegm and blood. If the humours were in harmony, the individual would be healthy, if they were out of kilter, illness would ensue. In light of what we now know about the workings of the body, this theory makes no sense, but it was revolutionary in the sense that it related sickness to what we could loosely call problems with the body’s chemistry.</p> Fri, 11 Apr 2014 12:33:50 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD & Alexandra Pires-Ménard, OSS Intern 2126 at /oss