Protecting against the unseen: Chazal’s approach to chemical and biological hazards

Date

2022

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Stern College for Women, Yeshiva University

YU Faculty Profile

Abstract

In terms of the outside environments that surrounded the Talmud, the Sassanian empire surrounded the Rabbis of the Babylonian Talmud, whereas the Greco-Roman tradition surrounded those of the Yerushalmi. Regarding the approaches of the surrounding environments to health, Geller points to differences between the Greco-Roman and Akkadian/Babylonian approaches [1]. Greco-Roman medicine attributed disease to an imbalance of the four humours and as such, used diet, purges, changes of environment, and bloodletting as treatments [2]. In contrast, Akkadian/Babylonian medicine attributed disease to demons or other external factors and therefore used external drugs for treatment, rather than diet, purging, and bloodletting [3].

Description

Article

Keywords

Sassanian empire, Greco-Roman tradition, environments to health, Akkadian/Babylonian medicine, hazardous materials, chemical hazards, biological hazards

Citation

Krautwirth, R. (2021-2022). Protecting against the unseen: Chazal’s approach to chemical and biological hazards. Derech HaTeva, 26, 24-33.