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Roman medicine: everything you wanted to know

Roman medicine: everything you wanted to know

Dr Patty Baker answers your questions about the gruesome – but surprisingly sophisticated – world of Roman medicine

Emily Briffett

Published: March 9, 2025 at 9:00 AM

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What were your chances of surviving illness in ancient Rome? How did the Roman army deal with ailments and injuries on the go? And in what way were the medical practitioners of this ancient civilisation similar to the snake-oil peddlers of the American Wild West? Emily Briffett speaks to Dr Patty Baker to get the answers to your questions about the treatments, cures and surgical practices of ancient Rome.

Authors

Emily BriffettSenior content producer (podcasts)

Emily Briffett is senior content producer (podcasts) at HistoryExtra