Disease in Imperial Rome

During the imperial period of Rome, disease was a devastating aspect of life. As the borders of the empire continuously expanded and the population steadily grew, cities in the Roman Empire were exposed to a multitude of diseases. There were a variety of potential causes of these diseases present in the highly dense and quickly growing society's way of living. The sewage systems, the public bathing houses, and the diet of citizens in Imperial Rome all contributed to the spread of disease.

Environmental problems also played a part. For instance, deforestation led to a higher rate of transmission due to a chain reaction in the marshes from the rising water table that stemmed from deforestation. The diseases ranged in severity, some being catastrophic and others being not quite as deadly. One of the most prominent plagues during this period was the Antonine Plague (165–180 AD). The people of Imperial Rome often had a very small amount of insight regarding the diseases that were overtaking their society. All of the information was known by a few prominent physicians that came up with the treatments, which were usually not very effective.

Causes

Hygiene

Roman sewage and aqueduct systems

The Roman Empire has garnered itself a mostly positive reputation for the complicated sewer systems that ran underneath many of its cities. Roman engineering brought water to the city from the

While the sewage systems of Imperial Rome may have been engineering marvels and set precedents, there were still major flaws in Roman sewer systems. The population of Rome and other cities in the empire steadily grew, increasing the strain on the waste systems. However, due to the public health laws concerning street disposal of public waste, most of the large outbreaks and public health crises cannot be directly attributed to the sewer systems of Rome. There were many other more serious factors that added to the catastrophe of the major public health crises of Imperial Rome. Since most sewer systems were privately owned, they were privately maintained, and in turn neglected. Instead, citizens would turn to their latrines; if they lived on anything but the ground floor they would even throw their excrement onto the street. This led to sewage being exposed to flies, dogs, and bacteria, all of which helped spread disease among Romans. Although it is unclear what specific diseases were caused by the toilets in Imperial Rome due to the lack of clarification in ancient texts during that time period, it is likely that a multitude of intestinal diseases could have been caused through the lack of sanitation. Some examples of possible diseases includes dysentery, typhoid fever, and other types of diarrheas .[4] Another infamous hazard to health was the lead piping used to transport water throughout the city. Modern science has proven the devastating effects of lead, especially in regard to fertility. Some experts believe this may have been a leading factor in the population decline in the latter Imperial period. In fact, a study by Dr. Arthur Aufderheide of the University of Minnesota revealed that "Romans had 10 more times lead in their bones than modern Americans."^[5]

Alcohol consumption

Studies indicate that lead was very prominent in Roman beverages. This is mostly due to the lead-based storage containers that were popular during the time.^[6] Some scholars speculate that the levels of alcohol consumed on a daily basis were more to blame for the health ailments of the aristocrats of Rome, with the average consumption rate being approximately 3 bottles of wine a day.^[6] It is important to note that the practice of diluting wine was common as the source mentions, and that undiluted wine was considered barbaric. In fact, the Romans would typically mix one part wine to two parts of water. It was also common practice to warm wine or reduce its sweetness through the use of sea water.^[7]

Litter pollution

The city of Rome also faced a major problem with street garbage and the build up of trash. Poets and satirists often made the Roman litter problem the subject of jokes and writings, with descriptions of trash being everywhere, including in Roman households and on the floor.^[8] The lack of sanitation on the streets and households of Rome contributed to disease and sickness. Trash items ranged from discarded household items to actual human waste, meaning contamination chances were very high. The Romans realized this was becoming a problem, and a series of laws and other measures were taken to limit garbage build up in the streets. Most of these measures were implemented in order to prevent pedestrian casualties from waste falling on them, however these measure also increased the public health by eliminating the waste from the immediate city.^[6] There is evidence to suggest that they allowed waste carriages to go throughout the city and collect waste during hours in which other modes of transportation were banned.^[8] This strategy did not completely solve the problem, as most of the waste was just moved outside the city limits meaning the risk for contamination and odor was still present.

Bathing

Public and private bath houses were common in Rome during the Imperial period of Rome. Commonly referred to as Thermae, these bath houses varied widely, but most had similar bathing processes. Occupants would exercise, use a variety of saunas and cooling rooms, and sometimes swim in a pool.^[9] Even an imperial-version sauna was created for cleansing the body of toxins.^[10] The hours typically started at lunchtime and closed at dusk and was open to everyone, with only a small fee required to enter. Bath houses were typically located near the forum of Roman towns.^[11] Due to the high poverty rate in Rome, it was uncommon for the middle class citizens to own a private bath, according to journalist Jay Stuller. The heated bath water was not always chemically cleansed or filtered with chemicals such as chlorine, causing bacteria to thrive and spread. When Christianity came to Rome, it viewed the public nudity of the bathing system as debauchery and therefore it became frowned upon.^{[citation needed]} While the bathing system may not have been pristine, abstaining from cleanliness altogether brought upon many more potentially fatal diseases, especially in infants.

Environment

Population density

Rome's population was unprecedentedly large in the ancient world, reaching 1 million during the high point of the Empire.^[12] This was much larger than the other major cultures that co-existed and predated the Romans. Paired with the poor living conditions that many Romans experienced, the city was a perfect breeding grounds for disease. In the poor boroughs of Rome, tight living conditions and filth increased the spread of disease. The Antonine and Cyprian plagues were transmitted through touch, which only added to the severity of the plagues, especially in areas of poverty.

Rome had an extremely high population, and remnants of buildings suggest the average living space was very small.^[13] Many people crammed into small spaces led to very high rates of infection for transmittable diseases. As the Antonine and Cyprian plagues were transmitted through touch, a dense population rate would contribute highly to their spread.

Deforestation

The Antonine Plague was the first known pandemic impacting the Roman Empire. The plague, generally believed to be smallpox, was possibly brought by soldiers returning from the campaign in Western Asia, leading to catastrophic results for the Roman populace, whom had likely never been exposed to the disease before.^[15] The main symptoms included diarrhea, skin sores and irritations and sore throats. Symptoms lasted for around two weeks before they either died, or recovered and in turn developed immunity from further infection.^[16] Emperor Marcus Aurelius implemented several changes which suggest the dire status of the Empire. This included loosening the regulations for membership of higher councils in multiple important settlements throughout the empire, including Athens.^[15] Egypt was another region that saw catastrophic loss in the populations of their cities. This was demonstrated in the papyrus scripts documenting the loss in revenue from the massive decrease in population. The entire empire was facing hardship from the plague. Public building projects ceased in many of the provinces' major cities, including London. This all simultaneously happened while the empire faced attacks from the Sarmatians in the east. It is estimated that up to 15% of the Roman population was wiped out during the ten year plague, including Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 180 CE. It is widely believed^{[by whom?]} that the plague was what is now known as smallpox. This can be determined largely due to the notes and commentary from famed Greek physician Galen. It is estimated^{[by whom?]} that the Antonine Plague's impact on the Roman Empire was devastating and the effects lasted for centuries after the fact, some historians arguing that it permanently impaired the Empire and assisted in its downfall.^{[citation needed]}

The

Morbus Gallicus (Gallic disease), better known in modern times as syphilis, or the "French Disease" was not prominent in ancient Europe but with recent bone studies, it has been found that a type of European treponematosis bacterium may have even affected children.^[23] However, according to an article published by Kristin Harper in 2008, ancient European civilizations may have had a related form of the bacterium but not venereal syphilis itself, which may have had its origin in the pre-Columbian Americas.^[24] The term ‘syphilis" was coined later on by a 15th-century Italian poet Girolamo Fracastoro, who wrote an epic poem of a boy named Syphilus who insulted Apollo, and was in turn punished with the disease. During the Medieval and Renaissance periods the likely mutated forms of the treponematoses resulted in epidemics.^[25]

Malaria

The earliest known case of malaria is from Roman DNA dated to 450 AD. An excavation of a village shows signs of a serious malaria problem, with bone tests and traces of honeysuckle, a plant used to treat fevers. Also noted is that the area was a "zone of pestilence".^[26] Deforestation and sanitation issues were the main causes of malaria.

Mentagra

Mentagra, notably thought by the Imperial Romans to be spread by kissing, was a skin disease most commonly starting in the chin and moving on to the entire face and sometimes other body parts. The aesthetic factor was very unappealing, while the disease was hardly adverse to health at all. Even though it was not dangerous, Romans ironically went as far as scar-inducing cauterizations to rid them of the abhorrent disease.^[19]

Respiratory diseases

Respiratory diseases, most prominently

An extensive study done by Mario Novak and Mario Slaus found many skeletal remains available for examination in one specific colony in ancient Rome, Colonia Iulia Iader also known as Zadar. With tests it was found that the mean age of death for men was 37.4 years (with a standard deviation of 9.43 years), and for women was 38.4 years (with a standard deviation of 9.29 years). While this is only a sample representation of our study population, it could give reasonable insights to the whole of Rome. In the remains, several indicators of nutritional stress were found widespread among certain age groups. With the rates of these nutritional problems, it was even found that Romans favored male children in things like breastfeeding, leaving the females with higher rates of malnutrition. Periostitis was also found in many samples, with a frequency indicating overcrowding and overall poor quality of life.^[28]

Treatment

Rome had a few prominent

Doctors

The highly experienced medical personnel were focused on the military, which was often the most vulnerable group to any given disease.

Galen, perhaps the most prominent Roman physician, studied anatomy as well as herbal remedies.^{[citation needed]} Galen's contributions to medicine mainly consisted of his detailed book series that aided in future doctors' studies of practical medicine. As far as his contribution to medicine in the ancient world, he expanded the knowledge of medicine through using similar methods to Hippocrates, which strayed away from the mythical methods of medicine that proved to be ineffective. These methods that he practiced included studying anatomy and using many different procedures in an attempt to find reliable ways of treatment.^[29]

Treatment methods

Herbal medicines

Natural medicine was of great importance, seeing as they could not synthetically manufacture anything. Many traces of herbs at ancient Roman army bases have been found, as well as medicated wine. An example of these kind of medicine is green jasper, which was used to treat stomach problems. Army doctors had knowledge of the herbs, and perhaps even grew their own in their respective gardens.^[30] The Romans were not correct with all of the herbs uses, but a placebo effect possibly still made some of the herbs useful. Pills, also referred to as pastille, consisted of herbs and plants along with a metallic ingredient.

Surgery

Surgery was not a very common practice during the period of Imperial Rome and was only used as a last option and if absolutely needed. The reason for this was due to the risk of the patient being in more pain post surgery than they were prior to it. Even when performed, it was confined to only surface level procedures, using flax, linen threads, or metal pins. Regarding internal damage that can be caused by diseases, many doctors did not attempt to fix this due to the fear of their medical reputation being damaged if unsuccessful, which was likely to occur due to the lack of knowledge regarding these procedures.^[31]

References