Charmis of Marseilles (fl. 1st century AD) was a famous Roman physician. A native of Massilia, he came to Rome during the reign of Nero.[1] Pliny counted him as a "completely Greek physician".[2] He achieved great fame and fortune in Rome by introducing the practice of cold bathing, which supplanted the astrological medicine of his fellow townsman Crinas.[3] Crinas had in turn supplanted Thessalus, who followed the principles of the Methodic school of medicine.[3]
It is said that he charged a client two hundred thousand sesterces for his services.[1][4] He also practiced outside Rome, probably in his native Massilia.[2] After some dealings with a "sick man from the provinces" he was fined a million sesterces by Claudius, who also exiled him.[2][4]
Nonetheless, according to Pliny, he quickly regained a fortune while in exile in Gaul and after his return in Rome.[2] It is thought that Charmis of Marseilles and the "Charmes" mentioned in Galen's On Antidoctes are the same person.[1][2] Thus, thanks to Galen we known that he also treated women. An antidote used by him had several benefits, including effectiveness for menstrual problems, as well as the pain-free expulsion of the embryo.[2]
 | This biographical article related to medicine is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This ancient Roman biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
