A large number of finds of probes, spatulas, and spoons, which were used as medical-pharmaceutical instruments, originate from Burnum, but they could also have been used for cosmetic purposes
The period of antiquity was a time of a rapid advance in medicine. The practice of medicine existed even earlier, the evidence for this being simple medical instruments, and it is known that even in earlier civilizations different plants were used for the preparation of medicines. Roman medicine was largely based on Greek medicine, but the Romans further improved their knowledge in the fields of diagnosis, therapy, and disease prevention. Medicine and pharmacy were connected because every doctor, in addition to surgical knowledge, had to be well versed in the healing properties of various plants, as well as having to compose medicinal preparations. Despite the development of medicine as a science, Roman medicine was largely imbued with religion. Therefore, a certain number of Romans chose treatment in well-known spa-temples (such as the temples of Apollo and Aesculapius), but public hospitals (Lat. valetudinarium) existed by temples throughout the Roman Empire, as well as private doctors who utilized empirical knowledge in treatment.
An exceptional contribution to the development of medicine and surgery was made by the military doctors whom Gaius Julius Caesar first incorporated into his troops. With the reorganization of the Roman army, i.e. with the creation of a professional army, the development of a military medical service began, in which the medical staff became an integral part of every legion or auxiliary unit. The army, as the source of the Empire’s power, was extremely valuable, therefore medicine was of crucial importance, as the primary tasks of military medical personnel were to keep the army healthy and to reduce the loss of human life after battles. A particularly important task of doctors in Roman military camps was the prevention of infectious diseases, which were the main cause of illnesses among the soldiers.
The most can be learned about military medical personnel from military camps across Europe, specifically legionary hospitals where the largest amount of medical instruments were regularly found. It is hypothesized that such a facility also existed in the area of the Roman military camp of Burnum, but this area has not yet been systematically excavated sufficiently in order to be able to confirm the location of the hospital with certainty. Although the military hospital has not been located, certain archaeological finds point to the presence of military medical personnel in Burnum, and this primarily refers to epigraphic monuments that confirmed the existence of two doctors at Burnum. The first monument was the funerary stele of Satrius Rufus, a soldier of the XIth legion, where the surgical implements depicted on the lower part suggest that he was a doctor. Additionally, Fr. L. Marun in the Starinarski dnevnici published a sketch of a stele from Burnum where the word medicus was partially preserved.
Archeological excavations in the area of the amphitheatre and the military training ground yielded a multitude of medical instruments. A large number of finds of probes, spatulas, and spoons, which were used as medical-pharmaceutical instruments, originate from Burnum, but they could also have been used for cosmetic purposes. These instruments were used to prepare and apply medicines, as well as to examine wounds. In addition to the above-mentioned finds, several items were also found that can undoubtedly be characterized as medical instruments, such as items used in surgical procedures like scalpels, catheters, surgical tubes, medical boxes, hooks/retractors, forceps, and cauterizers. The group of medical-pharmaceutical equipment also included glassware, such as shallow dishes and balsamaria, which were regularly used to store pharmaceutical preparations.
