<P> The expansion of the Roman Empire was achieved through military force in nearly every case . Roman culture as a whole revolved around its military for both expansion and protection . Geographic areas on the outskirts of the Empire were prone to attack and required heavy military presence . The constant barrage of attacks and the increase of expansion caused casualties . Due to attack there was a need for specialized medical care for these armies in order to keep them in operational status . The specialized form of care however, was not created until the time of Augustus (31BC - 14AD). Prior to this there is little information about the care of soldiers . It is assumed soldiers were self - reliant, treating their own wounds and caring for other ailments encountered . They would also turn to civilians for help throughout the villages they would come across . This was considered a custom of the time, and was quite common for households to take in wounded soldiers and tend to them . As time progressed, there was an increase in care for the wounded as hospitals appeared . The idea was held by the Romans that a healed soldier was better than a dead one and a healed veteran was better than a new recruit . </P> <P> With the need for soldier health a growing concern, places for the sick to go in the army were starting to show up . Dates ranged from AD 9 to AD 50, but this is when the first evidence of hospitals was seen in archeological remains . These hospitals were specific places for only military members to go to if they were injured or fell ill . Similar hospitals were set up for slaves in areas where slaves were used in large numbers . Military hospitals were permanent structures set up in forts . These buildings had clear patient rooms and were designed to accommodate large numbers of soldiers . The size of these hospitals varied based on their location . Some of the large facilities, such as the hospital in Hod Hill England, was large enough to accommodate roughly 12% of the force within the hospital . In more stable areas such as Inchtuthil in Scotland, there was room for as little as 2% of the force within the hospital . In areas with more conflict there were larger medical facilities as they saw more casualties . These hospitals were solely designed for the use of the military . If a civilian fell ill or needed surgery they would likely go to the physician's home and stay, not a hospital . Prior to these permanent structures there were tents set up as mobile field hospitals . Soldiers suffering from severe wounds were brought to these for treatment . These were quickly assembled and disassembled as the army moved . The tents served as a precursor for the permanent structured hospitals . These permanent hospitals and mobile treatment centers were a relatively new concept in this time period . </P> <P> Doctors serving in the army were considered to be a member of the military . Just like everyone else they would take the military oath and be bound by the military law . They would also start among the lower fighting ranks . Even though they took the military oath and were among the lower ranks it did not mean they would be fighting among the masses . These doctors were not always professionals or career physicians . Oftentimes they were slaves who were forced into that career . The Medici was also a group that treated wounded soldiers on the battlefield . These men were not trained physicians even though they played the role of one . Typically they were soldiers who demonstrated they had knowledge in wound treatment and even simple surgical techniques . These men were used before the actual trained doctors were largely implemented . Physicians got their knowledge from experience and information being passed down from person to person . Likely they never used medical texts, as it was not common place even in the civilian field . Generals and Emperors were exceptions, as they would typically have their own personal physician with them . This was a common occurrence as Emperors such as Julian employed famous physicians such as Galen . There were also physicians among the ranks of the Roman soldiers . </P> <P> With any large number of people being in close quarters there was a constant threat of disease . When one individual in a large group gets sick with a communicable disease, it spreads to others very quickly . This premise remains true even today in the modern military . The Romans recognized the difference between disease and wounds, each requiring separate treatment . Drainage of excess water and waste were common practices in camps as well as the permanent medical structures, which come at a later date . As the medical corps grew in size there was also specialization evolving . Physicians surfaced that specialized in disease, surgery, wound dressing and even veterinary medicine . Veterinary physicians were there to tend to livestock for agricultural purposes as well as combat purposes . The Cavalry was known for their use of horses in combat and scouting purposes . Because of the type of injuries that would have been commonly seen, surgery was a somewhat common occurrence . Tools such as scissors, knives and arrow extractors have been found in remains . In fact, Roman surgery was quite intuitive, in contrast to common thought of ancient surgery . The Roman military surgeons used a cocktail of plants, which created a sedative similar to modern anesthesia . Written documentation also showed surgeons would use oxidation from metal such as copper and scrape it into wounds, which provided an antibacterial effect; however, this method was most likely more toxic than providing an actual benefit . Doctors had the knowledge to clean their surgical instruments with hot water after each use . Wounds were dressed, and dead tissue was removed when bandages were changed . Honey and cobwebs were items used to cover wounds, and have even been shown today to increase healing . Because of the wide array of cases, it was not uncommon for surgeons to begin their careers in the army to learn their trade . Physicians such as Galen and Dioscorides served in the military . Most major advancements in knowledge and technique came from the military rather than civil practice . </P>

Why did the romans hire foreign mercenaries to serve in the army