Between Cure and Control

Since ancient times, doctors were required to be "vigilant", in particular with regard to the signs and symptoms manifested and/or complained by the patient, with the ultimate objective of implementing successful medical treatment. Nonetheless, the vigilant attitude of early modern physicians was highly multivalent in its nature. Indeed, although it is true that doctor's primary mission was to ensure the health and recovery of the patient, his loyalty to the patient was explicitly relegated to the second place when they were considered a "dangerous individual". Nonetheless, the aim of this project is not to further investigate the Foucaldian idea of the "disciplinary" character of medicine but rather to deepen the analysis of the ambiguous role and attitude of doctors as experts of the body. The analysis will consider in general the functions and tasks of doctors who dealt with rowers on galleys. Indeed, rowers had to be treated with the utmost zeal, for sea-faring was impossible without a healthy and strong crew. However, their status of convicts and slaves necessarily influenced their relationship with doctors, who had to be constantly on the alert and treat them with extreme caution, if not outright suspicion