About Ammonius Lithotomos
Ammonius Lithotomos was a surgeon.
Ammonius Lithotomos (; ; fl. 3rd century BC), of Alexandria, was a Greek lithotomist.
Work Reported by Celsus, Ammonius invented the tools to break up "bladder stones". Lithoclastic cystotomy is attributed to Ammonius Lithotomos (stone-cutter), from which arose the term lithotomy, now having the arbitrary signification of cutting for the stone. Celsus gave the first description of lithotomy as performed before and during his time, and the operation has ever since borne his name—the Celsian method.
From Paulus Aegineta: "To stop bleeding, Oribasius directs, in the first place, cooling and astringent applications to be used, and if these do not succeed, caustics, such as misy, chalcitis, copperas, or the actual cautery. Upon the whole, his account of hemorrhage is nearly the same as our author's, only he says nothing of the ligature. Aetius treats of this subject in the same terms as Galen, recommending the ligature under the circumstances mentioned by him. Some of his styptics are powerful escharotics and astringents, such as copperas, chalcitis, alum, galls, quicklime, rosin, and frankincense. He informs us that "Ammonius, the famous Alexandrian lithomist, used a composition of arsenic, sandaracb, chalcitis, and quicklime.""
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Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was Ammonius Lithotomos?
Greek lithomist
When was Ammonius Lithotomos born?
Ammonius Lithotomos was born in Alexandria.
When did Ammonius Lithotomos die?
Ammonius Lithotomos died in Alexandria.
What was Ammonius Lithotomos's occupation?
Ammonius Lithotomos was a surgeon.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Ammonius Lithotomos
· DBpedia: Ammonius Lithotomos
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ammonius Lithotomos. https://biography.guide/ammonius-lithotomos/
MLA: "Ammonius Lithotomos." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ammonius-lithotomos/.
Chicago: "Ammonius Lithotomos." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ammonius-lithotomos/.
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