P REFA C E .

T H E fo ll o w i ng b oo k co m
p ri ses a h i s t o r y o f m e d i c i n e
a nd th e m e d i c al p r o fes s i o n fr o m th e e ar l i e s t t i m e s t o
th e b eg i n n i n g o f th e an d i s p ub l i s h e d
p r es e n t c e n tu r y ,

in th e h o pe th at i t m ay fo r m a no t un w e l c o m e

c o n tr i b u t i o n t o a n eg l e c te d d epart m e n t o f m ed i c al
l i t e r at u r e .

T h e w r i te r o w es m uc h to t h e s t an d a r d h i s t o ri e s a n d
m o n o g r ap h s o f h i s s u bj e c t d e b ts w h i c h w i ll b e d ul y
,

a c k n o w l e d e d ; b u t h e h as i n e v e r
g y c as e g o ne al s o t o
, ,

t h e o r i i n al a u t h o ri t i es an d h a s at t e m te d s o fa r as
g .
p ,

po s s i b l e to m ak e t h e r e p r e se n t ati v e ph ys i c i a n s o f
,

v a ri o u s ages d esc ri b e t h e i r t h e o ri es and p r ac t i c e i n

t h e i r o w n w o r d s e s p ec i al l y t h r o ugh i ll u s t rat i v e c as es
,

r ec o r d e d b y t h e m se l v e s I n o r d e r t o c o m b i n e th i s
.
'

w i t h t h e b r e v i t y d e m a n d e d i n s uc h a w o r k m at t e r s ,

w h i c h m ay b e fo u n d i n o r d i n a r y b oo k s of r efe r e nc e ,

o r r ead il
y ac c ess i bl e t ra n s l at i o n s ar e pas se d o v e r as
,

l i gh tl y as p o s s i b l e and w i t h few e x c ep t i o ns o n l y
, , ,

t h o se p rac t i t i o n e rs a re i n t r o d uc ed w h o m ay b e s ai d t o
h a v e h ad s o m e d efi n i te i nfl ue n c e o n t h e p r o gr ess o f
m e d i c i ne .S i m il ar l y l es s s pac e h as b ee n d e v o t e d t o
H a r v ey S y d e n h a m H u n t e r an d o t h e r s w h o s e w o r k
, , , ,

h as b e e n full y and fr e q ue n t l y d e s c ri b e d b y ab l e r
h a n d s t h an t o t h e A ra b i c an d m e d i aev al ph y s i c i an s
, ,

w h o are u s u al l y d i s c u s s e d m o r e b r i e fl y t h an t h e i r
h i s t o r i c a l i m po r ta n c e s ee m s to d em and .
vi PRE FA C E .

T h e w r i t e r i s r e s p o n s i b l e fo r al l t r an s l at i o ns no t

o t he r w i se tt r i b u ted and h e h as e n d ea v o u r e d i n eac h

a , ,

c as e ,
to g i v e t h e fu l l m e an i n
g o f t h e o ri i na l
g w h i l e ,

o m it t i n u n nec e ss ar v rb i a e I n n o m e n c l at u r e t h e
g y e
g .

g r eat es t p o s s i b l e s i m p l i c i ty h as b ee n a i m e d at .

Ch ri s ti an n am es are g i v e n i n th e ir E ngl i s h fo r m ;
Jo h n M es ue and I s aac b e n S o l o m o n b e i ng p r e fe r r ed
t o Y uh ann a i b n M as aw a i h a n d I s h ac q i b n S u l e i m a n .

t h o ug h t h e l at te r m ay m o r e n e a rl y r e p re s e n t t h e m o d e

i n w h i c h t h o s e d i s t i ngu i s h ed m e n w e r e ad d res s e d b y
t h e i r c o n te m p o ra ri e s .

W h il e ap pea l i ng p r i m a ril y t o th e m ed i c al p r o fes s i o n

a nd t h o s e c o nn ec t e d th e r e w i th i t i s h o p e d th at t h e
,

w o r k m ay b e n o t wi th o u t i n t e r e s t t o a w i d e r c i r c l e ,

an d ev e r t h i n h as t h e r e fo r e b ee n av o i d e d w h i ch
y g
c o uld r e as o na b l
y r e n d e r i t u n s u i t e d t o t h e fa m il y
h b r ar y .

E . T . W

K l N G S T O N - O N - T HAM E S ,

y n ne ,
1 8 94 .
 CO NTENTS .

C HA R
I . I t
n r o d uc o r t y ,

II . M ed i i c ne i t i Tim s
i n Preh s or c e ,

III . M e d ic i a p a ti ne d b y U n i ili d M an
s r c se c v se ,

IV . M e dici i A i t Egypt
ne n n c en ,

V . H i nd M d i c i e
u e n ,

VI . C h al d a a d P s i a M d i i
e n n er n e c n e,

VI I Th e E a li t G r k M di i
es ree e c n e,

T h Ph il so ph e s— D m c d —T h A c l p i ad a
.

V III . e o r e o e es e s e e,

iX . H i pp at oc r es ,

Th S he l s f C o s a d C n id s
c oo o n u

—Th Do gm ati c S
,

XI . Th e S c s o uc o f H i pp oc at
e s rs r es e c h o ol ,

XI I . T h Al x an d i
e e A at m ist r ne n o s,

XI II . H ac l i d
er a d th Em pi i S h
es n l e r c c oo ,

XI V . M ilit a y M d i ir in A ei tG c ne n c en r eec e ,

XV . Th M d i al P f
e e i n i n An i nt G
c ro ess o c e reec e ,

E a ly R m a M ed i c i
r o n ne,

X V II . Th M th d i S h
e e lo c c oo ,

X V I II . C el u s
s d A c i e t Su g y
an n n r er ,

XI X . G al n e ,

G al an d H i pp
en at s co m pa ed ocr e r ,

XX I . T h e M ed i a l P f i n in R m
c ro es s o o e,

XXII . O ffi i al M d i i n i n A c i e t R m
c e c e n n o e,

XXII I . R m a M ilita y M ed i i n
o n r c e,

XXI V . T h e I fl uencn f C h i ti a ity n M d i i n

e o r s n o e c e,

N esto i a M ed i al S h o o l s
r n c c ,

XX V I . T h e E c l ti a d C m p il
ec scs n o er ,

XX V I I . B y a ti
z nM ed i c i e
ne n ,

XX V I II . A ab i M ed i c i ( ) T h T a l ato
r c ne I e r ns rs ,

XXIX . A ab ic M di i n ( 2 ) Th E ast C aliph at

r e c e e er n e,

A ab i M d i i
r c eTh W e t e
c ne C ali ph at e e s rn ,

XXXI . A ab i M ed ic i (4 ) H osp ital s and I n tituti on s

r c ne s ,

XXXI I . G n e al S u ey o f A ab i c M d i i n
e r rv r e c e,

XXXII I . Th D a k est A g
e r e,

XXXI V . Th S c h
e l f S al e ooo o rn ,

XXX V . T h L ad i
e f S al e n es o r o,

XXX V I . Th e A ab o S c h o l asti R i al
r -
M ed i c i n e c ev v ,

XXX V I I . Th A ab o S h l asti c R e i al ( 2 )
e r - c Su g y
o v v r er ,
viii CO N TE N TS .

XXXV III . Th e C l i l Ag
o se o f t h e M dd e es ,

XXXIX . M di
e al M ili ta y M d i i
aev r e c n e,

Th M di
e eal Ph y i i a
a
ev s c n,

T h M d i al P o f
e e ci i t h M i dd l A ge
r e ss o n n e e s,

X L II . U p of i al M d i i i th M i ddl A g
n r e ss o n e c ne n e e es ,

X L III . Th R i al o f L a i g
e ev v e rn n ,

X LI V . Th M y ti
e s cs,

Pa a l u
r ce s s,

X LV I . Pa a l u (
r ce s ti d )
s c on n ue ,

X LV I I . Si m i l a S ym p ath y
rs , d S i g at an n u r es ,

X LV III . T h G at A at m i t
e re n o s s,

X L IX . T h R f m f Su g y
e e or o r er ,

L . M d i al P a ti
e c i t h S ixt
r c th C t y
ce n e een en u r ,

LI .. H arv e y a d t h N ew P h y i l gy
n e s o o ,

LI I . V an H lm et on ,

L III . Th C h m i l S h o l f M d i c i
e e ca c o o e ne

T h I at
e M h an i al S h l
ro - ec c c oo ,

Th C li i i
e sn c an ,

LV I . S t th C t u y S u g y
ev en ee n en r r er ,

V II
L . Th A n i m i t
e s s,

L V III . T h V it ali t
e s s,

Th O g a i i t
e r n c s s,

LX . Th S u g y f t h E i gh t
e r er o th C t u y e ee n en r ,

Th B e i a Sy t m
runon n s e ,

L XII . Th O i g i
e r f M d n o M di i o er n e c ne

A P PE N D IX .

I . T h e M ed i i of C h i a a d J ap a
c ne n n n,

Th A l p i ad
e sc ea d th P i st o f l E ul ap i
e n e r e s sc us,

M ed i l M nasti M d i i
eva
a o c e c n e,

Th eG al i Sy t m f M d i i
en c s e o e c ne,

E g li h M d i al P a titi
n s e s b f c Li a r c o n er e o re n c r e,

A i t d M d i al M d i al P
n c en an i ptio
e a
ev e c r esc r ns,

T h All g d V i i c ti o o f M
e e e i t h S ixt
v se th n en n e ee n C en tu y
r ,
 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

I .
—I N T RO D U C T O RY .

D R O L I VE R
.
W E N D E LL H O L M E S i n on e of h i s ad dr es s e s
, ,

urg e s h is h e arers n ot to loo k wit h c on t em p t on t h ei r ol d

m e d ic al boo ks : Th e d ébr i s o f broke n syst em s and e x p l od e d
“
dogm a s , h e c ontin u e s form a gre at mound a M ont e
, ,

Tes t ac c i o of t h e shard s a n d r e mn ants of ol d v es s el s which

on c e h el d h u m an b e li efs I f you t ak e th e t roubl e to cl im b
.

to th e t op of it you wil l wid e n you r h orizon and in t h es e

, ,

day s of s p ec iali s ed knowl e dg e yo ur h orizon i s n ot li k ely to

”
b e any t oo wid e N ow th at t h e p e riod of p ur e ly p r ofes
.

s i o n al e d uc ation has b ee n p rol ong ed t h e t e nd e n cy t o thi s ,

narrown e s s of vi e w i s l ik e ly t o in cre as e and n o b ett e r ant i ,

dot e co uld p ossibly b e fo un d than t h e st udy of m e di cal

hi st ory a s ubj e c t whi ch m a k es us a c q u aint ed wit h t h e most
,

div e r se form s of t h ou ght and brings b efore u s e ve ry p h as e

,

of c ivili s at ion Th e n e gl e ct o f t hi s st udy e sp e cially in

.
,

E ngl and h as oft e n b een n oti c e d and s ee m s d u e to two

, ,

c au s e s ; fi rst t h at thos e who might writ e hi s tori e s of

m e dicin e are mor e p racti cal ly em p loy ed —so m e p e rh ap s
,

in t h e n obl e r tas k of ma kin g hi s tory —s ec on dly an d chi e fly

, , ,

“
, ,

th at th e r e i s n o d em and for s uch works Th e p owe r an d .

origin ality of m od e rn m edicin e t h e vigour and s ucc es s with

,

wh i ch it h as o pp os e d t h e s ci e nt ifi c m ethods of ob se rvation
and e x p e rim e nt to t h e old r e v er en c e for syst e m a nd
auth ority t e n d to c r e at e a con t e m p t for m e di c al hi story
, ,

and a h alf confe ss ed fee l in g t h at w e are t h e m e n an d

-
,

knowl e dge w as born wit h u s or at l ea st wit h our fat h e rs

,
.

B ut t h e st udy ha s oth er advantag es b esid es t h at of count e r

2 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

acting t h e narrow n ess o f s p e ciali s m ; it w i l l al s o h e l p to

p r es erv e u s from two o p p o s it e e rror s e xc es s iv e tru s t in ,

authority and ov e r e age rn e s s to ado p t anythin g Wh ich s ee m s

,
-

t o b e n ew and original I f w e may no l ong er a s se rt with

.

H i pp ocrat es that n e w di s cov eri es can on ly b e m ad e by

following out old trac k s m edical hi s tory w ill at l e a s t w arn
,

u s from p ath s w hi ch l ead no w h e r e or but to barr e n ,

d es ert s of s p e cula t ion ; and though w e s hall m e e t with

quack s C harlatan s and oth e r r elativ es of th at bri s k l ad
, , ,

I gnoranc e who cam e from t h e l and of C on c e it w e s h al l

, ,

more o ft e n b e com e acquain t ed with m en who s e cha ract e r s

w e may w e l l e mulat e w ho s e liv e s w e re d evot e d to t h e
,

b en efit o f th e ir fe llow s and to a nob l e ev e n if fruit l es s s e arch

,

for Truth . N or i s thi s s tudy to b e com m e nd e d to t h e m e di cal

p ro fes s ion only but to e ducat e d m en in g e n e ral and th at

, ,

quit e ap art from i t s c laim s as an im p ortant and int e r es tin g

s e ction o f t h e hi s tory o f human d e v e l o p m e nt M any who .

ar e too ap t wh e n in h e alth to ca st unm e rit e d r ep roach and

, ,

ridicul e u p on m e di cal s ci e nc e and too r e ady w h e n h e alth

, ,

“
fail s to run a ft e r e v e ry n e w
, s yst e m or fr e s h form o f
quack ery woul d thu s l earn s om ething of t h e nat ure of
,

m e dical p robl e m s Th e y w ould b e com e acq uaint e d w ith t h e

.

va s t di fficulti es again s t which m e dicin e h as had to cont e nd ;

w ith t h e labours of t ho se gr e at m en w h o hav e by s low
d egr ees advanc e d t h e bound s of kno w l e dge ; in s hort to ,

“
quot o nc mor our m e dical p o et with t h e hi s t ory o f a
e e e ,

n obl e p ro fes s ion w hich for mor e th an two th ou s and y e ars

,

h a s d evot e d it s e l f to t h e p ur s uit o f t h e b es t e arthly int e res t s

o f mankind al w ay s a s s ail e d and in s ult e d from without by
,

such as ar e ignorant o f i t s infinit e p e r p l e xit i es and l abour s ,

al w ay s s triving in un e qual cont es t w ith t h e hundr e d arm e d -

giant w h o wal k s in t h e noonday an d s l e e p s not in t h e ,

midni g ht y et s till toil ing not m e r e ly for it s e l f and t h e

, ,

p r es ent mom ent but for t h e rac e and fo r t h e futur e

,

An att e m p t wil l b e m ad e in e n s uing cha p t e r s to tak e a

bri ef s urv ey of m e dical hi s tory giving s p e cial p romin en c e,

to t hos e p art s of it which t each s uch l e ss on s as ar e abov e

 H I S TO R I C A L O U T L I N E . .
3

i nd i cat e d T h e s ubj e ct may b e conv e ni ent ly divid e d into t hr ee

.

p e riod s o f wh ich t h e fi rst m ay b e call e d t h e i n s t i n c ti v e e m p i r i c

, , ,

or from i t s ch aract e ri s tic th e ory o f di s e as e t h e d e moni c

, ,

e p o ch of m e d ici n e U n d er th i s h e ad w e s h al l consid e r t h e
.

e ar l i e s t form s o f t h e h e al i n g art su
p p l e m en ting our s canty ,

kn owl e dg e of p r e histori c m e dic in e by w h at i s kn o w n of i t s

p racti c e among un civil i se d rac e s T h e m edi cin e o f t h e .

an ci e nt E a s t and i t s e arly d ev e l o p m e nt s in G r e e c e wil l b e

, ,

cl ass e d h e r e t hough in E gy p t and I ndia e s p e ci al ly w e shall

,

fin d a m p l e e vid e n c e of a m u ch h igh e r st a ge of knowl e dg e .

T h e gr e at nam e of H i pp ocrat e s introduc e s a n ew er a ,

t h at of Gr ee k m edi cin e w hich form s t h e s e co nd an d mo s t

,

e xt e n s iv e division of o ur s ubj e ct A ft e r tra ci n g th e origin o f

.

clin i c al ob s e rvat ion t o thi s gr e at r eform er an d o f anatomy ,

and p hy s iology to t h e fost e ring car e of t h e Gr ee k kin gs o f

E gy p t w e s ha ll s e e how t h e fol low e rs of H i p p ocrat es lik e
, ,

th o s e of hi s cont e m p orary S ocrat e s s p lit u p into a n umb e r

, ,

o f s e ct s or s chool s s om e o f whi ch e nti re ly r e nounc e d h i s

,

authority Thr e e of th es e s ect s t h e D ogm ati c t h e E m p iric

.
, , ,

an d t h e M ethod ic will attract our s p e c ial att e ntion and w e

, ,

s h al l find th e m in t h e s e cond c ent ury A D p roducing t h eir ,

. .
,

th r ee gr e at e st r ep r e s entat iv e s G al en S ext u s E m p i r i c u s , , ,

an d S oran u s t h e M ethodi s t W e shal l n oti c e how th e

.

e l ab orat e s y s t e m o f Gal e n whil e e cli p sing al l t h e oth e r

,

s chools was it s e l f ob s cur e d fo r a ti m e by thos e va s t r ev o l u

,

tions in E uro p e an hi s tory d u e to t h e t ri um p h o f C hri stianity ,

t h e inva s ion o f t h e barbarians an d t h e s e p aration o f t h e e a s t

’

e r n and w e st e rn d ivi s ion s o f th e Roman e m p ir e I n t h e dark .

age s wh ich fol low e d t h e s tudy o f Gr e e k m edicin e w as tak e n

,

u p by anoth e r bran ch o f t h e hu m an fa mi ly and in t h e W e s t ,

at l e a st w as fo r a tim e cl a s s e d among t hos e studm S am

cenom m or Arabi c st udi es w h i ch w e re h e ld to b e clos e l y
, ,

al l i e d t o n e crom ancy and fraught wit h dan ge r to t h e soul s

,

o f t h e orthodox S oon how ev e r in t h e story o f t h e s chool

.
, ,

o f S al e rn o w e s hal l find Gr ee k m e dicin e r eturning t o t h e

,

W es t und e r Arab infl u enc es s om ewh at m odifi e d in form , ,

e n rich e d wit h a larg e r arm oury o f drugs and p rovid e d with ,

4 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

a new att e ndan t sci e nc e in t h e in fa nt ch e mi try s . we s hal l

n ext s ee how at t h e r evival o f l earning thi s G r ae c o A rfl b l c
, ,
-

i n al
m e dicin e cam e into col li s ion w ith i t s ge n uin Gr k e e e o r gr ,

and h o w t h e vast fabric o f G al e ni s m th u s divid ed agam S t ,

it s el f and attack e d from w ithout by t h e n e w 5 0 11 0 0 1 Of

,

anatomi s t s and by fr ee s p irit s s uch as Parac e l s u s fin al ly

,
,

gav e p lac e to a n ew ep och For two thou s and y e ars Gr eek

.

m e dicin e had rul e d s u p r em e and t hou gh w e ca n n ow afford

,

to d es p is e i ts h umoral p athology we s hall I think fin d th at

, , ,

e v e n Gal e ni s m w as su e rior to m any of t h e s y s t e m s it s u p

p
lant e d and to s om e w hich hav e s ucc e e d e d it and th at t h e
p , ,

Gree k m edicin e as a whol e w as not unworthy of that

w ond e rful p e o p l e who gav e it origin .

O u r third p e riod dat es from t h e ri s e o f a p hy s iology

found e d no lon g e r on s p e c ul ation but on fact and b egins ,

w ith that gre at di s cov e ry whi ch h as giv e n t h e na m e of

Harv ey an immortality of r e p ut ation B ut it w as t h e .

b etrotha l rath e r than t h e marriage of M e di cin e and S ci e nc e

w hi ch w a s th e n c e l e brat e d C h e mi s try p hysi cs p hy s iology
.
, ,

wer e s till too young t o tak e th e ir p ro p e r p o s ition as h e l p

mat es to t h e h e aling art an d t h e att e m p t to ha s t e n t h e union
,

by s eizin g u p on i s ol at ed s ci en c e s o r s ci e ntific t h e ori e s gav e

b irth to a n ew s et o f s chool s and s y s t e m s ch e mical m ec h an i , ,

cal vitali s tic p res enting m any c uriou s analogi e s to t h e old

, ,

Gr eek on es H a pp ily th e ir d uration w as s hort e r ; gr e at m en

.

con tinu e d th e wor k o f H arvey and at t h e b e ginning of t h e

, ,

p re s e nt c e nt ury m e dicin e und e r Bi ch at and L a e nn e c b e c am e

, ,

at l ea s t in s om e of i t s d ep artm ent s s ci e ntific ; s y s t e m s w ith

e xc ep tion —hom oe o p athy —
, ,

on e di s a p p e ar e d and m e di cin e , ,

l ike al l oth e r s ci e nc e s e nt e r e d u p on a p eriod of un p arall e l e d

,

progres s .

A bri ef li s t o f t h e p rinci p al work s to whi ch t h e w rit e r i s

ind ebt e d and which ma y b e con s ult e d by tho s e who wi s h to
,

p ur s u e t h e subj e ct will fol low e ach cha p t e r an d a s hort

, ,

account of th e mo s t im portant gen e ra l hi s tori es o f m e di cin e

may a pp ro p riat ely b e giv e n h er e I n thi s as i n oth e r d e
.
,

par tm e n t s of historical r es e arch G e rm any i s p re e m in e nt

,
-
.
 M E D I C A L H I ST O R I E S .
5

Th e L at in w ork of
S chu l z e ( 1 7 2 8) p r ep ar e d t h e w ay for
Sp re n ge l ’
s ep o ch -
makin g A ttempt tow ar ds a P r ag m a ti c H i s
tory o f M edi ci n e ( 5 vol s 1 7 9 2 which w as t ran sl at ed
.
,

into Fr e nch an d I t alian and h as form e d t h e basi s o f mo s t

l at e r boo k s on t h e s ubj e ct B ut e v e n thi s gr e at w ork h as .

b ee n s ur p a s s e d by H aes er s Text book of th e H i story of M edi ci ne

’
-

and E pi demi c D i seases ( 3 vol s 1 87 9 8 2 3 r d e dition ) a .

,
-
, ,

mon um e nt o f G e rm an indu s try and r e s e arch w hich m u s t

lon g r e m ain t h e s t andard a uthority B es id es th e s e w e .

may m e ntion t h e brill iant H i story of M edi c i n e by H e c k er

( in com p l e t e 1 82 2 , b e tt e r known as t h e hi s t ori an o f
m e di aeval ep id e m i c s and t h e l at e r work s of W un d er l i c h
,
-

B aas an d P u s c h m an n t h e two l att e r

o f whi ch h av e b ee n tran s l at e d int o E ngl i s h ( Phi lad e l p hia

1 889 and L on don

, T h e mo s t im p ortant Fr en ch book s
,

on t h e s ubj e ct ar e L e C l e rc s H i story of M edi ci n e ( 1 6 96 ’

in com p l e t e ) D ar em b er g s H i story of th e M edi cal S ci ences

,
’

( 2 vol s 1 87 0 ) an d B ou ch ut s H i story of M edi ci ne ( 2 vol s

’
.
, .
,

I n I tal y m e di cin e h as found a worthy hi s tori an i n

P u c c i n o tt i ( 3 vol s and E ngland alon e am on g t h e
.
,

nat ion s di stin guish e d by t h e ir contribution s to t h e art h as

p rod uc e d n o com p l e t e w ork o f im p ortan c e d e aling with it s
hi story A good b e ginni ng in d ee d w as mad e by F r e i n d s
.
, ,
’

cont in ua t ion of L e C l e rc s hi s tory from t h e tim e o f Gal e n to

’

t h e s ixt ee nth c e nt u ry and Adam s e dition o f P aul ns E gi n eta

’

, ,

whi ch p racti cally in cl u d es a hi s tory o f anci en t m ed icin e ,

gain e d fo r i t s a ut hor a E uro p ean r ep ut ation B ooks on .

m e di cal bio gra p hy too ar e n um e rou s an d e xc e l l e nt and

, , ,

among t h e m D r G r ee nhil l s art icl e s on t h e Gr e e k p hy s ician s

.
’

i n t h e D i c ti onary of C l assi c al B i ogr aphy and D r Richard s on s

’
.
,

a ccount s o f m od ern p ractition e r s in hi s A sc l epi ad may b e ,

s p e cially n ot i c ed Th er e ar e al s o s e v e ral s hort hi s tori es

. ,

m o s t ly fou nd e d u p on S p r e n ge l wh ich h av e a p p e ar e d in ,

grou p s at int e rval s of t hirty y e ar s s uch as tho s e of H amilton

, ,

and Bo toc k M e r y o n ( in com p l et e) and Ru s s e l l

( 3 )
1 8 1 s

ho m o at hi c both ubli s h e d 1 86 1 ; whil e sin c e 1 889 w e

( oe p ) p
,

h av e had t h e two tran s lation s abov e m e nt ion ed and a ,

6 I AL
M ED C I T RY
H S O .

M e dicin e
by D r B er d o e Th e
p o p ular H i s tory of . .

E ncy cl opa d i a B r i tann i ca contain s an e xc e ll en t cond en s ation

v

o f H aes e r s w ork by D r
’
Payn e but an E ngli s h H i s tory of
. ,

M e dicin e whi ch may com p are ev e n w it h t h e l e a s t o f t h e

contin e ntal hi s tori es abov e notic e d h as ve t to b e writt e n .

II . ME D ICI NE I N P RE H I S T O RI C T I M E S .

E VE R inc e V ital act ivi ty h as e xi s t e d on t h e e ar t h it h as

s , ,

in all p robabili t y b ee n lia b l e t o tho s e p e rt urbati on s which

,

w e call di s e a s e ; w ound s and inj uri e s must h av e oc c urr e d

w h e r ev e r th e r e w e re w e a p on s to inflict th e m and fragm e nt s ,

1
o f di s ea s ed fo s s il bon e are t o b e found in o ur m u um s e s .

W e may w e l l s u p p o s e that t h e e arli est effort s of i n t e l l i

ge nt b eings w e r e dir e ct e d to w ard s t h e avoidan c e or c ure
o f th es e di s ord e r s and t h e old e r w rit e r s am u s e d th e m s e lv es
,

b v s earching for in s tan c es o f m e dical or surgical p racti c e

w hich th ey thought m ight b e d e riv e d from anim al s Th us .

t h e mo s t anci e nt and w id e ly s p r e ad o f s urgical o p e rati on s ,

t hat o f bl eeding i s s aid to hav e b ee n ta u gh t m an kind by

,

“
t h e hi p p o p otamu s That int e ll ige nt anim al s ay s Pli ny
.
, ,

findin g him se l f p l et horic go e s out on t h e bank s o f t h e

,

N il e and th e re s e ai c h es about fo r a s harp p oint e d r ee d

‘

-
, ,

w hich h e run s into a v e i n in h i s l eg and having th u s got ,

rid of a s u ffici e nt amount of bl ood clo s e s t h e wound wit h ,

”
clay . S imilarl y t h e u se of e m e ti c s i s s aid t o hav e b ee n
l e arnt from t h e dog th at of h e ll ebore from t h e goat whi l e
, ,

t h e a ss e rtion t hat s ta gs h e al e d th e ir wound s b y m e an s o f

t h e h e rb dittany i s s u pp o rt ed by m any authorit i e s i n cl ud in g ,

Ari s totl e him se l f N o r ar e th es e s t ori es to b e e ntir e l y r e

.

j ec te d fo r hav e w e not lat e ly b ee n told that C oun t M a t t e i

,

di s cov e r e d t h e ba s i s o f h i s all e g e d re m e di e s by ob s e rvin g t h e

p lant s e at en by a mangy dog in t h e A p e nnin es !
B ut w e ar e not altoge th e r without ind ication s of a mor e
s ci entific kind as to t h e n at ur e o f p r e hi s toric m e dicin e a art
p ,
 l ’ RE l I I S T O RI C S
-
U R GE RY .
7

fro m i t s p robabl e r es e mblan c e t o t h e practic e of t h e h e aling

art by barbaro u s rac es Thu s p hi lologist s a s s ert that am on g
.

p o p u l ar m e dic al t e rm s t ho s e d e n ot ing a ffe ction s o f t h e s kin

,

ar e co m m on t o t h e gr e at e s t n u mb e r o f bran ch e s of t h e Aryan

rac e from wh ic h w e m ay p erh a p s concl ud e t hat su ch d i s

.
, ,

e a s e s w e r e e s e cial ly
p p ro m in ent amon g o ur un civili s ed an d
n ot ov e rcl e an ly an c e stors in t h e ir e arli e s t h om e s 2 S o too .
, ,

t h e di s cov e ry o f cak e s m ad e o f
p o pp y s ee d in t h e ruin s of
t h e S wi s s l a k e dw e l lin g s m ay i ndic at e t hat o i um t h e mo s t
p ,

i m p ort ant of drugs w as al s o o n e o f t h e e arl i e s t t o b e u s e d

,

by m an 3 .

Parti c u larly i nt er es ting i s t h e e vid en c e re c e nt ly brought .

for ward of t h e fr e qu e nt p e rform anc e in p r e hi s tori c tim es o f

,

t h e o p e rat ion o f tr e p hin in g or r e m oval o f a p art o f t h e s kul l ,

va ult At a m eet ing o f t h e Fr e n ch A s s ociation h e ld i n

.
,

L yon s 1 87 3 D r Prun i er e s e xh ibit e d a di s c o f bon e e xci s e d

, ,
.
,

from a h u m an s kul l whi ch had b ee n found und e r a dol m e n

,

in L oz er e I n t h e fol l owin g y e ar h e s ho w e d a numb er of

.

s im ilar di s c s with ac com p anying s kul l s in s o m e of whi ch

, ,

s ign s of r ep air i n dic at e d th at t h e

p ati e nt had lon g s urviv e d
t h e o p e ration though in t h e m aj ority t h e bon e mu s t hav e
, , ,

b ee n r e m ov e d e ith e r s hortly b efor e d eath or post m or tem .

Att e n tio n w a s t h u s di r e ct e d to th e s u bj e ct an d r e sult e d in ,

t h e col l e ct io n o f s e v e ral h undr e d tr e p h in ed s kul l s from

p r e hi s tori c b u r i al p l ac es in Franc e alon e u p ward s o f s ixty

~
,

b e in g found i n o n e c av e whil e tra c es of a s im i lar p ract i c e ,

w e r e di scov e r e d in co unt ri es so r e m ot e as Boh e mia Portu ,

g al P e ru and j a p an T h e ac com p anyin g orna m e nt s and

, , .

w e a p on s w e r e u s ua lly t ho s e c haract e ri s tic of t h e lat e r s ton e

or b ron z e age and t h e o p e ration s ee m s to hav e b ee n p er
,

form e d by m e an s o f flint im p l e m e nt s in o n e o f th re e way s ,

by s awin g by a chi s e l lik e a ct ion or by borin g a s eri es o f

,
-
,

h ol es c lo s e t o o n e anoth e r I n so m e cas e s s tri x and .

s c rat ch e s ro un d t h e wo un d b e tray a bunglin g o p e rator b ut ,

m any ar e don e w ith m uc h skil l consid e ring t h e rud e n es s o f ,

t h e i n s t ru m e nt s .

T h e vario u s e x p lan ation s whi ch hav e b ee n giv e n to

8 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

account for t h e fr e qu ency of t h e o p e ration can on ly b e bri efly

m e ntion e d h e re I n o n e or t w o in s t anc es a di se a s e d s tat e o f
.

t h e bon e indicat e s a th e ra p e uti c obj e ct and t h e id e a that t h e

,

o p e rat ion may hav e s om e tim es b e en e r form e d fo r t h e cur e

p
o f e p il ep tic fi t s following an inj ury i s s u pp ort e d in a r e c ent

p a p e r on t h e s ubj e ct by Pro fes s or Vi ctor H ors l ey B ut t h e .

th e ory mo s t g e n e ral ly acc ep t e d i s t h e o n e p u t forward by

B roca . That c e l e brat e d an atomi s t and anthro p ologi s t
not i c e d that in s om e ca ses mor e than o n e o p e ration had
b een p e rform e d o n e p i e c e o f bon e h av ing b ee n r e mov e d long
,

b efor e d e ath and o n e or mor e oth er s ta k e n from t h e s am e

,

s kul l
post m or tem e ach in c ludi n g p art o f t h e h e al e d m argin
,

o f t h e ol d w ound O n thi s h e foun d e d h i s t h e ory th at t h e

.

o p e ration w as a s ort o f r e li g iou s rit e or initiation t h e s u r ,

v i v o r s of which a cquir e d a s e cia l s an ctity s o t hat a ft e r

p , ,

d e ath p art s o f th ei r s kull s w e r e s ought as amul e t s an d

, ,
“

b e ca m e so val uabl e that th ey w e r e o ft e n forge d not on ly ,

from oth e r human s kull s but from t h e b o n es o f anim al s fo r

, ,

s imilar di s c s hav e b ee n found m anu factur e d fro m a s ta

’

g s
antl e r s W e might p e rha p s combin e t h ese two hyp oth es e s
.
,

as ind eed Broca him s el f a ft erward s s ugge s t e d E p il ep s y i s

, , .
,

o f all di s e a ses t h e o n e mo s t univ e r s al l y at t rib ut e d t o s u e r

, p
natural age nci es and th e re p e at e d cu r e of e p i l e p ti form at
,

t ack s by m ean s of tr e p hining might not im p o s s ibly hav e , ,

inves t e d t h e o p e ration w ith th e charac t e r o f a r eligiou s rit e ,

r e nd e ring tho s e who und e rw e nt i t es p e ci ally p roo f again s t

t h e a ss ault s of e vil s p irit s .

I n t h e maj ority of ca ses t h e o p erat ion w as p e rform e d

on t h e youn g and Broca s u p p o s es that wh e n e v e r a n eo
, ,

l ithic baby had fit s a hol e w as s cra p e d in i t s h e ad t o l e t

,

out t h e i magin ary d e mon ; i f t h e fi t s c e a s e d an d t h e chi l d ,

s urviv e d it was e v e r a ft e rward s l ook e d u p on w ith p e c uliar

,

r es p e ct .

That t h e e xcis e d fragm ent s o f bon e w e r e u s ed a s am ul et s

i s indicat ed by many of t h e m b ein g p e rforat ed and in t h e , ,

fact that th ey ar e fo un d in buri al p la c es Broc a s aw o n e o f

-
,

t h e e arli es t p roo fs of b e li ef i n a fut ur e s t at e and i n a s iritu al

p .
 P R EH I STO R I C S U R GE RY .
9

worl d wh er e p rot e ct ion agai n s t gho s t ly en e mi es might b e

n o l e ss n e c es s ary t h an h e r e O th e rs h av e s u p p os ed th at t h e
.

obj e ct of t h e o p e rat ion w as to e n abl e t h e s p irit t o es ca p e

fro m t h e body or to fa ci litat e i t s r et urn a p e rtur es ap
, , ,

p ar en t l y for t h is p ur p o s e h avin g b een foun d in m any ,

an ci e nt bu ri al mou nd s I t w o uld t h u s b e conn e ct e d w ith

.

t h e p ract i c e n ot a ltog e t h e r e xt in ct in m od e rn E ngl and o f

, ,

t hrowing o p e n t h e w i ndow s of a room wh e r e d e ath h as

r ec ent ly oc curr e d with t h e vi ew o f favo uring t h e e xit o f t h e
d ep art e d s p irit T h e di s cs o f bon e it i s s ugge st e d might
.
, ,

hav e b ee n worn not so m u ch a s c harm s agai n s t d e mon s

,

a s in t h e ho e o f a cq u iri n g t h e form e r
p o s se ss or s w i s dom
’

p
’

a n d c unni n g j u st as a mod e rn s avage e at s h i s e n emy s

,

h e art in ord e r to get h i s courag e .

I t i s i m p ort ant t o noti c e th at a v e ry s im i lar c u s to m s ti l l

e x i s t s in t h e S out h S e a I n t h e I s lan d of Uv e a fo r exam p l e
.
, ,

h e adach e a n d ot h e r c e r e bral di s ord er s ar e att ribut e d to a

cra c k in t h e s ku l l or to p r e s s u r e on t h e b rain a nd t h e r e cog ,

n i s e d tr e at m e nt i s t o s cra e a hol e through t h e bon e n e ar

p
t h e t op o f t h e h e ad T h e im p l e m ent form e rly u s ed w as a
.

s h ark s tooth b ut s in c e t h e adv e nt of civi l i s ation brok e n

’

glass h as b e e n s u b s tit ut e d Th e mortality i s about on e in

.

two and few of tho s e who r ecov e r ar e r e li e v e d o f th eir

,

s ym tom s : b ut s uc h i s t h e forc e o f cu sto m t hat t h e r e a r e

p ,

s aid to b e fe w adult m al es on t h e i s land who hav e n ot

un d e rgon e t h e o p e rat ion T h e p roc es s i s s aid t o l a s t ov e r
.

an hour an d o n e hard ly knows wh eth e r to admir e m or e t h e

,

e nd uran c e o f t h e p at i e nt or t h e boldn e s s and p e r s e v e ran c e

“

4
o f t h e o p e rat or .

N OTES .

1
S i gn s o f d i s eas e an d i nj u ry a r m et w it h i n fo s s il r e m a i n s o f t h e
e

e ar ly p e r i o d s b ut t h e c a s es o f gr e at es t i n t e r es t ar e t h o s e c o l l e c t e d b y
,

Pro f S c h m er li n g o f L i ege fro m t h e c ave s o f B e l g i u m

. H e fo u n d .

t h at c ar i e s o f t h e b o n e s of th e l ow er j aw an d fo l egs w a s ver y c o mm o n
re -
,

p ro b ab ly a s t h e res u lt o f b it e s o r o t h e r i nj uri es ; b ut h e a l s o d es c r i b es a
c as e o f a n c h yl o s i s o f t h e c e rv i c a l v er t e b ra
e a n d a l u m b ar ve rt e b r a w h i c h
,

w as n e ar ly d e s t r o y e d b y d i s e a s e b e fo re t h e an i m a l d i e d T h e ca e . v
IO M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

b ea r l ike t h e a n i mal s i n o ur m o d e r n z oo l o gi c a l ga r d e n s s e e m t o
, ,
s

h av e b e en ver y li ab l e t o r i c k e t s a n d i n s o m e c as es i t s j o i n t s p r es e n t
,

t h e c h ar a c t er i s ti c d e fo r m iti es o f r h u m a t o i d ar t h r iti s ( Ossein ents e

F oss i l es o l ii , v . .

S c h r ad er , Spr ach verg l ei ch nng and Urgesch i ch te, 1 883 , p 4 0 9 . .

3
Ke l l er , Th e L a ke d wel l i ngs-
o f S w i tz er l a nd ( t ra n s .
p 52 3 . .

cr an i ennes
4
S ee B ro c a, S ur l a tr epana ti on d l t c ra ne et l es a m ul ets a

l
’
e og ne neol i th i q ue,
t Par i s , 1 87 7 ; j o ur na l of th e A n th ropol og i ca l S oc i ety ,
vo l s xi . . an d x ii
v .
; J o ly , M a n bef or e M etal s ( I n t e rn ati o n a l S c i e n ti fic
S er i es ) ; M ed i cal Ti mes , 87 4 , p 50
1 . .

T h e da t es of t h e w or s k q t
u o ed h e re l
a n d e s ew h e r e a r e th os e of th e
ed iti o n s wh ich I h a ve c o n s u lt e d , n o t n ec e s s ar ily th e fi rs t .

III . M E D I C I N E AS P RA C T I S E D B Y U N C I V I L
I S E D M AN .

IT may b e w e ll to p r efac e our s urv ey o f m edic al h i s tory

by a bri e f gl anc e at th e p ractic e o f t h e art by barbarou s
rac e s fo r w e s hal l thu s n ot only obtain s om e id e a of t h e
,

p roba b l e charact e r of p rimitiv e m e dicin e b ut shal l al s o fin d ,

trac es of many b e li efs and p ractic e s w hi ch hav e s urviv e d

und e r m odifi e d form in civili s ed com m uniti e s O n ly t h e .

bri efes t s k etch of thi s va s t s ubj e c t can b e h e r e att e m p t e d .

I n s triking contra s t t o t ha t t e n d e n cy to m at e riali s m not

alto ge th e r unj u s t ly attribut e d to m od e rn m e dicin e savage ,

th e ori es o f d i s e a s e ar e ty p ical ly s p i rit uali st ic Thi s s ee m s .

to b e d u e p artly to t h e h abit com mon to s avage s and ,

chi ldr e n o f attribut ing li fe to e v e rythin g p art ly to t h e

, ,

in h e re nt n ature o f t h e s ubj e ct D i s e a s e and d e ath wh at e v e r .

,

th ey are a ffe ct th e inmo s t b e in g of m an and e v en t h e mo s t

, ,

d e grad ed s avage hold s th at h i s i n mo s t b e ing i s s p irit n ot ,

body H ow can m e re ly p hy si cal age nci e s a ffect a s p irit !

.

Why s hould a si m p l e bl o w on t h e h e ad d riv e t h e s o ul fro m

t h e body ! T h e qu es tion h as p uzzl e d o n e o f t h e g r e at es t o f
”
p hy s ician s I f Plato w e r e aliv e
. writ e s G al e n I s hould , ,

li k e to as k him why gr e at l o s ses o f blood a dra ught o f h e m ,

12 I AL
M ED C H S O I T RY .

m a s s age O f fumigation w e find a ty p ical in s tan c e i n t h e

A p ocry p ha w h e r e Tobias fr e es hi s brid e from a d e m on by
,

fumigatin g h e r w ith a fi s h s h e art and liv e r t h e w hi ch

’ ‘
,

sm e l l w h e n t h e e vil s pirit had s m e l l e d h e fl e d into t h e

, ,

”
utt e rm o s t p art s of E gy pt N o r i s t hi s un conn e ct e d with
.

our p r e s e nt s ubj e ct fo r w e s ha ll find th at th e m e di ae va l

,

p hy s ician loo k e d u p on Tobia s s ang e l g uid e a s h i s es p e cial

’

g uardian and that m an v o f h i s dru g s w e r e w e ll cal cul at e d

,

to p rod uc e effe ct s s imil ar to tho s e of t h e famou s fi s h l iv e r .

I t i s not i m p o s s ibl e that t h e b e li ef s o com m on amon g ,

ho s pital p at i e nt s that a s t ron g m e dicin e m u s t o f n ec e s

, ,

s i t y b e a v e ry n au s e ou s o n e m ay b e t rac e abl e t o a s imi lar

. ,

origin .

B ut th e re i s anot h e r and a l e s s un p l e a s ant m od e o f

e x p e l ling a d e mon ; h e m ay b e p rovid e d w i t h a m or e
a pp ro p riat e d w e llin g p l ace Thus in t h e V e da s t ho s e mo s t
-
.
, ,

anci e nt m onum e nt s o f Aryan lit e rat ur e t h e d e mon o f j a undi c e ,

i s e nt re at e d to d ep art into a y e l lo w bird and t h e chil ly ,

S p irit o f agu e to tak e u p h i s abod e in t h e frog w hil e in l at e r ,

tim es t h e v e ry s ight of t h e gold e n oriol e w as con s id e r e d

s u ffici e n t to cu r e t h e form e r di s ea s e we m ay b e abl e to .

trac e a r e lation b e t w ee n thi s form o f t h e d e mon ic t h e ory ,

“
t h m i
and e e d a a doctrin e o f s ignat ur es and s hall p erha p s
v l ,

fin d it not alto g eth e r un conn e ct e d w ith t h e s til l mor e fam ou s

m e di cal do gm a : L i ke s ar e c ure d by l i k e s
Thirdly th er e ar e p e rs on s e ndo w ed with p ow e r ov e r t h e
,

S p irit s o f di s e a s e who a r e abl e by charm s and i n c antati on s

,

t o e x pe l th e m from t h e p ati e nt s body an d in th e m w e m ay

’

not im p robably s ee th e fir s t g e rm of t h e m e dical p ro fe s sion .

I t i s u s uall y a s s ert e d t hat t h e fir s t p hy s ician s w e r e p ri e st s

it would p e rha p s b e e qual ly t ru e t o s ay that t h e fir s t p ri es t s
w e r e p hy s ician s Th e s avag e a pp e ar s to d e riv e h i s id e a s
.

o f high e r exi s t enc e s not s o m u ch from t h e s t arr y h e av e n s

,

abov e or t h e m oral l aw w ithin as from tho s e p ow e rs o f

, ,

n at ur e w hi ch a ffe ct him p hy s ic ally and es p e ci al ly from ,

t ho s e w hich cau s e d i s e a se an d i n h i s d e aling s with th i s

,

s p irit world h e look s p rim arily to tho s e who as h e b e l i e v e s

, ,
,
 T HE CO U V AD E . I 3

c an p r e v e nt or cu re di s e a s e h i s p ri es t s in s hort ar e , ,

m e d icin e m e n
B ut may n o t t ho s e who hav e a cquir e d s u ch p ow e r ov e r
t h e s p irit s o f s ic kn e s s cau s e di s e a s es a s w e l l a s c ur e th e m

Thi s brings u s to t hat b e l i ef in wit ch cra ft t h e univ e rsality ,

an d t e rri b l e r e s ult s o f which am on gst un civili s e d rac es i s ,

o n e o f t h e sadd e s t r e v e lat io n s o f m od e rn anthro o logy

p We .

can not h e r e do mor e t h an m e ntion thi s im p ortant as p e ct o f

t h e d e moni c t h e o ry o f di s e a s e n or n ee d w e trac e it t o i t s
,

mod e rn d ev e lo p m e nt I t i s no c uriou s old b eli ef dug up by

.

ant iq uari e s to i nt e r es t t h e s t ud e nt or am u s e t h e “ ge n eral

,
”
r e ad e r b ut b e yon d p arall e l t h e mo s t t e rribl e d e lu s ion w hich
,

h as e v e r a ffli ct e d m an kind Wit hi n o n e c e nt ury in C hri stian

.

E uro p e alon e it brought t ortur e an d d e at h to m any tho u

,

sa nd s o f innoc ent b e ings and t h e amou nt of p hysical and

,

m e nt al agony ca u s e d by t h e b e li ef in wit ch craft through t h e

lon g a ge s o f m an s e arly d e v e lo p m e nt p a s s e s all h um an es t i
’

m atio n .

T hat di s e a se s ar e o ft e n a s crib e d t o d e p a rt e d s p irit s i s a

fact fa mili ar t o all s t ud e nt s o f fol k lor e an d w e s h al l m eet
-
,

with a c uriou s in s tanc e o f it in di s cu s sing t h e p racti c e o f

m edi cin e in an ci e nt E gy p t .

T h e s u pp o s e d di s ea s e p rod ucing p o w e r of t h e s p irit s of

-

an i m al s a fford s th e s im p l es t e x p lan ation o f on e of t h e m o s t

e xtraordin ary c u s tom s of un civili s e d m an that of t h e ,

co uvad e or of t h e hu s ban d s lying i n wh en h i s wi fe h as

,
’
-

a baby T hi s stran ge hab it first n oti c e d by D i o d or u s an d

.
,

S tra bo as occ urring in C orsi ca an d t h e Pyr e n ee s h as b een ,

fo un d by mod e rn ob s e rv e r s among p rimitiv e rac es in e v e ry

quart e r o f t h e glob e T h at a m oth e r and h er n ew born child
.
-

ar e p e c u lia rly e x p o s e d to t h e att ack s o f evil s p irit s i s a

v e ry wid e s p r e ad b e l i ef origin at in g p e rh a p s in t h eir gr e at

-
, , ,

li abi l ity to dis ea s e s an d w e find that in s om e ra c es t h e h u s

,

band r e frain s from huntin g altoge th e r at th e s e tim e s l e s t t h e ,

s p i rit s o f t h e inj ur e d animal s s ho uld attack t h e h e l p l e ss

in fant I t s ee m s not i m p ossibl e t hat h e m ight s om e t im e s go

.

a st e p fu rth er an d finding him s el f d ebarr e d from h i s u su al

, ,
I 4 M ED C I AL H S I T O RY .

occu p ation on th ese int e r es ting occa s ion s con cl ud e th at h e ,

mu s t in s om e way be s e riou s ly a ffe ct e d by t h e ev ent and ,

p roc e ed to tr eat him se l f ac cordingly .

N OTE .

I t m u s t n o t b e s up p o s e d t h at t h e m e d i c i n e o f u n c iv ili s e d m a n i s

e x c l u ive ly “ d e m o n i c ” M o s t t r i b e p o s s es s s u c h u rgi c al kil l a i s

s . s s s s

r q u i re d fo r t h e r o u gh t e at m e n t o f fra c t u res a n d d i l o c ati o n s

e r wh i l e s ,

s o m e a l s o e m p l o y b l e e d i n g c u p p i n g an d v ap ou r b a t h s
,
N o t a fe w o f ,
.

t h e d ru gs i n o ur m o d e r n p h a r m a o p m i a w er e fi rs t u d b y a ag c se s v es ,

a s fo r e x a m p l e s e n ega l o b e l i a gu a i a c u m i p e c ac u an h a t h o ug h u n
, , , ,

fo r t u n at ly t h e n u m ero u s t r av e ll er s t a l e s o f w o n d er fu l r e m e d i e k n ow n
’
e s

t o b a r b a r o us r a c es h ave s l d o m s u v i v d i n ves ti g a ti o n
e r e .

T h e ab o v e e x p l an a ti o n o f t h fo r w h i c h I a m i n d e b t e d
”
c o uva d e e ,

to D o r m a n O i g i n of P r i m i ti
, r S uper s ti t i ons ( Ph il ad e l p h i a
ve i s not ,

t h at u u a lly ac c ep t ed ( s e e L u b b o c k Or ig i n of Ci vi l i sa ti on p 1 7 an d Tyl o r
s , , .
, ,

E ar ly H i sto y of Mank i n d p r W h en a C h i n es e b a b y i s b o r n i t s
, .

fat h e r s t ro u ser s ar h u n g u p s i d e d o w n i n o r d r t h at a n y t r a y d e m o n s
’
e e s

m ay go i n t o t h e m a n d n o t i n t o t h e c h il d ( Tyl o r P i m i ti ve C ul tur e ii ,
r ,
.

W h at t h e D a c o t a h I n d i a n m o s t d r e ad s i s t h a t s o m e a n i m a l s ’

s p i r it w il l e n t er h i s bo d y a n d m a ke h i m s i c k T oo t h a c h e i s a tt ri b u t e d .

b y t h D ac o t a h s t o t h e s p i r it o f t h e w o o d p ec ker
e A n o l d D ac o tah e x .

p l a i n e d h i s s o n s o r e e y es b y t h e fac t t h at t h i rty y e ars b efo re w h e n

’
s ,

h i s s o n w as a b o y h e h a d s p e a re d a m i n n o w w it h a p i n o n a s ti c k b u t
, ,

h e t h o u g h t it t r a n g t h at t h e fi s h s s p i r it s h o u l d h ave w a it e d s o l o n g
’
s e

for i t r eve n ge
s I n B raz il t h e c h i efs a c t a s p h y s i c i a n s a n d fi r s t a k
.
, s

t h e i r p ati e n t s i f t h ey h ave i nj u e d a n y an i m a l t ort o i s e d e er et c ( D o

r , , , . r

ma n op i t )
,
. Fo r d i s e as e c a u d b y d p a rt e d s p i r it s s ee B l ac k F ol k
c . s se e
,

M ed i ci n a n d fo r t h e w h o l e s u bj ec t B art e l D i e M ed i i d er N atur vol ker

e, s, c /1 ,

L e i p z i g 1 89 3 ,
.

IV .
—
MED I CI NE IN ANC I E NT E G Y PT .

A M O N G t h e mastaba s or t omb s o f E gy p ti an gr an d ee s
whi ch s urround th e p yramid s o f S ak k ar ah i s o n e s mall and ,

un p r e t e ndin g in a pp e aranc e but r e m arkabl e fo r t h e b e auty ,

and p e rfe ction o f i t s in s cri p tion This s how s t h e tomb t o .

b e that o f S ek h et en an c h chi ef p hy s i cian to t h e Pharaoh

’

S ah ura o f t h e fi fth dyn asty ( B C 3 53 3 and d e s crib es h ow . .

 THE FI R S T K N OW N PH Y S I C IA N . I S

he h ad h e al e d t h e king s n o s t ril s fo r whi ch hi s M aj es ty

’

”
w i s h es hi m a long l i fe in holin es s Th en th e chi ef .

p hy s i cian s p ok e b efor e Pha raoh : M ay it p l e a s e thy s oul

‘

b e l ov e d o f Ra th at t h e r e b e g iv e n m e a lim es ton e s lab lik e

,

a d oor fo r thi s my t omb i n t h e W e s t land Th e n t h e kin g

-

co m mand e d and th ey brou ght un to h im t w o s ton e sl ab s

,

l ik e a do ubl e door from t h e quarry Ro an an d th ey w e re s et ’

u p in t h e court o f h i s
p a lac e C h aur er t S ah ura T h e c h i ef-
.

ta skm ast e r m a d e t h e t e m p l e m a s on s i n s crib e t h e m as for

th e kin g hi m s e l f Th e C ourt vi s it e d th e m d ai ly
. Hi s .

M aj e s ty ord e r e d t h e in s cri p tion to b e don e ov e r w ith bl u e

”1
s t on e
. Th is a pp e ar s t o b e t h e fi r s t m e nt ion o f a p hy s ician ;

in hi s tory ; fo r tho ugh t h e ol d e r E gy pt i an d at es ar e u n c er

,

tain — that giv e n abov e b e in g t h e o n e ac c ep t ed by B rugs ch

an d t h e B riti s h M u se um authoriti e s — few mod ern E gy p to
l o gi s t s wo ul d p l ac e t h e fi fth dyna s ty l at er t han B C 3 0 0 0 . .
,

an d w e m ay s a fely as s e rt t h at t h e int e rval b e tw e en S e kh e t ’

e n an c h an d H i pp ocrat es w as at l e a s t a s gr e at as t hat whi ch

“ "
s e p arat e s t h e F at h e r o f M e di cin e from our o w n day .

P hysi cian s as a cl a s s ar e r efe rr e d t o in s till mor e an ci e nt

, ,

“
in s cri p tion s und er t h e t e rm snu a w ord r e p r es e nt e d
,

h i erogly p hica lly by what s e e m to b e a l anc et and cu pp in g

in st rum ent .

W ho w e r e th e s e first p ract ition e r s o f wh at may b e cal l ed

civi li s e d m e di cin e ! Th e gen e ral ly ac c ep t e d th eory i s th at
al l e arly p hy s ician s an d e s p e cially t h e E gyp tian w e r e
, ,

p ri e st s ; but thou gh in l at e r ti m e s th e p ractic e of m e d icin e

,

in E gyp t wa s u ndoubt e dly confin ed to t h e s ac e rdot al c la s s ,

t hi s was by no m ean s n e c e s s arily t h e c a s e at t h e p e riod now

un d e r con s id e ration S o ci ety had th e n a m or e p atriarchal
.

chara ct e r ; ev ery on e w as in som e s e n s e a p ri e s t t h e j udge s ,

o f t h e Godd e s s o f Truth t h e o fficial s of t h e god S p e cially

,

worshi p p ed by t h e r e igning Ph araoh and th e p hy s ician s of ,

S ekh et t h e lion h e ad e d Godd es s of War to whom in th es e

,
-
,

2
e arli e s t ag e s t h e origin o f m di cin
e e wa s attribut d ; but
e

th e ir civi l o ffic e s w er e alway s t h e m o s t p romin e nt and th e r e ,

w as in add itio n a s ep arat e sac e rdota l c la s s to who m t h e

16 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

high e st and lo wes t r e ligiou s fun ction s w e r e entru st ed Th e .

disa p pearan c e of th e l ay e l em e nt an d t h e d ev elo pm ent of

“ ”

this sac erdotal c lass ti l l it ab s orb e d t h e p rofe ssion s of s c rib e ,

j udge and physician and final ly invad ed t h e t hron e its e lf

, , ,

form t h e k eynot e of E gy p tian hi st ory T h e E gy p tian p h y

.

s i c i an as m et with in G ree k w rit e r s i s p ri marily a p ri e st ,

but his s p ecial divinity i s no longe r t h e war godd e ss but ,

Thoth th e God of \Vi s d o m and Writin g ; 3 h e h as t hrow n

,

aw ay his lan c et and cu pp ing horn and abhors bl eedin g for

-
, ,

do not th e sacred writings d e clar e that t h e blood i s t h e l ife !

And th e s e writ ings h e m u s t fol lo w in all things for sh ould , ,

a p ati ent d i e aft e r tre atm e nt not in harmony with t h e m hi s ,

own life may pay t h e p e nalty .

Returning to t h e free r ti m es of t h e old e m pi r e w e m u st ,

trav e l far down th e ages a ft e r S ah ura b efor e m eeting with

anoth er int er es ting re l ic o f E gy p tian m e di cin e Thi s i s t h e .

dom e st ic m edicin e ch es t o f t h e wi fe of t h e Pharaoh M e nt u ’

h ot ep o f th e el ev enth dyna s ty about B C 2 50 0 not m any

, . .
,

c ent uri es b efore Abraham : it cont ain s six vas e s on e of ,

alabast er and fi v e o f s e rp entin e with dri ed r e mn ants of

,

drugs two s poon s a p i e c e o f lin e n clot h and so m e root s

, , , ,

e n c los e d in a bask e t o f s traw work t h e w hol e standin g in a

-
,

wood e n ch e st found in t h e qu ee n s tomb 4 W e m ay al so ’

.

m ention h e re as indicating th e l es s form a l charact e r of th e

,

old er m e dical p ractic e a curiou s l e tt e r from a hu sban d to

,

his d ead wi fe found attach e d to a s mal l i mage of t h e l att er

, .

I n it h e u pbraids t h e d e p a r t e d s p i rit fo r h avin g p rod u c e d

dis e as e in him and w hil e r e p roach fully c allin g t o m ind hi s
,

kindn es s es to h er durin g li fe thu s d es crib e s h er l ast illn e ss

,

Wh en thou wa s t sic k with t h e s ickn es s that th ou h adst

, ,

did not I go to t h e phy s i cian and bid him m ak e thy m e di c in es

fo r th ee —y ea h e did al l th in gs wh at s o ev er thou wou ldst
,

h av e h i m do Thi s s e em s t o i m p ly that t h e l ady t o som e

e xt e nt dir e ct ed h e r own tr e atm e nt and r e minds us of t h e ,

H om eric d es cri ption of E gy p t as t h e land wh er e e a c h one

is a physi c ian s ki l ful b eyond all m en fo r v erily t h ey are of
, ,

t h e rac e of Pa e on B ut our chi ef s ourc e of infor mation is

 T HE P A PYR U S EB E RS . I 7

th e E b ers Pa pyru s whi ch ac cord in g to it s d iscov er e r

, , ,

is n ot on ly t h e first known m e dical do cu m ent b ut t h e mo s t ,

an ci ent c ompl ete book i n e xist e n c e I t was writt e n about .

1 550 B c — som e t im e b efor e t h e E xodu s tho ugh mu ch of

. .
,

i t s cont ent s i s of far gr eat er antiquity ; and w e h av e n ot

onl y t h e e ntire work but al s o t h e margin al not e s o f i t s
,

“
own r who ha s m ark e d with a large Good thos e pr e
e ,

s c r i p t i o n s o f whi ch h e a
p p rov e s whil e t h e original com p il e r ,

“
has add e d n ot e s of his own s uch as Thi s is a g en u in e , ,

“
r e m e dy or E xc e l l e nt I h av e o ft en mad e it an d also p rov e d
, , , ,

it B ut thou gh m ain ly a coll e ction o f r e c e i p t s t h e Pa py

, ,

rus al s o cont ain s p a ssage s on an ato my an d dia g nosis th e

.

chi ef of whi ch i s t h e cha p t er on th e h e art by a c e rtain

N eb s ec h t who s e grand son Pro f E b e r s introd uc e s into hi s
, . .

“ ”
i nt e r e sting roman c e U ar d a T h e v e ss e ls are said to .

run in p air s in a m ann e r v e ry si m il ar to th at d es crib e d by

,

t h e e arly Gr e e k p hysi ci an s t hou gh not m uch in accordanc e ,

with nat ur e an d to contain n ot o nly blood b ut air wat e r

, , , ,

m il k an d oth er fl uid s I n t h e doctrin e t hat t h e h eart i s t h e

.

c e nt r e of t h e vas cular syst e m and in t h e i m p ortan c e at tr i ,

b ut e d to t h e p ul s e t h e old E gy p tian i s in advan c e of H i pp o

,

“
crat es h i m s e l f I f t h e p hysician p lac es h i s fin ger on t h e
'

h e ad n e c k h and s arms feet or body e v eryw h e r e h e wil l

, , , , , ,

”
find t h e h e art th e p ul s e ) fo r it s v es s e l s go to all p a r t s,
.

As exam p l es of diagnosi s w e may t ak e t h e d e scri p tion of ,

four for m s o f obstruct ion or con sti pa ti on Wh en thou

fi n d es t a m an wit h an ob s tru ction —wit h p al e fac e and b eat
in g h e art —an d fi n d es t on e xam in ation that h i s h e art i s hot
and h i s b el ly s wol l e n that i s an inflammat ion ( P) t hat ,

com eth fro m irrit ant food Tr e at it with som ethin g t hat .

cool s h e at an d o pe n s t h e bow e l s e s pe cially with a d raugh t ,

o f sw ee t b ee r p our e d u p on dry n eqau t fruit

,
Four ti m e s .

shal l h e eat or drin k ( it ) O th e r form s are t hat in which

.

“
t h e stoma ch mov e s t o and fro und e r th e fing e rs li k e oil in a
” ”
b ag t hat wh e r e th e p at i e nt vo mit s and fee l s v ery ill and
, ,

“
th at i n whic h t h e b e l ly is hot and swoll e n for e ach of ,

whi ch di ffer e nt tr e at m e nt i s r e qu ir ed O f p rognosis s o p r o .

,

2
18 M ED I CA L H I S T O RY .

min e nt i n t h e H i pp ocratic writings th er e is litt l e m e nt ion , ,

I f a n e w born baby cri es n y h e

’

b ut h e re i s an exam p l e : -

wil l liv e i f b a h e wil l d i e

,
’

W e cannot h er e di s c u ss t h e m ultit ud e of p re scri p tion s

c ontain ed in thi s m ost anci e nt o f m e dical book s ; a few
e xam p l es may su ffic e : To s ooth e a crying baby a mixtur e o f

fl y dung w ith s ee d s o f t h e p lant s ch e p e n i s r ec om m e nd e d

-
,

w hich may h av e b ee n only too effe ctual i f a s i s p robabl e , ,

s ch ep e n is t h e p o pp y N or i s it im p os s ibl e that thi s m ay b e

.

t h e com p o s ition o f that s oothing drug n ep enth e wh i ch ,

Po l y d am n a “ wi fe of Thon e in E gy p t gav e t o j ov e born

, ,
-

”
H e l ena and which h as s o much p u zzl ed H om e ri c s chol ars
,
.

T h e following r e c e i p t was p robably u se d mor e fr e qu e ntly

than any oth e r : Again s t all kind s of witch cra ft — a larg e
“

b eetl e ; c ut off h i s h ead and wings boil hi m p u t him in oil , , ,

and a pp ly to th e p art Th e n cook h i s h e ad and w ings p ut

.
,
’
th e m in s e rp e nt s fat w arm it l et th e p ati e nt drink it
, , .

Re m e di e s fo r ey e di s e a s es ( s til l o n e of t h e chi ef p lagu e s

o f E gy p t ) a r e v e ry n um e rou s and am ong t h e m i s o n e ,

“
i nv ent e d by a c ert ain S e m it e from G e b al or Byb los t h e , ,

“
sacr d city
e o f t h e Ph nician
oe s I n anoth er r e ci p e e l d e r
.

b erri es from Phoenici a ar e em p loy ed C o s m eti c s and .

,

“
p r es cri p tions fo r hou s e hold u s e a r e not n e gl e ct e d : To
mak e t h e s kin o f t h e fac e s mooth s oak m e al in s p ring wat e r , .

L et h er wash h e r fac e daily and th e n a p p ly t h e m e al

”
, To .

k eep away mic e s m e ar ev e ryth ing p o s s ibl e wit h cat s fat "
,
’
.

To p r ev e nt t h e h efu s nak e from coming out o f h i s hol e p ut

-

or s oda or an onion u p on i t —h e w il l not

,

a dri e d ant fi s h -
, ,

N o t o nly p il l s p otion s p la s t er s and inunction s

”
c rawl out .
, , , ,

b ut ev e n inh al ation s ar e u s ed Thu s o n e m edi cin e i s to b e .

s p rin k l ed on a hot s ton e and cov e red wit h an e arth e n

p ot ,
“
bor e a h ol e in t h e p ot p ut a r ee d in t h e hol e p ut your mout h
,
,

to t h e re ed and inhal e t h e s t e am that ari s e s T h e work

c on clud es wit h a bri ef b u t m ost int e re stin g ch a pt e r on
tumour s which ar e to b e t es t e d with t h e finge r s t o s ee i f
,

th ey fluctuat e I n that ca s e th ey con s i s t e ith er o f fl uid or

.

fat and ar e usual ly to b e t r eat e d by t h e kni fe h ae morrha e

,
g ,
20 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

s e mbl an c e to t hos e fragm e nt s of th eo so p hy whic h h av e c o me

down to us und er t h e nam e of H e rm e s Tri sm egistu s th an t o ,

t h e gr e at L ei p sic p a p yru s .

Th e ot h er m edi c al p a pyri are of littl e i m p ortan c e O ne .

,

at B e rl in som ewhat res e mbl es t hat of E b ers but is s m al l e r

, ,

and of lat e r dat e It contain s 1 7 0 p re scri p tion s no l ess than

.
,

t w enty ei gh t b e ing e n e mata a form o f m e dicat ion t h e origin

r ,

of whi ch was un iv ersal ly a s crib e d t o t h e E gy p tian s Th e con .

ti n uan ce or p e rha p s t h e r e vival o f t h e d e moni c t h e ory i s i n

, , ,

”
di c at ed by t h e fa c t that t h e re m e di es ar e said to atta ck ,

” “ ”
rep ul s e or d estroy t h e dis e a se t h e e x p r e ssion s c u re or
, ,

al l eviat e b ein g rare ly u s e d 7 About th e ti m e thi s p a pyrus .

was writt en oc c urred th e famou s trial of t h e con s p i rators

again st Ram e s e s I I I ( B C o n e of
. whom a high
. .
,

offi c ial is c harge d with s t e alin g a book on wit chcraft fro m

,

t h e royal library and introducing wax e n image s m ad e a cc ord

, ,

ing to its dir ect ions into t h e p alac e with int e nt to c a us e

, ,

dis eas e and d eath T h e lat e r writings are almo st ent ir ely
.

giv en ov er to charm s and lov e p hiltr es .

One as p ec t of t his d e moni c m e di cin e is of som e hi storica l

int er est To k eep off s p irit s o f di s e a s e or to hast en th eir
.

d epartur e th e anci e nt E gy p ti an p lac e d diffe re nt p arts of hi s

body und e r th e p rot e ct ion of s p e cial divin iti e s Th us in .
,

h e ad affection s t h e su pp o se d d e mon was t old t hat h e was

attac king not a m e re m ortal b ut t h e gr eat god Ra hims elf
, , ,

and that h e had th e refor e b e tt e r e s ca pe s p ee di ly t o avoid

t h e wrath of t h e d e ity S im ilarly H athor p rot e ct e d t h e ey e s
.
,

O siris th e m uscl e s et c Thi s doct rin e a s w e sh al l s ee ass e d

p
.
, , ,

by way of th e Gno s tic s and N eo Platoni st s into m ed i e val -

medi cin e th e p agan god s b e in g re p lac ed p artly by C hrist ian

,

saints and p artly by t h e h e av e nly bodi e s e s pec ial ly th e

, ,

plan et s an d sign s of t h e zodiac .

What ev er w e may thin k of At h ot h i s on e E gy pt ian

m on ar c h c ertain ly wrot e on m e dicin e—
,

N ac h eps us of S ais ,.

(B C. . gran dfath e r of th e Pharaoh N e c h o of t h e B ibl e ,

who is quot ed both by Pliny and G al e n T h e latt er t el l s u s .

t hat this king was t h e first to obs erv e t h e marvello us virt u es

 EG Y PTIA N SU R G E RY . 21

of gr een j as pe r a ston e whi c h wh e n engrav e d with a drago n

, ,

wit h rays , and h ung round t h e n e ck i s a sov e r eign cur e ,

for d ig e stiv e disord ers G al e n says h e h as m ad e n um e ro us

.

e xp er i m e n t s w i t h t h e s e s ton e s and finds th e m n o l e ss ,

g

e ffe c t ual wit hout t h e dragon S om e v e ry b e aut i fu l exam p l e s

.

o f t h e e ngrav e d am ul e t s m ay b e s ee n among t h e Gnost ic

ge m s in t h e B rit i sh M u s e um wh e r e t h e Gr ee k in s c ri p tio n s
,

c al l t h e dragon : C h n ou m i s t h e D es troy e r of D e mon s

,

Th e E gyp t ian p hy s ici an s p r e sid ed ov e r t h e p roc ess of

e mb al min g ( G e n e si s 1 b ut th ey s ee m to h av e e ntru s t ed
.

t h e p ra ctical p art to t h e t e m p l e s e rvant s an d a s th e r e is no ,

e vid e n c e t h at t h e c u stom in any way furth e r e d m e dica l or

an atomi cal knowl e dge w e n ee d not h er e r ep eat t h e d esc r i p

,

t ion s of H erodot u s .

T h e s urgic al divi s ion of t h e h e al in g art a pp e ars to hav e

b ee n m u ch n egl e ct e d a s h as alway s b ee n t h e ca s e wh en
,

m e di c in e was in t h e han ds of p ri es t s T h e B u lak M us e um .

cont ain s a fract ur e d th igh bon e in wh ich t h e fragm ent s

-
,

ov e rla p m or e th an two i nch es and M ari ett e h as m et with ,

many s im i lar cas e s whi ch h e says hav e giv en him a v e ry

, , ,

p oor id ea o f E gy p tian Surg e ry T h e s tori e s of p ictorial .

r ep r e s ent ations of am p ut at ion and of t ee th sto pp ed wit h ,

gold found in m u m m i es hav e n ot b een confirm e d by l at er

,

inv es tigators .

U p t o a r e c ent p eriod our knowl edg e o f E gy p t ian

m e di c in e was gat h e r ed sol e ly fro m s catt er e d p assages in
Gr ee k writ ers s om e of whi ch hav e a l r e ady b ee n noti c ed
,
.

T h e e arly Gr e e ks look e d with admiring won d e r on th e

an ci e nt civilisation of E gy pt and ob s e rving th e stri ct di et etic
,

rul e s of its inh abit ant s who too k m e di cin e s p e riodical ly ev en

,

wh e n in h ealt h con cl ud e d that ev e ry E gy p tian w as a

,

p hysi ci an an d p o s s e ss e d of m arv e ll ous ski ll

,
I n l at er t im e s .

H e rodotu s and t h e p ro ph et J e r e m iah noti c e t h e num erou s

hysic ian s and t h e mu ltit ud e o f m e dicin e s an d t h e form e r
p , ,

writ e r t ells u s t hat e ach o n e d evot e d hi m s el f to som e s p e cial

di sord e r a s yst e m on ly p ossib l e in v ery p o p u lou s loca liti e s
, ,

or wh er e t h e p ractit ion e r i s not im m ediat ely d ep end ent u p on

 22 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

his p ati ent s Both t h e s e condition s w er e p r es e n t in E gy p t

.
,

wh e r e in t h e r eign o f Am as i s
,
town s and vill ages,

fi ll e d t h e val l ey of t h e N il e and wh e re t h e p hysi cian s ,

shar e d in t h e gen e ral in com e of t h e t e m p l es t o whi ch ,

t h e contrib utions o f th e ir p ati e nt s w e r e p robably add e d .

S om e of t h e s tori es told by t h e lat e writ e r s though o f rat h e r ,

doubt ful a ut h e nt icity ar e worth r epe ating Thu s t h e p e o p l e

,
.
,

o f t h e D e lta ar e s aid to h av e found t h e s quil l ( S cil l a m ari

tima) so u s efu l in dro p s y that t h ey e re ct ed a t e m p l e in i t s

honour ; and w e ar e tol d that E uri p id es t h e p o e t wa s r e , ,

comm e nd e d by t h e p ri e s t s to ta k e a co u r s e o f s ea bathin g ,

and w as much b e n e fit ed th e r e by .

B ut t h e mo s t r e markabl e thing about E gyp tian m e di ci n e

is i t s non p rogr ess iv e charact e r
-
M or e than a tho u s and .

y ears b efor e H i pp ocrat es w e find a knowl e dg e o f an atomy

and p hy s iology quit e e q ual to that of t h e Fath er of M e di cin e ,

togeth e r wit h a co p ious and vari e d m at eria m edica com p ri s ,

ing min eral as w e l l as v e ge tab l e r e m e di es ; y et w h e n in t h e ,

s ixth c entury B C E gy p ti an p hy s ician s com e in contact w it h

. .
,

a Gree k th ey p rov e ho p e l es s ly h i s in ferior s an d as w e s hal l

, , ,

see o w e th e ir v e ry l iv e s to h i s s kill
,
Th e G r eek p hy s ic ian s .

o f Al e xandria s ee m to hav e l earnt not hin g from t h e E gy p tian s ,

and Gal e n m e ntion s th e ir m e di cal w ritin gs wit h cont e m p t .

L et u s try t o find s om e cau s es for thi s r e markabl e fai l ur e .

I t u s ed to b e tho u ght that E gy p t for s om e myst e riou s ,

rea s on s tood s ti ll fo r forty c ent uri e s and t hat it mad e l itt l e

, ,

di ffe r e n c e to an an ci en t E gy p ti an w h e th e r h e was born 40 0 0

or 40 0 y e ar s B C b ut w e now know that t h e nation un d er
. .
,

w e nt many chang es s oci al an d int e l l e ct u al n o l es s than

, ,

political durin g t hi s va s t p e riod

,
H ad that an ci e nt p r ac t i.

t i o n er S ekh et e n an c h r et urn e d to li fe in t h e days o f M os e s

’

, , ,

h e w ould hav e found hi s l an guag e s carc e ly und er s tood his ,

dre s s worn only by s tat u es o f th e god s an d Pharaoh s and ,

t h e s tat e of s oci ety e ntir e ly alt e r e d What ch an ge s h e .

would hav e notic e d in h i s own art w e un fort un at e ly do not ,

kno w ; though in al l p robability m edicin e h ad a lr e ady

, ,

assu m ed a mor e formal and p ri e st ly charact er .

 EG Y P TI A N I N CE
SC E . 23

B ut whi l e t his p r e do m ina n c e o f t h e p ri e sthoo d w as

,

d oubt l e ss a ch i ef c aus e of t h e fail ur e of t h e early p rom is e o f

E gy pti an m edi cin e th er e w e r e oth e r s al most as im p ort ant
,

T h e E gy p t ians w e r e ess e ntial ly a m att e r of fact rac e ; ty pe s - - .

o f t ho s e
p ra ct i cal p e o p l e of whom i t h as b een w e l l s ai d t hat
\

t h ey p ra ct i s e t h e e rror s o f th e ir fat h er s L e arn in g ind ee d .

, ,

i s oft e n pra is ed by an ci ent writ e r s but on ly as a m e an s t o

.
,

som e m at e ri al b e n e fit ; n or i s t h er e a tra c e of th at lov e of

knowl e dg e fo r i t s own sak e witho ut wh i ch n o gr e at p rogr es s
,
.

i n s ci e n c e ha s e v er b ee n m ad e M y son a pp ly t hy s el f t o.
,

”
l earn ing th at thou m ay e st b e a s crib e
, writ e s an old ,

“
E gy p t ian T h e p e o p l e ar e h e avily l ad e n a s s es b ut t h e
.
,

scrib e i s t h e drive r Th e scrib e i s n e v e r h un gry ; h e sit s at

.

P haraoh s t abl e and hi s b e lly i s fill e d by r e a s on of h i s w i s

’

,
”
d om . T h e G r ee k wa s t h e v e ry r ev ers e of thi s an d ev e r ,

r e ady t o s p e culat e u p on or inv es tigat e any s ubj e ct fo r t h e

m e r e p l ea su r e of doin g so S ci en c e to him w as a m aj e sti c
.

godd e s s a cl e ar ey ed Pal las A th e n é : to t h e E gy p tian sh e

,
-

w as a do m es ti c c o w good only fo r what cou l d b e got o ut o f

,

h er .

Again t h e l e arn e d E gy p tian w as b efor e a ll th in gs a

, , ,

s crib e or writ e r H e had inv e nt e d no l es s than thr ee form s

.

o f that art an ach i ev e m e nt of wh ich h e w as j u s t ly p roud

, ,

and o n e o f t h e co mm on es t fi g ur es in r ep re se nt ation s of
E gyp ti an li fe i s t h e s crib e with h i s i n k p o t takin g not es It -
.

i s e a s y t o see how thi s might l ead to ex c e ss iv e r ev e r e n c e fo r

wh at w as writt en i n s omu ch t hat book and s ci en c e cam e
,

t o b e e x p r e s s e d in E gy p tian by t h e s am e word Th e G r eek .

,

on t h e contrary was a man o f s pe e c h and argum ent P lat o

,
.

t e l l s u s that a p hy s i cian did not p re s crib e fo r a fr e e man till

h e h ad p e r s u ad e d hi m and t ho ugh t h e c u s tom of a p ati ent
,

arguing with his do ctor h as obviou s di s advant age s it t e n d s ,

at l e a st to k eep t h e l att e r from sin kin g into a s l eepy ro utin e .

N OT E S .

M ar i e tt e (L es M astaba d e l anci en E mpi r e, D , ) ives a fa c

’
1 12 g
s i m il e t o mb s t o n e wh ich l ls e xq u i s it e i n s c ri p t i o n
“
of th e , he ca an
24 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

e n gr a e d v i n t h e b es t s tyl erti a l t ran s l ati o n m ay

of t h at e p oc h A pa
b e fo un d i n M e ye r Ges hi ch te d es al ten Egyptens ii 9 5 c B e r l i n 1 88 5 ,
. . ,
.

T h e fr o n ti s p i ec e i s a p or t ra it of S e kh et e n an c h an d h i s w i fe c o p i e d fro m
’

t h e t o m bs t o ne H e c ar r i e s tw o c e pt res e m b l e ms of p o w e r a n d ru l e
. s ,

c o n fi n e d t o t h e h i g h es t d i gn it a r i es a n d w e ars t h e p an t h e r s ki
n wh ic h
,

i n t h e O l d E m p i re form e d p art of t h e ga l a d r es s of t h e gran d ees b ut ,

w a s aft e rw ard s c o n fi n ed t o a s p ec i al c l a s s o f p r i es t s S h e w ears t h e .

h u ge w i g a n d s i n g l e c l o s e fi tt i n g ga rm en t w h i c h fo r m e d t h e u n iv ers al
-

an d i nv ar i ab l e d res s o f a l l E gy p ti an w o m e n fro m t h e fo u t
r h to th e

e i g h t ee n t h d y n a s ty ( 4 0 0 0 S h e i s p i c t ure d t h re e ti m es o n t h e
t o m bs t o n e b ut i n e ac h c a s e h er n a m e h a b e e n c arefu lly eras e d
,
s .

Co m p ar e t h
2
n am es of t h e t w o p h y s i c i an s h e re m e n ti o n e d
e

S e k h et e nan c h ( S ek h e t m y L i fe ) ; N e b s ec h t ( S e k h e t m y M i s t res s)
’
.

, ,

A t a s till l at e r p er i o d w e fi n d a s p e c i a l G o d o f M e d i c i n e I m h o t e p
3
,

s o n o f P t ah an d S e kh e t i n w h o s e t e m p l e at M e m p i i n c u b ati o n
“
,
h s

( p 4 0 ) w as prac ti s e d
. .

I n t h e B e r li n M us e u m s ee offi c i al c at a l o gu e ,
.

5
The x c ep ti o n al i n t er e s t o f t h i s l ett er m ay j us ti fy a c om p l e t e
e

t r ans l ati on “ T o t h e w i s e s ou l ( K a) of th e L ad y A n c h er a W h at
. .

ev il h ave I d o n e t h ee t h a t I fi n d m y s e l f n ow i n t h i ,
m i s era b l e s

s t at e i n w h i c h I a m W h at h ave I d o n e u n t o t h ee t h at t h o u s h o u l d s t ,

l ay t h y h an d u p o n m t h ough n o evi l h as b ee n d o n e u n t o t h ee ! F r o m
e,

t h e ti m e I b ec a m e t h y h u s b a n d u n til n o w h ave I d o n e a n yt h i n g aga i n s t .

t h ee t h at I h ad t o kee p s ec ret ! T h o u w a s t t h e w i fe o f m y y o ut h an d ,

I l i ed w it h t h e e
v T h en I fi ll ed al l ki n d s o f o ffi c e s an d I l ive d w it h
.
,

t h ee an d c aus e d t h y h e art n o s or ro w B eh o l d w h e n I r u l e d o ver

, .
,

t h e c a p t a i n s o f Ph ar ao h fo o t m en an d o f h i s c h ar i o t s I c a u s e d t h em
’
s , ,

t o c o m e t o t h ee t o t h r o w t h e m e l ve s o n t h e i r b e lli es b efo r e t h ee an d
, s ,

t h ey br o u gh t m an y go o d t h i n gs an d l a i d t h em at t h y fee t W h en t h o u .

w as t s i c k et c , T h en w h e n I h a d to go w it h Ph ar ao h an d h i s c o mpany
.

t o t h S o ut h l an d m y t h o ugh t s w ere w it h t h ee a n d I p a s s e d t h e e i gh t
e , ,

m o n t h s w it h ou t b e i n g ab l e t o ea t o r t o d r i n k An d w h en I re t ur n e d .

t o M e m p h i s I b es o ugh t P h ara o h a n d c am e t o t h ee an d m a d e a gr e at , ,

m o u r n i n g fo r t h e e I a n d m y p eo p l e b e fo re m y h o us e
, I gav e .

b an d ages an d s t uffs fo r th y b ur i a l a n d h a d m uc h li n e n w ov e n n o r , ,

w as I l a c ki n g i n m a ki n g go o d o ffer i n g fo r t h ee S i n c e t h e n I h av e s .

p a t t h re
s e y e ar s m o ur n i n g w it h o ut e n t er i n
g m y h o u s e o r ac ti n g a s
, ,

I m i gh t h av e ac t e d ; a n d l o ! I d i d a l l t h i s b e c a us e it w as fo r t h ee I
A p at h eti c l tt er t h o ugh o n e s us pec t t h at t h e ga ll an t o ffic er got a
e , s

s c r i b e t o c o m p o s e it fo r h i m at s o m u c h a li n e S e e M a s p er o Etud es .
,

Egy pti ennes i 1 4 5 ; E r ni a n (op i nf r a

,
. i 2 8 I t i s b e li e e d t o d at e
. . 1 . v

fro m t h e t w e nti e t h d y na s ty t e ab o u t 1 20 0 , . .
, .
 H I N D U M ED I C I N E . 25

6
Repor t of th e Or i ental Congr ess L o nd o n
E b e rs , , , 1 87 4 Zei tsch r if t f ur
E gypti sch e Spr ach e, 1 87 3 T h e e n ti re p ap y r u s h as
. r ec e n tly b ee n t ra n s ~

l at e d in to G erm an b y D r . J o ac h i m ,
Be r l i n 1 89 0
, .

7
C h ab as , M el anges Egy ptolog i ques F urt h er i n form ati o n
'

. on th e s ub

j e c t m ay b e foun d i n E r m an , E gy pten E gy pti sch es L eben i m A l ter un d

i i t
th um , t o w h c h I a m m u c h n d eb e d ; M as pero , L ife i n A nc i en t Egypt and
y
A ssy r i a ; M a h aff , P r ol egoni ena to A nc i en t H i story S a c e , H er od otos , i ; y .
- i ii .

N ewbery H ouse M agaz i ne, J u , 1 89 0 ; Raw n s o n , H er odotus , an d ly li

W i lki ns on , M anners and Customs f
o th e A nc i en t E gypti ans , e r v i sed by
B ir c h ,
18
78 ; Fi n l ays o n , M ed i ci ne i n A nci ent E gypt, B r i t M ed . .
j our n ,

1 8 93 .

V .
—H I N D U M E D I C I NE .

T HE arli e st do cu m en t s of t hat I n do G e rm ani c rac e to

e -

'

whi c h w e our s e lv e s b e l on g are t h e Ve da s o r book s o f r e

v ea l ed wi sdom —th e two word s havi n g th e s am e root
,
“
.

T h e ol d e s t of th e s e t h e Ri g V e d a ( knowl e dg e of p rai s e)
,
-
,

con si stin g o f hymn s co m p o s e d B C 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 al r e ady . .

-
,

m ention s a s p e cial cl ass of p hysici an s ; it also cont ain s

p a s sage s in p rai s e of t h e h e a ling p ow er o f h erb s and w at er s , ,

and noti c e s at l e ast t w o di s e a s es — p ht hi s i s and l ep ro sy .

B ut t h e fo urth o r At h ar v a Ve da ( kn owl edge o f s pe ll s ) com

,
-
,

p il ed about 7 0 0 B C i s as m ight b e e x pe ct e d t h e most

. .
, , ,

m e di c al i n charact er of t h e fo ur gr e at r e ligi ou s book s A s .

w e h av e al r e ady con s id e r e d thi s a s p e ct of t h e h e aling art ,

on ly o n e e xam p l e n e ed be giv en h er e ; an invocation again s t

T akm an t h e d e m on o f fev e r e vid e nt ly ada pt e d to high ca s t e
, ,

p ati e nt s on ly : M ay r efusal m ee t T ak m an who h a s glow ,

i n g w e a p o n s 0 T ak m an go to th e M uj av an t or farth e r
.
,
.

Att ac k t h e S udra ( lo w c ast e) wom an t h e t eem ing on e ; ,

”
.

sh ak e h er 0 Tak m an ,
T h e mo s t s e l e ct r e m e di e s s ee m to
.

hav e b een p re s erv ed fo r p rin c es ; t hu s wh e n t h e son o f

B i m bi sara — Kin g of M agad h a abo ut 6 0 0 B c —
,

faint e d h e ,
. .
,

was p l ac e d in s i x t ub s ful l of fr es h b utt e r and a ft e rward s in ,

a s ev e nt h fil l ed wit h t h e m o s t costly san dal wood aft e r -

,

wh i ch it i s int e r e stin g to know that t h e p rin c e surviv ed ,

1
a n d su c c ee d e d his fat h e r .
26 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

Though th e in cantation s o f t h e At h ar va Veda w e r e

'

-
,

doubtl es s r e cit ed by B rah man s it is im p ortant to n otic e

, ,

that t h e p hy s ici an s o f t h e Vedic age di d not b el ong to thi s

ri es t ly c a s t e Th ey ar e cla s s e d in t h e an ci e nt law s o f
p .

M anu among tho s e un cl e an p e r s on s who ar e excl ud e d from

t h e fun e ral fe a s t s and th eir origi n i s attribut ed in t h e
,

Brahm anic w ritings to int e rmarriages b etw ee n m e n and

wom e n of di ffe r e nt cast e T h e maj ority how ev e r p robably
.
, ,

b e lon g e d to t h e gre at H ind u middl e clas s t h e Vaisya s -

,

( agricult uri s ts and trad e r s ) an d in l at e r ti m,

es a p hy s ician
2
mi ght t a k e as p u p il a m e mb e r o f any ca s t e e xc e p t a S udra .

B esid es t h e four gr e at r e ligiou s Ve da s t h e H ind us hav e ,

“ ”
c ertai n s u pp l em e ntary Upa Ve d as l at e r in dat e and
-
,

d ealin g with more worldly s ubj e ct s —m e dicin e m u s i c , ,

archit e ct ur e et c
, T h e fir s t o f th es e i s t h e Ayur Ve da
.
-

( kno w l e dg e o f li fe) a t e rm not confin ed to any p arti cular

,

boo k but in cl uding all w ork s on m e di cin e t hought to h av e

,

” 3
b ee n in any way s u p e rnat urally r e v e al e d I t i s es p e c ia l ly
a p pli e d to t h e work s o f Gh araka s aid to h av e b een r eve al e d
,

by I ndra him s e l f through t h e m e di um o f a Ri s hi or s age , ,

an d to tho s e o f S u s r u t a di c tat e d by t h e divin e p hysician

,

D h an w an tar i w h o b e cam e in carnat e for th at p urp o s e

,
.

T h e s tory of t h e birt h o f thi s H indu [E sc u l ap i u s i s too

c uriou s to b e omitt e d A blight h ad fall e n u p on t h e un iv e rs e
.
,

and t h e anxiou s god s cam e to th e ir fath e r Vi s hn u fo r , ,

”
advic e H e d e c lar e d th at th e y m ust obt ain t h e Am rit a
.
,

or drin k of i m m or t al i ty and th at fo r thi s p urp os e t h e oc e an

,

o f milk must b e churn e d God s and d emon s forge tt in g for

.
,

a ti m e th e ir hostil ity un it ed i n thi s st u p en dou s work T h e

, .

gr e at s e rpe nt V as u ki twin ed hi m s el f ro und t h e mountain

, ,

M andara and t h e god s and d e mon s gra s p in g t h e mon s t e r

, ,

by i t s h e ad and tai l twirl ed t h e mountain round in th e mil k

,

oc e an u p on t h e ba ck o f Vi s hn u him s e l f who l ay in t h e ,

sha p e of a h uge tortoi s e at t h e bottom L ong th ey labo u r ed .

,

and t h e d e mon s who we r e n e ar e s t t h e s er p e nt s h e ad

,
’

b e cam e p e rman ently black e n e d by t h e p oi s onou s fum e s from h is

hood but at last t h e work w as don e and t h e r e ro se fro m ,
28 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

r eb e l s or e n emi e s to p uni sh t h e ir wi ck edn e ss h e s h all t ak e ,

with him a skil fu l p hy s ician a p ious p en it e nt whos e p ray ers

, ,

ar e h e ard ( and an int e llig e nt astrologe r ) T h e p hy s ici an .

mu s t s ee to t h e food wat er w ood an d p la c es o f enc am p

, ,

m e nt an d examin e t h em car eful ly fo r th e y may b e p oi s on ed

,

by t h e e n e my I f h e find p oi s on h e must r em ov e it and s o

. ,

s av e t h e army from d e ath and d e s t ruction and h e m ay l e arn ,

how t o do thi s from t h e cha p t er on p oi s on s Th e p ious .

p e nit e nt m u s t k eep o ff by h i s p ray e r s e vil infl u e n c e s ari s ing

from t h e bre ath incantation s ) of t h e p ow e rful t h e p ain s ,

of t h e o p p r es s e d and t h e sham e o f s i n ( and t h e a s trol og e r

,

m u s t av ert mi s fortun es indicat e d by t h e s t ar s dir e cting th e m ,

u p on a s p e cial ly a pp oint e d s acrific e) I f di s e a s e ari s e in .

t h e army t h e p hy s ician m u s t s how t h e gr e at es t dilige n c e ,

and e sp e ci ally guard t h e king s p e r s on for h e i nvolv es t h e ’

whol e p e o p l e as s aith t h e p rov e rb : W e r e th er e n o kin g t h e

,

p e o p l e would d evour o n e anoth er H i s t ent s hal l b e n e ar

’
.

t h e k in g s t e nt an d h e s hall hav e h i s book s and drug s

’

al w ay s at hand Th er e s hal l b e a flag ov er h i s t ent th at

.

t h e s ic k p oi s on e d
, and wound ed m ay find h i m qui ckly
,
.

“
H e re t h e w rit e r s udd e n ly changes t h e s ubj e ct : Th e
p hy s ician t h e p ati e nt t h e m e di cin e an d t h e n ur s e ar e t h e
, , ,

four feet of m edicin e u pon which t h e cu r e d ep e nd s W h en .

t hr ee o f th ese ar e as th ey s hould b e ( gu n av at) th e n by t h e ir ,

aid t h e e x ertion s of t h e fourth t h e p hy s i ci an ar e of effe ct , , ,

and h e can cur e a s or e di s eas e in a s hort ti m e B ut w ith .

out t h e p hy s ician t h e oth e r thr ee ar e us e l es s ev e n wh e n th ey

ar e a s th ey s hould b e j u s t a s t h e B rah man s who r e cit e t h e
,

Ri g and S ama V e da s ar e u s e l es s at a s acrifi c e without t h e

-

Brahm an who r e cit es t h e Y agur V e da But a good ph y -

.

s i c i an can cur e a p ati e nt alon e j u s t as a p ilot c an s t e e r a ,

boat to land without s ailors Th e p hy s ician who h as p en e .

t r at ed into t h e hidd e n s e n s e o f t h e m e dical book s w h o h as ,

s een and tak en p art in o peration s w h o h as a r e ady h and , ,

an hon e st m ind and a bold h eart who h as h i s i n s t ru m ent s

, ,

and books alway s by him who pos s ess es p re s en c e of m ind

, ,

j udgm ent r e solution and ex peri en c e and who s ets t h e t ruth

, ,
 H I N D U S U R G E RY .
9

ab ov e al l t hi ngs s uch a p hysic ian may b e cal l ed a tru e foot

,

( p ada ) of m e di cin e T h e p ati e nt d es e rve s t his nam e wh e n

.

h e h as vit al forc e and n erv e ( to r e si st p ain ) n o in curabl e

, ,

dis e as e n o gr e at p ov e rty s e l f r es traint ( to avoid harmful

, ,
-

p l ea su r e s ) fait h in t h e p hysic i an an d ob ed i e n c e to hi s d i rec

, ,

tions Th e drug to b e cal l ed a p ada mu st grow on a good

.
’

soil and b e gat h e r e d on a favo urabl e d ay b e giv e n in p ro p er

, ,

dos e s at a right ti m e an d b e fr e sh Finally t h e n urs e i s a

, .

p ada wh e n h e i s kin d h e art e d wit ho ut fal s e s h am e st rong

’
-
, ,

t ru s two rthy an d m i nd ful of t h e p hysi cian s ord ers ’

.

T h e mo s t famo u s achi ev e m ent of H ind u s urg e ry i s

t h e m an u fact ur e o f n ew n os e s by fla p s t ak e n fro m t h e
ch ee k s or fore h e ad an o pe ration s p e ci al ly d e m and ed in
,

a l and wh e r e d e s p ot i c rul ers and j e alou s hu s band s w er e

singul arly addict e d to m utilat ing th eir vi ct im s B ut S u sr ut a .

a l so m e nt ion s t h e divi sion of th e s u pra orbita l n erv e fo r -

n e ural gia and l a p arotom y an d s ut ur e o f t h e int es t in e for

ob s tru ctio n or inj ury —o p e ration s l at e ly re introdu c e d into
,

m e di ci n e .H e d e scrib es mor e t han o n e hundre d i n s t r u

m e nt s t h e fi r s t and b es t o f wh ich is t h e hand and car eful ly
, ,

di s t in gui sh es tw e lv e s pe ci es o f l eech es a s e ct ion of his ,

work aft e rward s highly valu ed by th e Arab s who i n t h e ,

e ight h c e nt ury A D tra n s lat e d p ortion s of t h e works of both

. .

5
t h e gr e at H ind u p hy s i ci an s .

An d t hi s bring s u s to th e i m p ortant q u e st ion : Wh en

did t hi s r e m arkabl e d ev elo p m e nt of H indu m e di cin e ,

whi c h aro s e and vani s h e d so myst eriously act ual ly t ak e ,

la c e ! Th e l ow e r l im it i s fix e d by t h e abov e m e ntion e d
-

p
t ran s l ation s at abo ut 7 50 A D but it i s v ery di ffic u lt to . .
,

fin d a high er on e O ld e r writ e rs r e lying on t h e fact that

.
,

bot h S u s r ut a an d Gharaka ar e m e ntion e d i n t h e gre at ep ic ,

M ah abharat a con s id e r e d t hat t h e works attribut e d to th e m

,

mu st b e at l e a s t as old as t h e H om e ri c p o e m s B ut t h e .

M ah abh arat a und e rw e nt re vi sion s and addition s t o a v e ry

l at e d at e an d r e c e nt S an scrit s chol ars as s ert th at t h e
,

langu ag e o f th e m e di cal books indic at e s an age c ertainly

not l on g ant erior to Al exan d e r s inva sion B C 3 2 7 and ’

,
.
,
30 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

p o s sibly v en lat er t h an this N o w th es e dat es B C 3 2 7

e . .
. ,

n arly corr s ond to t h riod o f t h e p r e dominan c e

AD .
75 0 e , e p e p e

o f B uddhi sm in I ndia and it s eem s highl y p robabl e that

,

t hi s B uddhi st mi l l e nn ium w as al s o t h e gold en age o f

H in du m edicin e T h e broth erly lov e and s ym p ath et ic
.

“ ”
p ity inc ulcat ed by t h e e n l ight e n e d w as mor e l ik e ly to
favo ur t h e p rogres s of t h e holi es t of art s than t h e ca s t e
r e j udi c e s and e ndl e ss formaliti es o f Brahmani s m ; n or
p
ar e w e w ithout d e finit e in dication o f t h e high hono ur in

w hich B uddhi s t s h e ld t h e p hy s ician Th u s o n e of th e .

chi ef evils of p ov e rty i s that t h e p oor man cannot ge t a

p hy s ician or m e dicin e and trav e l l er s ar e warn e d again st
,

s ettl ing in a l and wh er e th e r e are n ot fi v e thing s —a king ,

, ,
—
a riv e r rich m en t e ach e r s and p hysi cian s 6
Wh e n King .

A s oka t h e C on s tant in e o f B uddhism mad e that faith t h e

, ,

r e ligion of h i s e m p ir e B C 2 50 h e i s s u e d a s e ri es of edict s
, . .
, ,

t w o o f which hav e r efe r e n c e to our p r es ent s ubj e ct I n th e

“
fir s t t h e man of loving s p irit b e lov e d of t h e god s d e cl ar e s
, , ,

that no animal i s to b e p ut to d e ath and w e may p erha p s , , ,

conn e ct thi s with t h e extraordinary p a s sage i n S u s r u t a

w hi ch forbids m edical aid to h unt e r s and to al l w h o kil l
o r tra p animal s I n t h e s e con d A s oka s ay s that h e h as ,

es t abli s h e d tw o c ur es o n e for m e n and anoth e r for

,

animal s not only throughout h i s own dominion s but in

, ,

t ho se of n e ighbouring mon arch s and h as arran ge d for t h e ,

c oll e ction and p l anting o f m e dicinal h e rbs in tho s e

p lac es
w h er e th ey do not e xi s t .

Th er e can b e littl e doubt that th es e cur es inc lud ed

h o s p ital s and p os s ibly e v en m e dic al s chools
, B uddhi st .

p i lgrim s from C hina in t h e fi ft h an d s e v e nt h c e nt u ri es t e l l u s

o f hou ses o f m e rcy fo r t h e sick w hich th ey found in variou s

p art s o f I ndia and t h e famou s hos p it al for an im al s at S urat

,

m ay con c e ivably hav e o w e d i t s origin to A s oka .

Th e M ah av an s a or C ingal es e chroni cl e giv es us still cl e ar e r

, ,

e vid e nc e on t h e s ubj e ct Wh en King D ut th a Gamani w as on

.

h i s d e ath b ed B C 1 6 1 h e ord er ed t h e re cord o f hi s d eed s to

-
,
. .
,

b e r e ad to h im in whi ch it was s aid :

, I hav e daily m ain
 H I N D U H O S P I TA L S .
31

t ai n ed at e ight ee n di ffer e nt p l ac e s hos p it al s p rovid e d wit h

,

s uitabl e di et and m e dicin e s

, p r e p are d by m e dic al p ractition ers
for t h e i nfirm Kin g B u dd h ad as a ( A D 3 4 1 ) w as a min e of . .

Virt u e an d an o c e an o f ri ch e s w h o p at ron i s e d t h e right eou s

’

, ,

di s co unt e n an c e d th e wic k e d and com fort e d t h e si ck by pr o

,

v i d i n g m e dical r e li ef T h e s tori es of h i s own cur es are mostly

.

m yth i cal A p ri e st h u rri e dly dran k s om e wat er whi ch h ad

.

’
frog s s p awn in it an d an egg e nt e ri n g t h e no s tril a s c e n d e d int o
,

t h e h e ad and b e ing h at ch e d b e cam e a frog

,
I n rainy w e ath er .

it croak e d an d gnaw e d th e h e ad of t h e p ri es t T h e Raj ah .

,

s p litt ing o p en t h e h e ad and e xtra cting t h e frog and r e uniting ,

-

th e s e v e r e d p arts qui ckly c ur e d t h e wound

,
Th e re s ee m s .

n o r e a s on how e v e r to do ubt t h e e ss ent ial truth of t h e fol low

, ,

in g : O u t o f b en e vol e n c e e nt e rtain e d toward s t h e i n h abi

t ants of t h e i s l an d t h e s ov e r e ign p rovid e d ho sp itals and
, ,

a pp oint e d m e dical p ractit ion e r s th e r eto for all villages H av .

i n g com p o s e d a w ork cont ain in g t h e sub s tan c e of al l m edical

s ci e n c e h e circ ulat e d it a mong t h e p hysic ian s of t h e i s l and
,

for t h ei r fut ur e guid an c e H e ordain e d t hat th er e s hould

.

b e a p hysi cian for e v e ry t en vil lag e s H e s et a s id e twe nty .

royal vill age s for t h e m ai nt e n an c e of t h es e p hy s icians and ,

a pp oint e d m e d i cal p ra ctition e r s to att e nd on el ep hant s on ,

h or s e s an d o n t h e army On t h e main roads h e built a s yl um s

,
.

in vario u s p art s for t h e r e c eption of t h e lam e and b lind .

Th is m an of gr e at com p a s s ion was w ont to carry his ca se of

s urgi c al in s trum e nts in t h e fold s of h i s loin cloth and to ,

”
a fford r e l i ef to ev e ry a fflict e d p erson h e m et .

B ut t h e most i mp ortant o f th e C ingal es e ho s p ital s was

“
th at fou n d e d by Par akkam a th e G r e at ( 1 1 64 An d
this rul er of m en b uil t furth e r a l arge hall th at co uld contain
m any h un dr e d s o f s i c k p e rson s and p rovid e d it with al l ,

t hi n gs n ee d ful as s t at e d und e rn eath To ev ery si c k p e rson .

h e al low e d a m al e an d fe mal e s e rvant th at t h e y might ,

m ini st e r to hi m by day and night and furni s h him wit h

t h e p hy s i c that w as n e c e s s ary an d wit h div e r s kind s o f food .

And m any st or e hou s e s a lso did h e bu ild th er e in fil l e d with

grain an d with al l thin g s us eful for m edi cin e An d h e al so
,
.

m ad e p rovi s ion for t h e m aint e n an c e of wi s e and l e arn e d

32 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

p hy s ician s who w e r
, e v e r s e d in al l knowl e dg e and skill e d i n

s e arching o ut t h e hidd e n nat ur e o f di s e a s e s And it w as hi s .

cu s tom on t h e four U p o s at h a day s of ev e ry mont h t o vi s it

, ,

that hal l t ogeth e r w it h h i s mini st e r s And b e in g e ndu e d .

with a h e art full o f kindn es s h e w oul d look at t h e s ick wit h ,

an ey e of p ity and b e in g e min ent in wi s do m and s kil l e d

,

in t h e art of h e aling h e would cal l b efor e him t h e p hy s i cian s

,

that w e r e em p loy ed th e r e and in quir e fully of t h e mann er of ,

th e ir tr e atm e nt And i f so b e that t h e tr e atm e nt th e y p ursu e d

.

w a s wrong t h e king who w as t h e b es t of t e ach er s woul d

, , ,

p oint out wh ere in t h e y had e rr ed and would m ak e c l ear t o th e m ,

t h e cour s e th ey s hould hav e p ursu ed accordin g t o sci e n c e ,

and t o s om e s i ck p er s on s h e would g iv e p hy s ic with h i s own

h and s L i kewi s e al s o h e would inquir e of t h e h e alt h of tho s e
.

that w e r e s ick and to s u ch as w e r e cur e d h e w ou ld ord e r

,

raim e nt to b e giv e n Th u s did thi s m e rci ful ki ng fr e e fro m

.
,

di s ea s e him s e l f c ur e t h e sick of th e i r div e r s di s ord er s from

,

y e ar to y e ar B ut th e r e y et r emain s anoth e r m arv e l to r e lat e

.
,

t h e lik e o f w hich had n eith e r b een s een or h e ard of b efor e .

A c ertain rav e n that w as a fflict e d with a can k e r on h i s fac e ,

and w as in gr e at p ain ent er ed th e king s hos p it al and a s i f

,
’

, ,

bound by t h e s p el l o f th e kin g s gr e at lov e for su fferin g ’

cre atur es quitt e d it not b u t r e m ain e d t h er e a s i f i t s w in gs

, ,

w e re brok en cawin g v e ry p it eou s ly Th e r e u p on t h e p hy s i cian s

,
.
,

wh en th ey had found out what h i s di s e a s e w as t ook hi m in ,

’
by t h e king s com mand an d tr e at e d him ; and aft e r h e w as
h e al e d t h e king cau se d hi m to b e carri e d roun d t h e city on
,

t h e back o f an e l e p hant and th e n set h im fr e e V erily kind

, .

n ess s uch as t hi s ev e n w h e n s ho w n unto b e asts i s exc e e ding

, ,

gr eat Who hath s ee n s uch a thing and wh e r e or wh en

.
,
” 7
hath it b ee n h eard of b efor e

N OT E S .

1
D un c ker H i story of A nti qui ty v o l iv pp 2 8 1 3 2 3
, , . .
, .
, .

2
A c c o rd i ng t o S us r uta “ Eve n a S u dra i f of l egiti m at e b i rt h an d
, ,

o t h erw i s e q ua li fi e d m ay b e t a ugh t th e ar t ( of m ed i c i n e) e x c ep t t h e
'

M ant ra s i e Ved i c i nc an t ati on s

, . .
,

3
T h e l a t er l egen d o f t h e H i n d us s pe ak s o f an o r i gi na l Ay ur Ved a -

c o m p o s e d by B r ah m a h i m s e l f i n 1 00 s ec ti o n s an d s t an z as ( s l o k a s
) ,
 O R I GI N OF H I NDU M EDI C I N E
'

.
3

b ut af e t rw ar d s
r t e ned to ad ap t it t o th e li m it e d l i fe an d c ap ac i t i e s o f
sh o _

m an an d s o m e s ee t h e rem a i n s o f s uc h a w ork i n t h e po eti c a l p art s o f

,

S u s r uta B u t w e fi n d e x ac tly t h e s a m e s t o ry app l i e d t o t h e s o c a ll e d

.
-

an d it s ee m s t o b e m e re ly an Or i e nt al w ay o f s ayi n g
”
Law s o f M a nu ,

t h at L aw an d M ed i c i ne ar e sc i e n c es of great an tiq u ity ext en t an d , ,

i m p o r t an c e .

V i s h n u Puran a t ran s l at ed by W il s o n 1 840

4 -
, , .

T h i s w h i ch seem ed th e o ne rec ogn i s ed fact i n t h e ch ro n o l ogy

5
,

o f t h e s ub j e c t h as rec en tly b een q u es ti oned by D r H aas i n t w o

, .

i nt ere ti g p apers
s n
“
O t h O i gi
n e r n o f H i n d u M ed i c i n e an d H i p p oc
”

rat es an d t h e H i n d u M ed i c i n e o f t h e M i d d l e Ages ” ( Zei tsch r ift d er D eut

sch en M orgenl d nd i sch e Gesel l sch af t vo l s xxx and Hi s c o n c l u , . .

s i o n s a re ( 1 ) t h at t h e w or k o f S us r ut a w as u n kn ow n o ut s i d e I n d i a b e fo re

A D 1 50 0 w h e n it w as t rans l at e d i n t o Pe rs i an ; ( 2 ) t h at t h e o r i g i n a l i s
. .
,

p ro b a b ly n o t very m u ch o l d er t h a n t h i s ; ( 3 ) t h at al l H i n d u m ed i cal
s c i e n c e w o r t h y o f t h e n am e i s m e re ly a fa i n t re fl e c ti o n o f t h at o f t h e

G ree k s s ee n t h ro ugh an Arab i c m ed i u m

, N ay S us ruta i s h i m s e l f .
,

n o n e o t h e r t h an H i pp o c rat es w h o s e n a m e h as b ee n c o n fo u n d e d w it h

t h a t o f S o c ra t es an d c orr upt ed t h u s B uc r ata—Suc rata—Sus r uta H e i s

,

.
,

s a i d t o h ave b ee n b o rn at B e n ares ( K as i ) b ec ause H i pp o c r a t e s w a s

a n a ti ve o f C o s an d t o h ave b ee n r u l e d b , y h i s w i fe b ec au s e S o c ra t es ,

w a s h e n p e e k e d b y X an t h i p p e
-
S o m e o t h er l earn ed G er m a n w ill p r o .

b a b ly s h o rtly t e ll us t h at Ch ar a k a i s m e re ly a c o rrupti on o f P yt h a go ras ,

b u t m e an w h il e t h e read er m ay t a ke t h e v i e w g i ve n i n t h e t e xt a s t h e
one til l ge n erally acc ept e d Th e c h ap t er ab ove t rans l at e d i fr o m t h e
s . s

G e rm a n o f D r H aas H e t r an s l at es t h e fi rs t h al f fro m t h e P ers i a n o n ly ;

. .

b u t w it h t h e d o ub t fu l ex ce p ti o n of t h e as t ro l o ger t h e v e rs i o n i s very
, ,

e x ac t as m a
y b e s een by c o m p ar i n g it w it h t h e Lati n r e n d er i ng of
,

H es s l e r ( 2 v o l s 1 844 Ac c o rd i n g to H aas t h e s ec o n d h a l f i s m e re l y
.
, ,

an O r i e n t a l e x p an s i o n o f t h e fa m o us p as s age i n H i pp oc rat es
“
Th e ar t .

( o f m e d i c i n e) d epen d s o n t h re e t h i n gs t h e d i s ease t h e p ati en t an d t h e , , ,

p h ys i c i an Th e ph y s i c i an i s t h e s er an t of th e ar t ( or of n at u r e )
. Th e v .

p a ti e n t m u s t overc o m e t h e d i s eas e b y t h e ai d of th e p h y s i c i a n
”
.

B ur n o ut, I ntr od ucti on a l hi s toi r e d a B uddh i sme, 1 844 , an d

’
5
L e L otus
de l a B onne L oi , 1 852 .

7 T ourno un s t ran s l a ti o n rev i se d and co mp l et e d fo r th e

M ah av ans a ,
’
,

C ey l o n G overn m en t by C J W i ge s i n t h a ( C o l o m bo cap s 3 2 3 7
. .
, .
, ,

7 3 O t h er au t h o r iti es are Ro yl e A ntiq u i ty of H i nd u M ed i ci ne 1 83 7 ; W i s e

. , , ,

Commenta ry f the H i nd u Sy stem of M ed i ci ne 1 860 and Revi ew of th e H i s tory

o , ,

of M ed i c i ne ( 2 v o l s , 1 86 7 ) W ebb H i stor i cal Rel ati ons of A nci ent H i nd u

.
,

wi th Gr eek M ed i ci ne 1 850 ; W e b e r H i story of I nd i an L i ter atur e ( t r an s l a

, ,

ti o n ) 1 87 8 W il s on s E ssay s on Sanskr i t Li ter atur e 1 864 M a n n i ng

,
’
, ,

A nci ent and M ed i wval I ndi a , 1 869 Th e fi rs t e i gh t c h ap t ers o f S usr u ta h ave .

b e en t ran s l at e d i n t o E ngli s h by An n a M oresw ara Kunt e , Ca l c u tt a , 1 87 7 .

34 I AL
M ED C H S I T O RY .

VI .
—C H A L D E A N AN D P E RS I A N M E D I C I N E .

I N th e o p inion o f H e rodotu t h e an ci ent Babyloni an s

s,
1

s ho w e d gr e at wi s dom in th e ir tr e at m e nt o f t h e s ic k fo r th e y ,

had no p hy s i cian s but i f any on e w as i ll h e w as p u t out in

,

t h e p ubli c s quar e and e t iqu e t t e d e mand e d th at e v e ry p a s s e r

,

b y s hould as k him to d es crib e h i s s ym p tom s I f t h e s t ran ge r .

h ad h eard of a s imilar ca s e or h ad him s e l f had t h e di s e a s e

, ,

h e w a s e x p e ct e d t o giv e advic e a s to t r e at m ent .

M od e rn di s cov e ri es confirm th es e s tat e m e n t s in so fa r

t hat it i s v e ry di ffic ult to find a cla s s o f C h ald e an p hy s i ci an s
di s tin ct from a s trolog e r s an d s oot hsay e r s and Pro f S ayc e ,
.

”
t e l l s that t h e s am e w ord w as u s ed to e x p r es s p hy s ician ,

“ “ ”
s crib e ,
and s e er B ut t h e s t at e of m e dicin e r e v e al e d
.

by t h e cun e i form t e xt s by no m ean s j u s t ifi e s t h e g ood

o p inion o f t h e hi s torian for it i s p robably t h e lo w es t
,

form th at e v e r e xi s t e d in a civili s e d c o m m u n i t v Th e .

C hald e an s a pp e ar to hav e contribut e d ab sol ut e ly nothin g to

t h e g en e ral s tock o f m e dical knowl e dg e and w e s hall t h e r e , ,

for e notic e t h e m v ery bri efly

,
Pri mit iv e th e ori es p r e dom
.

i n at e throughout : th e r e ar e t h e u s ual d e mons cau s ing

d i s e a se and t h e u s ual invocation s again s t th e m both o f
, ,

w hi ch t h e r e ad e r will find ful ly di s cu s s e d in L e n o r m an t s

’

C h a l dean M agi c ; but Pro f S ayc e h a s r e c e ntl y tran s l at e d

.

fra g m e nt s o f a Babylon ian work on m e di cin e w hi ch ,

form e d p art of t h e l ibrary o f A s s urban i p al ( S ard an a p al u s ) ,

66 9 6 2 6 B C
-
. an d whi ch a p p e ar s t o indicat e s om e p ro
.
,

gr e ss to w ard s a mor e rational p ra ctic e I n it t h e p ati e nt .

som etim es has h i s choic e w h eth e r h e w il l u se c harm s o r

m e di cin es and t h e p r es cri pt ion s g ive n com p ri s e a con s id er
,

abl e vari ety o f dru gs though t h e ir p r e ci s e n at ur e ca nn ot

,

o ft en b e d e t e rm in e d .

T h e following ar e e xam p l e s : For a d i s e a s e d gal l bladd e r ,

mix wat er and s trong w in e ; drin k qua ntit i es o f calv es m il k ; ’

calv es mil k and bitt e r s drink in p al m w in e ; g arl ic an d

’

”
bitt e r s drin k in p al m w in e A s t h e t ran s l ato r ob s e rv es
t h es e p r es cri ption s ar e in a s en s e hom oeo pathic t h e bitt e r ,
’
36 M ED I C A L H I S T O R Y .

t h em to Th r i t a an anci e nt s a ge and s ac r i fi c er ( anot h e r

,

Vedic p ersonage) to whom al s o K s h at h r a Vai ry a L ord of

,
-
,

M etals gav e a kni fe of whi ch t h e p oi nt and b as e w e r e s et

, ,

in gold Th r i t a thu s b ecam e th e P e r s ian fE s c ul api us and

. ,

hysi cian s a u r d t o follow in h i s foot st e p s an d l i k e

p r e g e , ,

hi m fight valiantly again s t t h e d e m on s o f i m pu rity an d

,

d i s eas e Thi s story indi cat es t h e tri p l e division of P ersi an

.

”
m edicin e Wh en p hy s ician s com p e t e O p ur e Zoroast e r
. , ,

says O rm uzd in anot h e r p a s s age k ni fe doctors h e rb doctors

, ,
-
,
-
,

and word do c tors th e n s hal l t h e b e li ev e r go t o hi m who

-
,

h eal s by th e H oly Word for h e i s a h e al e r of h eal ers and

, ,

”
b en efit s t h e s oul al so .

I f a P e rsian wi s h e d to p racti s e m edicin e h e m ust fi rst ,

ex p e rim ent u p on unb e li e v e r s ; s houl d t h r ee of th e s e d i e

und er h i s hand s h e is for ev e r in ca p abl e ; shou ld h e c ur e
three h e is qualifi e d t o act as p hy s ician t o t h e worshi ppe rs
,

o f O rm uzd fo r ev e r an d e v e r s ay s t h e Ve ndid ad thou g h

, ,

som e l earn ed comm e ntators h e ld that t h e q ualifi c ation

might b e lost .

T h e Ve ndid ad al s o fix e s t h e am ount of m e di c al fee s A .

pri e st m ust b e h e al ed for his bl e ssin g ; t h e h e ad of a h ous e ,

a vil lage or a town fo r t h e p ric e of an ox of low av erag e

, , , ,

or high val u e r es pe ctiv e ly whil e t h e lord of a p rovin c e m u st

,

pay t h e p ri c e of a chariot and four T h e p hysici an i s al so .

t o tr e at an im al s e s p e c i ally t h e dog for whi ch h e m u st r e

, ,

c ei v e t h e val u e of t h e ani mal n e xt in ran k an d i n t h e c as e ,

of a sh eep th e lowe st on t h e li s t h i s p aym e nt i s t h e p ri c e

, ,

”
of a good m e al D ogs m ust re c e iv e t h e sa m e d rugs
.

whi c h ar e giv en t o rich m en ; and t o Zoroast er s in quiry ’

what is to b e don e i f th e dog r efu s e s to t ake m e dicin e ,

O rmuzd rep li e s t hat in s u ch a ca s e it s hal l b e l awfu l t o b ind

him and forc e o pe n h i s mouth with a s ti ck
, .

On e wo uld hav e tho ught that a lan d wh er e fe es w er e

fix e d on so lib eral a s cal e and s e c ur ed by t h e san ctions of ,

r e ligion would hav e b ee n a v e ry p aradi s e of physician s

, .

B ut thi s was far from b e ing t h e ca s e T h e m edicin e of t h e .

M ed es and P ersian s s ee m s to hav e b een as c ons e rvativ e as

 G REEK M ED I C I N E .
37

“
th i r l aws T h e word do ctor long m aintain ed h is bal e
e .
-

fu l p re e m in e n c e an d t h e art o f h ealing i s p robably as litt l e

-
,

in d e bt e d t o th e l an d of I ran a s i t is to t h e val l eys of t h e

E u p hrat e s and t h e Tigri s T h e P e r s ian kin g s wis ely .
,

e no ugh e ntrust e d t h e m s e lv e s n e it h e r to t h e C hald e an s n or

,

to th e ir own co unt rym e n but got th e ir p hysician s fi rst from ,

E gy p t an d a ft erward s from Gr ee c e ; and so val u e d w er e t h e

latt e r t h at i f a p ract it ion e r in t h e A s iat i c colon i es b ecam e
at al l di s t in gui sh ed for hi s ski ll h e w as l iab l e to b e kid
n a pp e d an d carri ed o ff to t h e P e r s i an C ourt .

I n a l at e r age short ly b efor e t h e fait h o f Z oroa s t e r w as

,

driv e n from it s an ci e nt hom e by t h e sword of I sl am w e shal l ,

fin d P e r s ia t h e s e at o f an im p ortant d ev elo p m e nt of m e dic al

sci e n c e b ut thi s al so was m ainly d u e to t h e labou r s not o f
, ,

n at iv e but of for e ign p hysi cian s

, .

N OT E S .

s u gge s t e d t h a t t ati o n s i refer

l
i . 1 97 I t h as b ee n
. L a m en . 12 is 9
.

e nc e to t i
h s p r ac c e ti .

2
Zei tsc/W if t f ur K ei l sch mflfor seh uug,
'

vol . i . N ew bery H ouse M agaz i ne,

J u ly , 1 89 0 (
“
The P ra c ti c e o f M e d i c i n e i n t h e A n c i ent an d H i bber t
L ect ur es , 1 88 7 .

V e n d i d ad an d Per s i a n m e d i c i n e gen eral ly s ee D a r m es te ter s

Fo r t h e
’

t ran s l ati on o f t h e Ze n d Aves t a par t i i n Sacr ed B ooks of th e E ast v o l iv

-
,
.
, , . .

j us ti Geseh i ch te d es al ten P er s i ens 1 8 7 9 ; D u n c k e r H i s tory of A n ti qui ty

, , , ,

v ol . v .

VI I .
—
T H E E A RL I E S T G RE E K M E D I C I N E
H O M E R— ZE S CU L AP I U S .

A M ON G t h e lost tr e atis e s of G al e n i s on e O n t h e Practic e

” 1
o f M e di cin e i n H om e r a subj e ct whi ch has sin c e b ee n v ery
,

fr e qu e ntly di s cu s s e d i n work s rangin g from D ar e m b e rg s

'

L a M édeczue daus H omér e wh e r e e v e ry w ord in t h e p o em s

'

of p ossibl e m e di cal significan c e i s consid e r e d down t o ,

m onogra p h s su ch as Fr oh lich s Hy gi eni c Though ts on the ’

'

,
38 M E D I CA L H I S T O RY .

Ch i tou f Hoom er i H
th e
c er oes which a pp e ar e d in t hat
,

s e riou s w ork , Virchow s A r ch i e and was p r ec ed ed by p a p e rs

’

on th e m edical as pe ct s o f B ar r acks d ur i ng the Tr oj an

War and The H ead dr ess of th e H omer i c H er oes t it l e s
,
- ,

re mindin g u s of t h e famou s G e rm an fe at of evolvin g a

cam e l from th e inn er con s ciou s n es s For H om e r though . ,

p ro fes s e dly
2
h e do es not like a gre at m e di aeval p o t
,
e ,

omit all m ed i c al d et ai ls as un s uit e d t o p olit e e ar s tr eats ,

t h e s ubj e ct to som e ext e nt from a p o eti c stand p oint H is .

woun d ed h e ro es eith e r d i e at on c e or aft e r v e ry s im p l e , ,

t r eat m e nt r et urn t o t h e fight a s vigorous as b efor e Th e r e

,
.

ar e no cas e s o f traum atic or infl am matory fev e r an d no ,

o n e di es from s e condary h ae morrhage ; whi l e e xc e p t t h e ,

p l agu e which form s an es s e ntial p art of t h e story th e r e i s

, ,

no m e ntion of t h os e epid e m ic s w hich hav e al way s form e d

t h e s courge of cam p s B ut al l thi s i s sure ly to b e att ribut ed
.
,

not t o t h e hygi en ic advantag e s of s canty dr e ss and w e ll

v e ntilat e d hut s but to t h e fact that d es cri ption s of di s e a s e
,

ar e not suit e d to ep ic p o e tr y O rdin ary dis eas e i s s e ldom

.

notic e d t h e c hi ef p a ssages b e ing Od v 3 9 5 w h e r e t h e j oy

, .
,
.
,

of U ly s se s at t h e sight of l an d i s c om p ar ed to t h at o f sons

w h o s ee th e ir fath e r r e cov erin g from a long illn es s in wh i ch ,

an angry god assail e d him ; and ix 4 1 1 wh e re t h e blin d e d .

,

and howlin g Cyclo p s i s told by h i s fri e nd s t hat i f h e ,

i s il l h e s h ou ld r em e mb e r t hat s ickn e ss c om es from Z e us

,
,

and i s un avoidabl e It i s int e r es tin g t o not e that i n bot h

.

ca s es w e find a su p ernatural t h e ory of dis e as e 3 Though a .

knowl e dg e of drug s i s t h e chi e f m ark of a p hysi cian int e rnal

m e di cin e s ar e rar e ly m e ntion e d t h e w ord “ pli ar m alt o n ”,

d e noting in th e I l i ad o utward a p p licat ion s on ly w hil e in ,

t h e Ody ssey it m e an s e ith e r a p oi s on or a ch arm s u ch as ,

t ho s e o f C irc e I nd eed H e l e n s n ep enth e s ee m s t o b e t h e

.
,
’

n e ar es t a pp roach t o what w e s hould cal l a m e dicin e fo r t h e ,

m ixt ur e of Pramnian w in e wit h ch ee s e an d barl e y m e a l -

wh ich N estor gav e t h e wound e d M ach aon a pp e ar s to hav e ,

b ee n an ordinary form of food s inc e N estor t ak es it h im s e lf

, ,

and w ith th e addition of hon e y it forms t h e m ess wh ich

, ,
 HO M ER I C M E D I C I N E .
39

C ir c e b efor e t h e sailo rs o f U lyss e s and i n w h i c h s h e

s et ,

p l ac e d h er bal efu l p h arm aka .

T h e m ost p ro m in en t p art of H om e ri c m ed i c in e i s n at ur
al ly t h e t r eat m ent of wo und s E v e ry on e s eem s abl e to .

r e nd er aid in e m e rg en ci e s ; t h us wh en U lyss e s is wou n d e d ,

by a boar h i s comrad es skil ful ly bin d th e wou nd and recit e

,

t h e a pp ro p riat e in c ant at ion s but th er e i s al r eady a s pecial

cla ss of m en skil l ed in r e moving e mb e dd ed w eapons who
, ,

know t h e d ru gs whi ch s t o p b l ee din g and l ess en p ain .

“ ”
Th e s e ar e th e p hysi c ian s skil l e d in m e dicin es who loo k
aft e r t h e wound ed an d an e qual or stil l high er knowl edge
,

i s p o s s e ss e d by c ertain c hi efs A chi ll e s Patro c lus and abov e

, , , ,

“
al l t h e two son s of i E sc u l ap u s
,
i t h e cunnin g l ee ch e s ,

Pod aliriu s and M achaon T h e s ocia l p o sition of th e s e

.

I at r oi i s a v e ry r es pe c t abl e on e in war th ey ar e worth

m any ot h er m en i n p ea c e t h ey ar e lik e t h e s ee r and t h e
, ,

m in str el w el co m e gu e st s in t h e h all s of t h e h ero es ( Od xvii

,
.
, .

I t i s i m p ortant to notic e that t h er e i s no trac e of

any c onn ection b etw e e n thi s m e dical cl ass an d p ri es t s ;
i f C al chas i s cal l ed u p on in t h e p lagu e it is p ur e ly in h i s ,

c a p a c i ty of s eer ; som e god i s angry ; wh o h e i s and h ow ,

t o a ppeas e h im are cl e arly th e ol ogi c al not m e d i c al q u es

,

t ion s . B e sid e s p hysi cian s w om e n hav e a kn owl edg e o f

,

drugs : t hu s N estor di s tin gui s h es a h e ro whom h e sl ew i n

“
h i s yout h by saying : ,
H e h ad to wi fe th e fair hair e d -

Agam e d e ( th e v e ry wi s e) who kn e w al l drugs so m any as ,

t h e wid e e arth n ouri sh e th ( I L xi C ir c e and H e l e n

, .

h av e al r eady b een m ention e d A s fin al exam p l e s of H om eri c .

m e d i c in e w e m ay m ention t h e r eviva l of H e ctor wh en stru ck

down by Aj ax by m ean s of co p iou s do u ch ing with co ld
w at er ; a tru ly h e roi c m e thod o f tr e atin g coll a p s e (I L xiv , .

w h il e U lyss e s a ft e r t h e s laught er of t h e S u itors purifi e s

, ,
.

hi s h o us e by b urnin g sul p h ur in t h e most a pp rov e d mod e rn

fashion 4 ( Od xxii .
,
.

ZE s c ul api u s ( A skl ep io s ) as e v e ry o n e knows is t h e G od o f

, ,

M e di ci ne b ut in H om e r h e i s m e re ly a Th e ssal ian Chi eft ain

, ,

who l ik e A chi ll es h as l e arnt from C h iron t h e knowl edg e of

, ,
 40 M ED I C A L H I S TO RY .

d rugs , and h as taught it to h i s s on s j u s t a s Achi l l e s taught,

Patrocl u s B ut A r c t i n u s of L e sbos ( B C
.
t h e fir s t . .

Gr e e k p o e t of who se p e r s onal ity w e are c ertain alr e ady ,

i nv es t s him with s u p e rn atural attribut e s and t e ll s u s t hat ,

“
h e endo w e d o n e o f h i s s on s w ith nobl er gi ft s th an
t h e oth e r ; fo r whi l e to t h e o n e ( M achaon ) h e gav e s kil fu l
h and s to draw out dart s m ak e i n ci s ion s and h e al s or e s and
, ,

w ound s h e p lac e d in t h e h e art o f t h e oth e r ( Podaliri u s ) al l

,

c unnin g to find out thing s invi s ibl e an d cur e t h at whi ch

-
,

h ea l ed not a p ass age i n w hich m edicin e and surgery

, Q

are cl e arly di s tingui s h e d an d p r ec ed e nc e giv e n to t h e

,

form e r .

I t w as p robably about this tim e that t e m p l es b e gan to

b e e r ect e d to t h e God o f M e dicin e ; and in th e s e A s c l ep i ei a ,

which b e cam e v e ry n um e rou s ( ov er 3 0 0 b e in g m e nt ion ed

by cla s si c w rit e r s ) t h e r e d e v e lo p ed a p e c ul iar form o f m edi
,

c a l tr e atm e nt kn o w n as incubation Trac e s o f thi s p ra o

tic e ar e to b e found in anci ent E gy pt b ut our earli es t an d ,

m ost im p ortant noti c e of it in Gre e c e i s in t h e Plut us o f

Ari s to p han es ( B C .T h e s ic k p e r s on a ft e r s acrific e
.

a n d p urification l ay do w n to s l e e
p n ea r th e alt ar o f t h e god ,

and t h e mod e o f tre atm ent w as r ev e al e d to him e ith e r i n a

d r e am or mor e dir e ct ly by t h e p ri es t hi m s e l f dr e s s e d s o a s
, ,

t o r e p r es e nt t h e d eity O n r ecov e ry h e p r e s e nt e d th an k
.
,

o ffe rings s om e tim e s

, in cl uding mod e l s of t h e a ffe ct e d
p art in w ax s ilv e r or ev en gold ( th u s t h e t e m p l e at
, ,

Ath e n s p o s s es s ed amon g oth e r tr e a s ur es a s ilv er h e art

, .
,

gi ld e d l egs gold and gild e d ey es

, and a t abl e t
,

w as p u t u p d es cribin g h i s il ln e ss and i t s t r eat m e nt .

A ccording t o Pliny and S trabo H i pp ocrat es was m u ch .

ind e bt e d to t h e t abl et s th u s accumu lat ed in t h e A s e l e

p i e i o n at C os and mod ern w rit e r s hav e e v en m ad e th e
,

”
Fa t h e r o f M e di cin e hi m s e l f a p ri es t o f ZE s c u l ap i u s Th i s .

l att e r p oin t w ill b e di s cu s s e d wh en w e com e to s p e ak of t h e

A s cl ep iad ae ; but t h e m edical i m p ortan c e of t h e t e m p l e r e
cord s has p robably b een m u ch e xagg e rat e d U n fort un at ely .

no an ci ent writ er h as thought it worth whi l e to co p y any o f

 I N C U B ATI O N .
41

t h e m an d — exc ep t in g th e c urio u s in s cri p tion s r e c ently d i s

c ov e r e d at E p idau rus —w e ar e l i mit ed to t hree or four ex
,

am p l e s of lat e dat e an d do ubtfu l auth e nticity fo und at

, ,

Rom e 5 T h e cur e s t h er e d e scrib e d ar e of a s e m i m ira culou s

.
-

n at ur e an d t h e tr e at m ent nat ural ly su ch as would conn e ct

, , ,

t h e m wit h t h e divin e i nfl u e n c e of t h e god Th ey di ffer from .

t h e hi s t ori e s o f ca s e s giv e n by H i pp oc rat es in e v e ry p os s ibl e

way an d i f t h e i n s cri p tion s at C os at al l r e s embl e d th e m
,

t h ey can on ly h av e b ee n u s eful t o him as warni n g e xam p l es

o f wh at a c lini c al history s ho u ld not b e T h e fo ll owing m ay
.

s e rv e as an s p e cim e n j u lian b e in g in a ho pe l e s s stat e on

,

a c co u nt o f a s p itting of b lood w a s dir e ct e d by t h e god to

,

t ak e p in e s ee d s from t h e altar m ix th e m with hon ey and

-
, ,

e at t h e m du ring t h r e e day s H e r ecov er ed and r et urn e d

.
,

t h an ks o pe nly b efor e t h e p e o p l e .

B ut in c u bation w as p racti s ed at oth er shrin e s than t hos e

of Z E sc u l ap I u s an d es p e ci ally in t h e t em p l es o f t h e G r a c o
,

E gy p tian god S e ra p is B efo r e h i s alt ar at B abylon Al ex

.

a nd e r s g e n e ral s sl e p t fo r m any n ight s durin g th e ir m a s t e r s

’ ’

l a s t i lln e s s vain ly h o pi n g th at t h e god w ould r e ve al a r e

,

m e dy for it was n ot a lways r equi s it e t hat t h e p at i ent him

,

s e l f should in cub at e an d at s om e p l ac es t h e r e w e re e v e n
,

p ro fes s ion al dr e am e rs who might b e h ir e d fo r t h e occa s ion .

O th e r h ealin g divinit i e s w er e A p ollo At h e n e and H e rc ul e s

, , ,

t o al l o f w ho m alt ars w e r e e r e ct e d in t h e gr e at t e m p l e o f
A m p h iarau s at O ro p us H e r e wh er e t h e p ro p h e t p rinc e o f
.
,

A rgo s had b ee n my s t erio usly swal lowe d by t h e e arth as h e ,

w arr e d again st Th e b es aro s e a s a cr e d s p rin g an d n e ar it a

, ,

s h rin e an d oracl e wh e r e t h e p ati e nt might e nj oy t h e a d v an

t age o f a con s ult at ion o f m edica l divinit i es H avin g fa s t e d .

th r ee day s fro m win e and o n e day from al l food h e lay ,

d own to s l ee p on t h e fl ee c e o f a ram s a crifi c e d to t h e

d e it i e s . I f t h e tr eat m ent i ndi cat ed was succ es s ful h e gav e ,

t hank Offerings and t hr ew coin s into t h e s acre d w e ll

-
,

a nd s o fa mo u s fo r i t s cu r e s did thi s t e m p l e at o n e t im e

b e com e th at it i s s aid t o h av e ruin e d a l l t h e A sc l e pi ei a i n

B oeot ia .
42 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

N OT ES .

Quo t ed Al ex an d er o f T r a ll es ix
1
by 4 ,
. .

G o tt fr i ed of S t r as b ur g T i s tan w a I sol t ,
r z .

3
t
Th e o h e n o cr ti ar ma i n ly n e ga
esti v e t h u
e n o
“
h a t e fu l m a l a d y ,
s

i n a d es t h e h a pp y i s l a n d o f S y r i a ( O d xv 4 0 3 ) t h e m o t h e r o f U ly s es d i ed
v .
,
.
,
s

“ li
n ger i n g il l n es s b ut t h ro ugh l o n g i n g fo r h er s o n ( xi
”
n o t fr o m .

a n d t h e r i c h C o i nt h i a n E u c h en o r c a m e t o I li u m b ec au s
r it w a s for e ,
e

t ol d t h at h s h o u l d it h er d i e o f a p a i n fu l d i e as e o r b e s l a i n by t h e
e e s

T r oj an s an d h e pre ferr d t h e l a tt er ( I L xiii

,
e , .

4
Th e titl e c u re o f ill h e e app li ed t o u l p h u r s ee m s t o s h ow t h at
s, r s ,

t h e u b s t a n c w as i n c o m m o n u e a s a m e d i c i n e
s e s .

9 Fi rs t p u b li s h e d b y M erc ur i al i s D e a t Gy m nas ti a 1 557 c o p i e d ,

r e r , ,

b y m o s t m d i c a l h i s t o r i an s a n d i n B r i t M ud j o u n 1 887
e , 90 4 . . r .
, ,
11 . .

D F h li c h h as c o ll e c t e d h i p apers o n th e s ubj ec t i n D i M i l i tar

r . ro s e

m d i c i n H o me s ( S t u tt ga r t w h i c h i n c l u d es a c o p i o u s b i b l i o gr ap h y
'
e r .
,

S ee a l s o a n ar ti c l e by t h e l a t e D r D u n b ar B i t 1 880
. ol i , r .
, v . .

Fo r i n c u b a ti o n e Ri t t e h a i n D er M ed i c i n i sch Wu nd g l a ube a nd
s e rs ,
e er .

d i I c ubati on m A l t th m ( B e l i n P l au t u C u u l i A i ti d es
'

e n z er zt e r ,
s, rc o r s ,

Sa cr e d O ati ons ( Di n d o r f
r an d t h c h ap t e r s o n A c l e p i o s i n H a rr i s o n
,
e s

a n d Ve r a l r ,a nd M om m wnts
f A nc i t A th n D i eh l E x o en e s ,

c u rs i ons i n G eec ( t ra n s r G ar d n er N ew Ch apt s i n G e k H i story

e .
, er r e

VI I I — T H E P H I L O S O P H E RS — D E M O C E D E S
T H E A S C LE P I A D Z
E .

CE LSU S t e ll s u s in a w ell k no w n p a s s age th at H i pp ocrat es -

.

fir s t s e p arat e d m e dicin e not from p ri es tcra ft b ut from , ,

p h i l o s 0 h
p y
1
S e v e ral of t h e old e r p hil o s o p h e r s ar e s aid to
.

hav e r e nd e r e d aid in e p id e mi c s and to h av e t re a t ed t h e i r ,

fri e n d s and p u p i l s m e dical l y bu t o f mor e i m p ort an c e ar e ,

t h e infl u e n c e s w h ich th e ir vi e w s o f nat ur e had u on m e d ical

p
t h e ori es and t h e ir e arl y att e m p ts at an a t omy Th e s e w e r e
, .

chi efly c on c e rn ed as mi g ht b e e x p e ct e d w i t h d e p artm e nt s

, ,

in w hich mind and bod y s e e m to b e in clo s es t cont act t h e ,

organ s o f s p e cial s e n s e and t h e p roc es s es o f ge n e rat ion ,

,

s l ee p and d e ath P y thagora s ( B C 580 51 0 ) t e nd e d h i s

. . .
-

follo w e r s wh e n s ic k and w e nt to D e lo s to cur e h i s m a s t e r

,
,

Ph er ec y d es of p hthiria s i s H e a l s o e s tabli s h e d a s t ri ct
, .
44 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

Of fic e r at a sal ary of on e tal e nt p er ann um I n th e .

fol lowing y e ar h e w e nt in t h e s am e ca p a city to Ath e n s ,

w h e r e h e r e c e iv e d £4 0 6 and final ly w a s invit e d to S am os

,

by Polycrat es w h o p aid him £480 a y e ar I n e s tim atin g

,
.

th es e s um s w e m ust re m e m b e r t hat mon e y h ad t h e n m any

t im e s i t s p r e s ent p urcha s ing p ow e r and that t h e s al ary o f
,

an Ath enian amba s s ador in t h e days of Ari s to p han e s w as

, ,

two drachm ae ( e ight ee n p e nc e ) a d ay l es s t han o n e tw e l fth ,

-

t h e amount giv e n to D em o c ed es O n t h e t r e ach e ro us

.

murd e r o f Polycrat es by t h e P e r s ian s D e m oc ed es b ecam e ,

a slav e and w as final ly brought to t h e C o urt of D ariu s

, ,

w h e r e h e cur e d t h e king o f a s p rain e d an kl e and r e sc u e d ,

t h e E gy p tian s urg eon s who h ad fail ed to do s o from i m

, ,

p al e m en t S oon a ft e rward s h e succ ess fu lly t r e at e d t h e

.

q u ee n for a mam mary ab s c es s an d r e c e iv e d fro m t h e

,

g rat eful mon arch al l h e co uld as k fo r e xc ep t l ib erty B ut .

to an an ci e nt Gr ee k lib e rty w as th e hal f of e xi s t e n c e and ,

to obtain it D em oc ed es O ffer e d to act as a guid e t o P e r s ian

s pi es and p e rha p s to w i n ov e r t h e l e ading m e n of h i s
, , ,

co untry to t h e P e r s ian cau s e O n r e achi ng C roton h e of

.
,

cour s e r efu s e d to accom p any h i s e scort an y farth er and

, ,

with t h e w e alth giv e n hi m by D ariu s h e O bt ain e d a b e aut i ,

ful wi fe t h e dau g ht er of M ilo th e athl e t e

, L at er writ er s .

t e ll u s that h i s fe llo w town s m e n s o far from b e in g indi gnant

-
,

at cond uct cal culat e d to bring u p on t h e m t h e w rath of t h e

gr e at k ing e l e ct ed D e m o c e d es th e ir chi ef m agi s trat e and it
, ,

m ay hav e b een at h i s in s tigation that Ph ay l l u s o f C roton

fitt e d out t h e trir em e w hich singly and honourably r e p r e s e nt e d
t h e coloni es o f M agn a Gr a cia on t h e gr e at day o f S al ami s .

T h e s tory o f D e m oc e d es i s i m p ort ant as sho w in g t hat

t h er e w as a w e l l es t a b lish ed an d e xtr e m e ly w e ll p aid p ublic
- -

m edical s e rvic e in Gr ee k citi es in t h e sixth c entury

and th e r e ar e indication s of t hi s at l e a s t a c ent ur y e arli e r .

Th u s D i od or us “t e ll s u s th at C h ar o n d as t h e l awgi v e r ( B C , . .

w as gr e at e r than tho s e w h o cam e b efor e him in as ,

m uch as t h e mind exc eed s t h e body for h e ordain e d fr ee ,

e ducation in t h e citi e s fo r Whi ch he l egi s lat ed w hil e t h ey ,

 THE FO U R E LE M E N TS .
45

only p rovid ed a fr e e m edic al s ervi c e T h e s t i l l e arl i er l aws .

of Z al e u c u s forbad e any o n e to drin k u ndil ut e d wi n e e xc e t

p ,

by ord e r of a p hysici an 5 .

D e m o c ed es m ay h av e gain e d som e of his skil l i n t h e

gymn a s ia of C rot on an d it is c e rt ai n th at th e gym nasiarch s ,

or trai n e r s o ft e n i nvad e d t h e do ma in of m e dicin e es p e cial ly ,

in t h e d ep art m e nt s o f di et etics t h e u s e of ointm ent s and , ,

t h e tr e at m e nt o f s p rain s and dislo cation s S om e l i k e H er .

,

o di o us o f S e lym bria w ent st il l furth e r and d e c lar e d that al l

, ,

dis e as e s ev e n a cut e fev ers m ight be t r eat e d by a pp ro p riat e

, ,

6
e x e rc i s e s .

B ut w e m u st p a s s to anoth er m e di cal p hiloso p h er hardly ,

l ess famo us t han Pythagora s E m pe do cl e s o f A gr i gen t u m ,

( B C 49 0
. . T h e fol lowing i s fro m a fragm ent of his
p o em O n N at ur e
,

L i s t e n fi r s t w h il e I s i n g t h e fo ur fo l d r o o t of c r eati o n
, ,
-
,

Fi re a n d w a t er a n d e art h an d t h e b o un d l e s s h i gh t of th e aet h er
, , ,
e ,

Fo r t h e refro m i s b e go tt en w h at i s w h a t w a s a n d w h a t s h a l l b e , , .

S ub s t it utin g air for ae th e r thi s is t h e do ct rin e of th e fou r ,

e l e m e nt s whi ch E m p e docl e s introdu c e d i nto p hiloso p hy

, ,

an d whi ch wit h t h e corr e s p onding four q ualiti e s h e at

, ,

col d m oi s t ur e an d d ryn e s s an d t h e four hum our s blood

, , , , ,

hl e gm bl ack a nd y e l low b i l e l i e s at t h e ba s e of G r ee k
p , ,

m e di c al th eori es E m p edocl es di scov er e d t h e l abyrinth of

.

t h e e ar and e x p l ain e d s oun d by th e im p a ct of t h e air u p on

,

it as u p on a drum H e i s al s o s aid to h av e c ur e d a wom an

,
.

who l ay in a t ran c e thirty days an d to hav e r e mov ed t h e ,

unh e alth in e ss of c ert ain lo caliti es by bloc kin g up a m ou n

t ain C l eft and div ertin g t h e co ur s e of a riv e r .

“
E m p e docl es d e di cat es his p o e m O n N at ur e to Pau s a , ,

ni a s of G e la t h e A s cl ep iad whi ch i f not a m er e p o etical

, , ,

e x p r e ssion is t h e fir s t m e ntion of a most i m p orta nt C lass

,

o f p hysici an s to whic h H i pp ocrat e s him s el f b e longe d

,

t h e A sc l ep i ad m T h eop om p u s t h e an nali s t
. (B C ,
. .

t ell s us t h at t h e p hysician s of C o s and C nid us w e re d e sc e nd e d

7
f rom [E sc u l ap i u s through Podal i riu s that t h ey cam e from ,
46 M ED I C A L H I S TO RY .

S y r nu m i n C ari a and that th e y w er e ca l l ed Ascl epi ad ae

,
.

T h e id e a that t h es e A s cl e p i ad ae w e re p ri e sts su pp ort e d ,

b y no an c i ent authority i s n ow ge n e rally abandon e d and , ,

with it t h e th eory that Gr e e k m e dicin e originat ed in t h e

t em p l e s of [E sc ul api us
T h e Gree k s in fact had no s ac erdota l c l ass t h e d eposi
, , ,

t ory o f d ivin e my s t e ri es as i n E gy p t and I ndia ; th ei r ,

p ri e sts w e r e m e re ly guardian s o f sh rin e s wh o w e r e u sual ly

a ppoint ed by t h e Stat e Phy s ician s as w e h av e s een w er e .

, ,

q uit e di s t in c t from p ri es t s in t h e day s of H om e r and w e ,

h av e b een abl e to t rac e t h e e xi s t e n c e o f lay p ra ct ition e rs in

Gr eek citi es to a p e riod p robably n early a s anc i e nt a s t h e
d ei fi c at i o n of E sc u l ap i u s
Z .

B ut i f t h e A s c l epi ad m we r e not p ri e st s wh at w er e th ey !
W e know littl e more than w hat i s m e ntion e d abov e ; but
i n all p robability th ey form ed a guild or c orporat ion t h e ,

l e ad ers of which trac e d t h e ir d e s c ent to ZE s c ul api us b ut ,

which admitt ed oth er s to i t s ranks u p o n th ei r takin g an

oath of m emb ershi p Th e t e xt o f t hi s oath has c om e down .

t o us among t h e writ ing s a t tribut e d to H i pp o c rat e s and ,

i n dignity of ton e and high morality it is w e ll worth y of its

s u p p os ed autho r .

To con clud e W e find in anci e nt G r ee c e b esid e s p h y

.
,

s i c i an s p ro p e r three cla s s e s o f m e n conn e c t e d wit h th e h e al

,

ing art p ri es t s ph iloso p h e r s and gymnasti c t rain ers cor

, , , ,

r e s ponding roughly to our faith h e al e r s p ure p hysiologist s -

, ,

a nd bon e s ett ers r es p ective ly T h e p rofe ssion of m edi ci n e

-
.

was s eparat e from thou g h to s om e e xt ent ind ebt ed to al l

,
,

three but it was mo s t s e parat e from and l east ind ebt ed t o

, , ,

t h e p ri e s ts .

N OT ES .

1 Pr i m us q ui d em ex o m n i b u m e m o r i a cl i gn us ab s t ud i o s , s ap e n i
ti e d i s c i p li nam h an c s ep ar av i t ( D e Med i c i ua i n p r ae f ) , .

I am bl i c h us, Vi ta Py th agor ee .

3 Fo r Al c mae on s ee P l ut arc h , De pl ac i t i s ph i l aa , i v . 1 79 . Fo r
D em oc ed es, H er o d , iii . 1 2 5- 1 57 ; At h e n azu s , xii 2 2 ; E li an Va H is t
.
, r.
,

v iii . 17 ; S u i d as ( sub voce

); D i on C a ss i us , xxxv iii 1 8 ; D i on C h ry so s
.
 H I P P O C R AT ES .
47

t o m , Or a t 77 ; z e z es ,. T t H i st ,
ix
3 . i t r ti
An n e es ng ac c o u n o f C o o n
. t r t
an d i t s g e a m en i s g r t i v en by L e n o r mant , La Gr ande Gr ece ( 1 88 1 84 , -

3 l )
vo s .

xii 1 5
4
. .

A t h en ae us x 3 3 ; E l i an Var H i s t ii 3 7
5
, .
, . .
, . .

S o ran us m enti o ns a H er o d i c u s a m o ng t h e t eac h e rs o f H i pp o c

5

rate s b ut t h i s w as prob ab ly H er o d i c us of Leonti ni b ro t h e r o f G orgi as

, ,

t h e r h e t o r i c i an n ot t h e gy m na s i a rc h w h o s e m o d e o f t re a ti n g fever s b y
, ,

e x e rc i s e i s s evere ly c e n s ure d i n t h e H i
pp oc r ati c wr iti n gs ( Epi d emi cs ,

bk .

7
l egen d rel at es t h at Po d ali r i us ret urn i n g fro m T ro y w as
Th e , ,

w re c k e d o n t h e c oas t o f Car i a an d r e s c ued by a goat h e r d w h o t o o k -

,

h i m t o th e p al ac e H e fo un d ev ery o n e i n great c o nc e rn ab o u t t h e
.

ki n g s d augh t er Syr na w h o h ad fa ll n fro m t h e roof i n a fit and

’

, ,
e ,

w as s till i n s en s i b l e Po d al i r i us re s t o re d h er by b l eed i n g fro m b o t h

.

arm s a n d r e c e i ve d h er h an d a n d t h e C ar i an c he rso n es e a s h i s fe e
, .

T h ere h e b uilt t wo c iti es c a lli n g o n e after h i s w i fe an d t h e o t h e r aft er

,

t h e go a t h e rd ( S t e p h an us B y z an t E th ni ca )
-
,
.

O n th e ge n er al s ubj ec t c o n s u lt D ar e m b er g Etat de l a M éd eci ne entr e ,

H ome e t H ippocr ate

r e an d fo r a fur t h er d i sc uss i o n o f t h e e l ati o n r

b e t w een th e Asc l ep i ad ae an d t h e p r i e t s o f ZE s c ul api us see app e n d ix ii s .

IX .
—H I P P O C RAT E S .

T HE r e m ark wittily m ad e on t h e H om eri c qu es tion th at ,

t h e p o e m s w e r e not writt e n by H om e r but by anoth er m an

of t h e sam e n a m
,

e m ight
probably b e a pp li ed with l it eral
,

t rut h to s om e Of th e H i pp ocrati c writ ings for w e kno w no ,

l e s s th an s ev en p hysi cian s n am e d H i p po c rat es who l iv e d ,

d urin g t h e p e riod wh en t hi s coll e ction was b eing form ed I t .

i s t h e s e cond of t h e s e t h e p robab l e author of about on e ,

fourt h o f t h e tr e at ise s who is th e m ost famou s o f all p h y ,

s i c i an s and of whom som e a ccoun t must now b e att e m p t e d

,
.

B orn B C 4 60 t h e su pp os e d d e sc en dant of [E sc ul api u s and

. .
,

H erc ul es H i p po c rat es liv ed d urin g that wond er fu l e po ch

,

call e d t h e age of P ericl es wh e n th e r e a pp ear ed within t h e , ,

n arrow l imit s of t h e Gr eek world mor e m en of genius than ,

48 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

hav e p erha p s exist ed t oget h e r in E uro pe sin c e

, ,
B io
gra p hical d etails do not com e w ithin our p r e s ent s c o pe an d ,

t h e biogra p hy of H i pp ocrat es i s al mo s t entir e ly a p o cry p h a l .

H e i s unive rsal ly known a s t h e Fat h e r of M e dici n e He .

” 1
w as call ed Th e Gr eat e v e n by hi s own c ont m p orari s
e e .

I n t h e dark est ages o f m e dical ignoran c e t h e t e rm Hi p

”
p o c rati c st ill d e not e d all that was con sid e r ed b e st and
high est in th e art At t h e Re nai s s an c e t h e w ild e st r evo l u
.
,

t i on i s t s who d e s p is e d Gal e n and Avic e nna st ill r ev e re nc ed

, ,

H i ppo c rat es and h i s nam e h as b ee n in s crib e d u pon t h e

,

bann e rs of al l th e r eform e r s of m e dicin e from t h e sixt eent h

c ent ury downward s . I t will b e w e l l th er efor e b efor e , ,

att em pting an ac c ount of th e H i p p ocrati c m edicin e to ,

discuss a few of tho s e s e rvi c es which j usti fy t h e pr e e min en c e -

th us giv en to t h e gr e at A s cl ep iad .

Though th ere we r e p hy s ician s b efor e H i p pocrat e s to ,

whos e dis c ov e ri e s h e him s e l f alway s r e nd ers d ue h onour ,

t h e r eform s h e introduc e d w e r e s o i m p ortant and t h e i m ,

p r e ss which his g eniu s l eft u p on t h e whol e art was so gr eat ,

that t h e tit l e Fath e r of M edi cin e i s w el l d e s erve d Thr ee

, ,
.

only of t h e p rinci p al a s p e ct s o f h i s work can b e h er e dis c u ss ed

his int roduction o f m or e d et ail e d O bs e rvations of di s eas e t h e ,

high im port anc e which h e attrib ut e d t o p rogno sis and h is ,

rej e ct ion of t h e s u p e rnat ural i n m e dicin e .

H i pp ocrat es h as l eft u s forty tw o clini c al h istori e s

-
,

alm ost th e on ly on es whi ch h av e com e down from ant iq uity ,

and of th e s e t h e short e s t m ay b e take n as an e xam p l e whi c h ,

should be com p are d or rath e r contrast ed w ith t h e t e m pl e

, , ,

ins c ri ption giv e n above

S ev e nth ca s e ( of t h e s e cond s e ri e s ) —A woman at t h e
.

ho us e of Ar i st i on with s ore t hroat wh i ch b egan from t h e

,

t ongu e s pe ech indi s tin ct tongu e r e d and b ec am e p ar c h e d

, , .

First day sh e fe lt chilly and w as th en fev erish Third day

, , .
,

a rigor and acut e fev er ; a r e ddi s h h ard oed ema on both ,

sid es of t h e n eck and ch es t ; e xtr emiti es co ld and livid ;

r es piration labour ed ; fl uids r e turn ed thro ugh th e nos e ;
c ou ld not drin k ; consti p ation and su p p r e ssion of urin e .
 T HE E A R L I E ST CL I N ICAL H S I TO R I E S .
49

Fou rth d ay al l t h e s ym pt om s gre w wor s e Fifth day t h e

, .
,

p at i e nt di e d N e it h e r h e re nor in any ot h e r ca s e do es
.

H i pp ocrat e s n am e t h e di s e as e givin g o pp ort un ity fo r m any

,

d iagn o s t i c att e m p t s by t h e co mm e nt ators Th us W un d e r .

l i ch sugge st s t hat t h e abov e wa s a ca s e of s c arl at in a wit h ,

acut e n ep hriti s wh il e oth ers hav e call e d it e ry s i p e l a s Wit h

, .

t h e e xc e ption of a few ca s e s in whi ch b l ee ding or e n e mat a

ar e m e ntion e d th e r e i s no not i c e o f t h e r e m e di e s e m p loy e d
, ,

p e rha p s b e cau s e t h e ordinary t r eat m e nt of s u ch cas es w a s

ge n e ral ly kn own N o l es s than tw enty fi v e of t h e forty two
.
- -

ca s e s en d fat ally a fact brought forward by al l t h e com

,

m ent at o r s a s an in st an c e of t h e sci entifi c hon e sty o f H i pp oc

rat e s and of t hat di s li k e of anythin g a p p roachin g dis p lay
,

or qu ac k ery whi ch i s s ee n in al l h i s writings .

Th e t a king of cl ini cal histori es of which t h e abov e i s a n ,

e mbryoni c ty p e i s n ow j u s t ly con s id e r e d o n e of t h e mo s t
,

i m p ortant p art s o f a m e di cal edu cation but it i s an am azin g ,

fact th at with o n e or two e xc e pt ion s t h e e xam p l e t h us giv e n

, ,
.

by H i pp oc rat es w as not follow e d for n e arly two t ho usan d

y e ar s and it w as t h e r e vival o f t h e p ract ic e es p e cially by
, ,

o ur own S yd e n ham ( u p on who m as w e s ha l l s ee t h e two , ,

t r e at i s e s containing th es e cas e s m ad e a d eep im p r e s s ion ) ,

th at di d mo s t t o in au gurat e t h e clin ical m edicin e of mod ern

t im es S ti l l t h e r e can b e no doubt that at all tim es t h e
.

st ud e nt s o f t h es e writings m u st hav e had th e i r m ind s

dir e ct ed to t h e im p ort an c e of d etai l e d obs e rvat ion s of di s ea s e ,

and it i s p robab ly to this do ctrin e that t h e art of h e aling ,

d ep e n d s not on t h e ory b ut on ob s ervat ion that C el s u s r efers

, , ,

wh en h e say s t hat H i p p ocrat e s first s ep arat e d m e di cin e from

p hi lo s o p hy .

B ut what chi efly strik e s a mod e rn r e ad e r is t h e i m p ortanc e

attribut e d to p rognosis T h e wi sh to know t h e fut ur e w as
.

strongly ch aract e ri s ti c of t h e G r ee k m ind as i s s een i n ,

th e ir n um e rou s ora cl e s an d ZE s c h y l u s m ake s th e chorus i n

,

“
th e P r ometheus s ay : I t is p l e a sant for t h e si ck to kn ow
cl e arly b efo r eh and what p ain i s t o com e H i pp ocrat e s ,

ind ee d adm it s th at it i s b ett e r to cur e t h e p ati e nt than to

,

4
 50 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

t el l him what i s going to ha pp en ; b ut t his h e says i s not , ,

always p o s s ibl e and fail ing it h e i s t h e b est physi cian who

,

can giv e t h e mo s t corr e ct p rogno s is T h e H i p p o c rat ic

.

p rognosis how
, ev e r i s mor e than m e r e p ro p h e cy it in c lud e s
, ,

t h e e ntir e n at ural hi s tory o f t h e di s e a s e ( in th e lit e ral m ean

ing of thos e words) con s id e r e d as a whol e and in i t s
, ,

r elation to t h e p at i ent s or gan i s m Thi s w e m u st admit

’
.
, ,

i s a fund am ental p art of m e dicin e for it is cl e arly i m p o ssibl e

,

t o j udge t h e valu e o f any t re at m ent unl e ss w e kn ow t h e

natu ral t e nd en c i e s of t h e di s ord e r And j ust a s th e reviva l
.

o f H i pp ocratic ob s ervation in t h e s e v e nt ee nt h c e nt ury gav e

a n e w birth to clini cal m e di cin e

. so t h e r evival of th e
,

H i ppocrati c p rogn o s i s in our own days—t ho ugh t ending at

o n e t im e t o p roduc e an e xagge rat e d e x p e c t an c y not to say ,

nihi lism in tr eat m e nt — had n o s mal l s har e in brin ging about

t h e mor e mod ern r evol ution s i n m e dical p ractic e .

It has b een w ell s aid that gr e at m en i llu m inat e t h e

w orld by gath erin g into a foc u s t h e rays e manating from
it s elf and thi s i s w e l l s ee n in H i pp ocrat es third gr e at ’

s e rvic e to m ed i c in e—his r ej e ction of s u e rnat ural th eori e s

,

p
o f dis e as e .Th e age was on e o f t ran sitio n and t h e si m pl e ,

fait h in t h e old mythology wa s givin g way in al l di r ec tion s .

Th us ev en t h e p iou s H e rodot u s ascrib e s t h e p lagu e which

fel l u p on t h e r etr eat ing P e r s ian s n ot to t h e av e ngin g gods
,

o f H e lla s but t o th e fam in e and h ardshi p s wh ich t h ey

,

und e rwe nt ; and tho ugh h e con s id e r s t h e m adn e ss of

C l eo m en es an a pp ro p riat e p uni shm e nt for hi s cri m es h e ,

th inks it m ay hav e b ee n mor e dir e ct ly d ue to a habit of

hard drin king acquire d amon g t h e S cythian s
, Th e
famous tr eati s e on t h e “ sacr e d di s eas e —
.

ep il ep sy —w hich

m ost cl e arly as s erts th e n at ural origin of sic kn ess is not ,

c e rtainly g en uin e but in an undoubt e dly H i

,
pp ocrat i c work ,

t h e Ai r s Waters and P l aces w e find t h e a ss ert ion s

, , ,

th at no on e dis eas e i s e ith e r m or e divin e or m or e h u man

than anoth er and th at non e ari s e s w ithout a nat ura l
,
”
c aus e . Th e im p ort an c e o f thi s doct rin e wi l l b e mor e
a p par ent wh en w e com e to d es crib e t h e disast rou s effec ts
 M ED I C A L H I ST O RY
52
.

who m ay hav e b een thin kin g o f H i p p ocrat e s wh e n h e

wrot e
H app y t h e m an w h o t ud i es N at ur e 8 l o re l
’
s

H i m n e it h er ev il t h ugh t s c an e e r e n ti c e
’
o ,

N or p arty s t r i fe o f a n gry c iti z e n s

B ut p ure i n h e art a n d h a n d h e s c an t h e fac e
,
,
s
"
O f h e r t h e I m m o r t a l M o t h e r e ve r y o u n g .

E ur ipi des fragmen t a ,

.

N OTES .

Ari s t v ii W h enr eat H i p poc rat es w e

’
“ we th e
‘
G
1 .
, P ol i t ,
4 . . . s ay

m ean t h e ph y s i c i an not t h e m an A r i s t o tl e i s o n ly a c o n t e m p or ar y of
.

H i pp oc rat es i n th e sens e t h at h e w as b orn b efo re t h e l att er d i ed b ut ,

th e ex pres s i o n h ad ev i d e n tly b ee n l o n g I n u s e .

2
S ee an i n t eres ti ng an a ly s i s an d c r iti c i s m of t h e A i r s Water s ar id ,

P l aces by D r C li ffor d A l l b utt M ed Ch i r ur g Jour n al ; v o l for 1 866

.
,
. . . .

3
Pusc h m ann ap p l i es t h e s e li n es t o H i pp o c r at es T h e y oc c ur .

am on g t h e fragm e nt s o f u n k n ow n t r age d i es b ut ar e s o m ew h at ob sc ure ,

an d i n gre at n ee d o f e m e n d a ti o n .

X .
—T H E S C H OO LS O F C OS AN D C N I D U S .

A M ON G r el ics of an ci e nt m e dical writings p r es erv ed by

th e
C ae l i u s Aure lian u s i s a s eri e s of argum e nt s by wh i c h
E u ryp h o n of C nid u s tri e s to s ho w that p l e urisy i s an affec
tion of t h e subst an c e o f t h e l un g but w hi c h ar e r efut e d in ,

d et ail by S oran us t h e M e thodi s t E u ry ph o n was t h e m ost .

p romin e nt m e mb e r of t h e Ascl ep iad s chool of C n id u s and ,

l iv ed at or shortly b efor e t h e tim e of H i pp ocrat e s H is

, , .

t r eatm ent s eem s to hav e b ee n as un fortunat e a s hi s p athol ogy ,

“
for a c e rtain C i n es i as i s d es crib e d as b e ing thin a s a
sk el eton his l egs l ik e r ee d s h i s ch es t s till ful l of p us an d
, , ,

his ribs cov er ed with s car s from th e caut ery irons of E ury
” 1
p hon .

Th e abov e indicat e s t h e l e ading ch aract e risti c s of th e

p hysi c ian s of C nidu s who s e g rand aim and motto a pp ear t o
,
 E U RY P H O N OF C N I D US .
53

hav e b ee n acc urat e diagnosi s an d vigorou s tr e at m e nt

B ut unha p p i ly t h e want of mod ern m e thod s of p r e ci s i o n
, ,

caus e d th e ir diagno sis t o r e su lt on ly in a lon g l i st of do ub t

fu l dis e as es and t h e h e avy artil l ery of th e ir t r eat m ent b ein g
,

thu s fir e d i n t h e dark m ay hav e p rod uc ed r esu lt s o ft e n mor e

,

disa s t ro us t han s uc c e ssful .

T h e A s c l e p iad ee of C os und e r t h e b enefi c en t infl u enc e

,

o f t h e gr e at H i
pp ocrat e s follow e d differ e nt p rinci p l es
, Th e y .

car e d mor e fo r t h e ge n era l st at e o f t h e in divid ual p ati e nt

t han for t h e di scov e ry and di s t in ction of s ep arat e di s ea s es ,

an d t h e y b e li ev e d tho ugh p e rha p s not to t h e ext e nt so m e

,

t im es ass ert e d i n t h e vi s m edi catr i x n atur ae W e mu s t not

, .
,

how ev e r m ak e too m uch o f th es e cont rast s and hi s torian s

, ,

h av e p e rha p s s om ewh at exagg e rat e d t h e ant agonism b e t w e en

, ,

t h e two divi sion s o f t h e gre at m e dical guild Th e Fat h e r o f .

M e d i cin e h as bri efly p oint ed o ut t h e fu nda m e nt al e rror o f

— “
h i s C n idian coll e agu e s th ey n e gl e ct ed p rogn osi s What
h e m e ant by t hi s t e rm h as alr eady b een di scuss ed .

For t h e cre dit of E ur y ph o n it sho u ld b e add ed t h at h e i s

said t o hav e int rod uc e d pe rc u ssion as a m ean s O f di s tin
gu i s h i n g tym p anit es from dro p sy and to hav e fir s t p r e scrib ed,

m ilk e s p e cia lly ass e s mil k in cas es of p ht hi s i s Anoth er

,
’

,
.

distinguish e d C n idian was C t es ia s for s e v e nt ee n ye ars ,

p hysi cia n t o King Art ax erx e s I I a n d hi storian of P ersia .

, ,

in which work h e d es crib e s t h e tragi c fat e of h i s fel low A s e l e

p i ad Ap o l l o n i d es o f C os who having giv e n im moral m e dical
, , ,

advic e t o t h e Pri n c e s s Am y t i s w as tortu r ed for two m ont hs

, ,

an d final ly b uri e d a liv e 2 .

Th e H i pp o crati c writ ing s stand in i s olat ed grand e ur at

t h e e nt ran c e to t h e s e cond gr e at divi s ion of our subj e ct
l i k e o n e of t hos e trium p hal arch e s of Titu s or C on s tantin e ,

wh i ch ri s e am id t h e ruin s of an ci e nt Rom e for t h e works of ,

l at e r p hysi cian s hav e al mo s t entir e ly di s a ppe ar ed l eaving a ,

barre n int e rva l o f n e arly fo ur c e nturi e s t ill w e com e to t h e ,

d ay s of C e l s us Pli ny a nd D io scorid e s B es id e s t h e works

, ,
.

of H i p p ocrat e s t h e col l e c t ion com p ris e s contribut ion s from

,

h i s p u p il s and oth e r m e mb e r s o f t h e school of C os t og eth er ,

54 M ED C I AL H S O I T RY .

w i th a few m ay b e att r i but ed t o t h e A sc l ep i ad ae of C nid u s ;

w hi ch
b ut t h e followin g v ery bri ef outl in e o f t h e m e dical do ct rin e s
th e rei n contai n e d i s ta k e n mainly from tho s e tre ati s es whi ch
may r e a s onably b e a s crib ed to t h e Fat h er of M e di cin e hi m
s el f
.

H i pp ocrat es k nows t h e four humo ur s —bl ood p hl egm , ,

b lac k and y e l low bil e an d th ei r corr es p ondin g four qualiti es

,

— h e at cold dryn ess and moi s t ur e ; and h e ad mit s with

, , ,

Al cm ae on and t h e ot h er Gr ee ks that di s e a s es may s om etim es

,

b e d u e to a p r e domin anc e Of o n e o f t h e form e r B ut wh e n .

told that thi s act s by p roducing an exc e s s o f s om e p articular

'

quality s uch as h e at an d i s to b e cur e d by drugs which

, ,

hav e an exc ess o f t h e o pp o s it e quality e g cold h e d e m ur s , . .

, ,
.

T h e doctrin e i s too vagu e fo r hi m h e do e s not kn o w whi ch ,

“ “
drug s ar e cold an d w hich hot and thin k s that such ,

t h eori es are b es t l eft t o s o p h ist s I n th e i r p lac e h e p ro p os es

.

a hy p oth es i s o f g r e at inge nu ity M ay n ot t h e h umour s .

,

w h e n im p e r fe ctly or di s p ro p ortionat e ly m ix e d act as irritants ,

t o t h e body j u s t a s uncooke d food act s as an irritant to a

,

h e althy stomach an d j u s t as w e get rid o f t h e e vil s o f un

,

cook e d food by cookin g it may not di s e as e s b e c ure d an d t h e

, ,

h umours r e du c e d to th e ir norm al stat e of m ixt ur e cra s i s

—by a s ort of int e rna l coction — “ pep si s ” p Th e age nt Of
t hi s coction m ay h e t hin k s b e t h e inn at e h e at O f th e body
, , ,

“
th e th ermon em p h y to n of H eracl itu s b ut h e p r efer s to ,

call it N at ur e N at ur e th e n t e nd s to r es tor e t h e normal

, ,

s tat e and thi s i s o ft e n accom li s h ed on a

, p p arti cu lar day o f
t h e di s e a s e and ac com p ani e d by co p iou s s w e at s or oth e r
,

”
e xcr e tion s .e i
H r e s t h e famou s Vi s m ed i ca tr i x ua tur ce ;
but s hal l t h e p hy s ician s t and id l e w ith hi s h and s wra pped ,

in h i s chiton w hi l e thi s i s going on ! N O by ZE s c u l ap i u s !

, ,

l et him car eful ly ob se rv e t h e a sp e ct o f t h e p at i e nt and his

p osition in b ed ; l et him u se h i s hand s to fee l t h e t e m p e ra
t ur e of h i s bod y an d h i s ey es to ob s erv e t h e charact er of
,

h i s excr et ion s l et him e v e n p u t h i s e ar to h i s ch es t and h e ,

m ay di s tin gui s h t h e l eat h e r lik e rub o f p l e uri s y or by

-
,

shaking him obtain t h e s p l a s h o f p n e umo hydrothorax -

.
 I
H PP O C R ATI C M ED C I INE AN D S U R G E RY .
55

S t rang e ly e no u gh , th e p ul s e, s o cl e arly
d es crib e d by t h e
an ci e nt N eb s e c h t an d , so ful ly work e d
out by t h e lat e r
H e ro p hi l u s i s hard ly m e nt ion ed by H i pp ocrat e s
, B ut .

h aving th u s e xami n ed hi s p at i e nt how sh al l t h e p hysicia n ,

t r e at hi m ! L et him loo k fir s t t o hi s gen e ral s urroundin g s .

and s ee t hat t h ey ar e at l e ast not un favo urabl e and es p e cially ,

att e nd t o h i s di et r e m e mb erin g t hat as u n cook ed food i s t o

,

a h e althy m an so i s ordin ary food to o n e with ac ut e di s e a s e

, .

L et hi m al s o u se d rugs bl ee ding et c i f h e thin k s h e m ay

, , .
,

t h e r eby assi s t N at ur e in h er effo rt s ; in so doin g h e sh all

t ake h i s p ro p e r p o s it ion as h er s e rvant fo r our n at ur es ar e ,
”
t h e p hy s i ci an s o f di s e a s e s .

H i pp ocrat e s h ow e v e r i s not a m e r e h um oral i s t e v e n

, , ,

in t hi s m odi fi e d form for h e hold s that dis e as es m ay aris e

,

al s o from alt e ration s in t h e s tru ct ur es of t h e body a n d ,

e s p e ci al ly fro m ext e rnal infl u e nc es s uch as clim at e s e a s on s , , ,

an d t h e l ik e whi ch h e s um s up und er t h e t e rm c o n st i t u
,

t ion an id e a aft e rwa rd s m u ch d e v e lo p e d i n t h e writing s

,

o f o ur E n gli s h H i
pp ocrat es Thom a s S yd e nh am ; nor i s h e
,

anxiou s to d efen d t h e abov e or any oth e r hy p oth es i s an d

‘

t hin ks that t hos e w h o s pe nd ti m e in doing s o on ly s ho w

t h ei r own vo lubi lity .

C on s id e ring t h e p racti cal ab s en c e of an atomi cal kn owl e dge

t h e s urg e ry o f H i p p o c rat es i s y et m or e adm irabl e th an h i s

m e d i cin e and s o high an authority as M algaign e h as d e

,

c l ar e d th at t h e t r e ati s e s Ou F r ac tur es and Oh D i s l oca ti on s

(D e A r ti cu l i s) are t h e two a bl es t works th at w e r e ev e r writt e n

by a p hy s i cian t h e book On I nj ur i es of the H ead i s no l e s s
i nt er e st in g b ut it i s i m p o s s ibl e h e r e to giv e ev e n an out lin e
,

o f t h e ir cont en ts Bl ows on t h e t e m p l e s and t o p of th e

.

h e ad says H i pp ocrat es ar e e s p e cially dan ge rous and a

, , ,

s ad ill u s t ration o f t hi s is r e lat e d in t h e fi ft h book o f t h e

E pi dem i cs . T h e daught e r of N er i os a b e a ut i ful m aid e n ,

a ge d tw e nty was p layin g wit h a girl fri e nd who s truck

, ,

h er wit h t h e o p e n h and on th e t o p of h er h e ad S h e s aw .

a b l ackn es s b efo r e h er e y es and lo s t h er br e ath and o n ,

g etti n g h om e w as t ake n with s e v er e fe v er wit h h e ada ch e ,

56 M E D I C A L H I S TO RY .

a nd r edn es s of t h e fac e O n t h e s ev ent h day t h er e i s s u e d

.

f rom t h e right e ar mor e than a cu pful o f foetid r eddi sh p u s ,

a n d s h e s ee m e d a littl e r e li e v e d B ut t h e fe v e r r et urn e d
. ,

s h e b e cam e comato s e and s p ee chl e s s ; t h e right sid e o f h e r

f ac e w as drawn ; s p a s ms tr e mor and br eathl e ssn e ss fol low e d ;

,

h er tongu e and ey es b e cam e p aral y s ed ; s h e di e d on th e

”
ninth day . T h e s urgeon s o f t h e H i pp ocrat i c age fr e q u e nt ly
i n ci s ed t h e ch es t for e m py e m a and did not h es it at e to cut
,

do w n on t h e kidn ey wh e n th e re w as good evid en c e of

s u p p uration whil e in s u ffocativ e angina th ey e v en att e m p t e d
,

t o intubat e t h e larynx 3 .

W e cannot s tay longe r ev en with th e great es t of p hy s ician s ,

b u t t h e abov e im p er fe ct outlin e of a p art o f h i s work

m ay s u ffic e to S ho w that t h e almo s t enthusia s tic r ev er e n c e
which s o many gre at p hy s ician s hav e p aid to H i pp ocrat e s ,

was not altoge th er unj u s tifi e d .

And h i s fam e w as not confin e d to p hy s ician s nor ev en ,

to E uro p e T h e m ed i mv al roman c e r s cl a s s ed Y p ocra s with

.

A ristotl e and V irgil as a g re at s orc e r e r and d e li ght ed to t e l l

,

h o w in s p it e of his wi s d om h e w as b egu il e d by fair w om e n

, ,

into doubt ful s it uation s and finally p oi s on e d by h i s j ealou s

,

wi fe Th e Arab s ado pt e d him as th eir own und e r t h e n am e

.

B u c r at — Fath e r of C r at —and an e arly O ri e nt al t rav e l l er

w as told by an Arab doctor that no C hri st ian n ation co uld
boa s t of s uch a p hy s i cian as w as B u erat who h e d eclar e d
, , ,

w a s t h e gr eat e s t o f t h e hakim s a nd liv e d s hortly b efor e

,

Avi c enna . S om e l e arn e d aut horiti e s as alr e ad y notic e d

, ,

i d e nti fy H i pp ocrat es with t h e gr e at H indu S u sr u t a and ,

thu s mak e him t h e fath er of E a s t e rn as w ell as o f W es t e rn

m edical sci enc e .

W e s till hav e far to trav e l throu gh m any ag e s and coun

t ri es b ut in all our fut ur e p ath t h e doctrin e o f t h e g re at
,

A scl e p i ad wil l s hin e abov e u s lik e a guidi ng s t ar d im m e d ,

ind eed s om etim es by t h e mi s t s of th e orie s and s y s t e m s ,

cov e r e d at oth er tim es by t h e clouds of ignoranc e and s u p er

s t i t i o n y e t s til l s hining and st ill s ought fo r by al l w h o hav e
, ,

e v er att e m pt e d or achi ev e d p rogr es s i n m e dicin e .

 T H E D OGM ATI C SC H O O L .
57

NO T E S .

1
F ro m a fragm en t l at o th e co m i c poet pres erved by G al e n
of P , , .

2T
h e P er si ca unfo r t un at e ly exi s t s o n ly i n fr a m en t s I t c o n t ai n s
g .

a n o t h e r i n t e res ti n
g s t o ry o f h ow t h e q uee n Pary s ati s p o i s oned h er , ,

r ival St ati r a by d iv i d i ng a b i rd p art r i d ge) w it h a kn i fe s mear e d w it h

, ,

p o i s o n o n o n e s i d e giv i ng t h e p o i so ned h al f t o S t ati r a w h il e s h e

, ,

at e t h e o t h er t o s h ow t h e re w as n o d e c e ti o n Ct e s i a s a l s o w ro t e a
p .

c omm e n t ary on t h e D e A r ti c ul i s of h i s
great ki n s m an i n w h i c h h e d en i ed ,

t h e p os s i b ility o f p er m an en tly red u c i n g d i s l o c ati o n s of t h e h i

p .

3
D e M or bi s l i b iii K ii h n s ed i t ii 3 0 1
’
.
, .
, . .

Th e bes t e d iti o n o f H i p poc rat e s i s t h a t o f L itt ré ( I o vo l s Par i s .

, ,

1 83 9 t h e m os t c o nve n i e n t t h a t o f K ii h n ( 3 vo l s L i p s Th e .
, .
,

gen u i n e w orks h av e b een t rans l a t ed by A d am s ( S y d enh am S oc i ety ,

2 vo l s .
,

XI .
—
T HE S U C C E S S O RS OF H I P P O C RAT E S THE
D O G M AT I C SC H O O L .

L O R D B AC O N re m ark on t h e s c i e nc e of t h e an ci ent s that

’
s ,

s h e wa s old enough to tal k b ut not old e no ugh to b ear

,

c hi l dr e n
”
may in som e s en s e b e a pp li e d to G reek m edi c in e
, .

N ot th at t h e sci en c e of H i pp o c rat es an d H ero p hi lus of ,

H er ac l i d es an d S oran u s w as st eril e far from it ; som e of

, ,

h er son s might hav e j ustifi e d t h e boa st s of t h e M oth er of th e

G ra c ch i b ut s h e c e rt ainly d id an im m en s e am ount of t al k
i n g T h e an ci e nt G r eek lov e d tal king ; hi s m ind was mor e
.

p hi loso p hi c al t h an sci e ntific an d h e p r eferr ed t o s p e cu lat e

,

o n thin gs in ge n eral rat h e r than to inv e stigat e p arti cul ar

fact s H is fai l ur e i n m edi cin e so far as w e dar e cal l it a

.
,

fa i l u re was t h us d ue to c a u s es th e v ery o p p osit e to thos e

,

whi ch p rod uc e d t h e downfall of t h e art in an ci e nt E gyp t A .

H i pp ocrati c writ er had said : Th e p hysi c ian who i s al so a

”
ph i loso p h e r i s godlik e Thi s b e cam e th e motto of t h e
.

d ogmati c school w as m ad e th e e xcus e for an im m e ns e

,

a mount of u s e l e ss s pe c ulat ion and was fin ally ta k e n as t h e ,

t ext of a s p e c ial t r e at is e by Gal e n him s elf B ut th e r e w ere .

58 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

tw o mor e dir e ct s ourc es fo r t ho s e flood s of th e ory whi ch

s p oilt t h e fair p romi s e o f t h e H i pp ocrat i c harv e s —
t th e
C o urt p hy s ician s and t h e p hilo s o p hy of Pl ato
,
.

T h e s u pp os e d found e r s o f dogmati sm t h e s on s of H i p ,

p oc r at e s ,
Th es s al u s and D raco s ee m to hav
,
e b ee n both
e m loy e d at t h e M a c e donian C o urt and t h e int e r es t tak e n
p ,

in m edicin e by t h e s ucc ess or s o f Al e xand e r i s n otoriou s .

\Ve n ee d only m e ntion Attal u s o f P e rgamu s w h o p lant e d

, ,

t h e fir s t p oi s on gard en and inv,

e nt e d a l e ad p la st er ;

N i c o m e d e s of B it hyn ia ; M ithrid at es o f Pont u s t h e most

, , ,

famou s of toxicologi s t s ; an d abov e all t h e G r ee k king s of

, ,

E gy p t . Al l th e s e monarch s s ee m t o hav e d e light ed in

m e dical di s cu s s ion s and doubtl e s s tho s e p hy s icians w h o
,

could brin g forward t h e mo s t n um e rou s and p lausibl e

th e ori es w ould b e mo s t li k e l y to obt ai n th e ir favour .

A s til l m or e i m p ortant influ e n c e was th at o f Pl ato who , ,

t h ough t h e n ob l es t o f p h ilo s o p h e r s h as h ardly d es e rv ed ,

w el l o f t h e p ro fe s s ion o f m e di ci n e A C ourt p hy s i cian .

,

whos e liv e lihood d ep e nd ed on his b ein g a lway s abl e to r end er

a r e a s on to an inq ui sitive but royal am at e ur may b e ,

p ardon e d i f h e som etim es w e nt to hi s im agination for h i s

fact s ; b ut wh en a p hilo s o p h e r wh o s e on ly obj e ct i s t h e
,

di s cov ery O f truth and w h o se gr e at m a s t e r w as n ev e r w e ary

,

o f a s s e rt in g h i s own ignoran c e s p in s a h ug e cobwe b of,

ab s urditi e s o ut of h i s inn e r con s ciou s n e s s and i m po s es it ,

u p on m ankind as t h e r e ality o f n at ur e h e i s l es s excu s abl e ,

.

Plato had a l ow O p inion o f phy s icia n s an d d e cl ar e d that i f ,

t h ey could not cure th e ir p ati e nt s qui ckl y th e y w e r e w or se

th an u s e l e s s fo r th ey on ly p rol ong ed liv e s w orth l e s s to t h e
,

S tat e 1
. By h i s p hilo s o p hy h e add ed i nj ury to t h e i n sult ,

and w e s h al l fin d t h e Pl aton ic p hy s iology s om e t im es in i t s ,

ow n s ha p e s om et im es
, in t h e y e t mor e gho s t ly form of
N e o p l atoni s m t urnin g u p again and again as t h e e vil ge niu s
, ,

of t h e h e alin g art F e w n o w r e ad t h e Ti m a us
. but , ,

n e xt t o t h e H om e ric p o e m s it w as p robabl y t h e mo st
,

p o p ular o f Gree k writin gs it had c o untl es s com m e ntat ors

C i c ero him se l f t ran s l at e d it i nto L atin and tog e th er wit h ,
60 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

a nimal s on ly ; an d carefully inves tigat e d t h e d ev e lo p m e nt of

t h e e mbryo Three inv e nt ion s long s urviv e d und e r h is n am e
.

a bandage fo r t h e h ead a surgical in strum e nt whi ch w e

,

s hall notic e s hortly and a r e m e dy fo r tootha ch e contain ing

,

o p ium galbanum and p epp e r

,
H e furth er di st in guish ed
.

l uri y f ro m n e u monia and d e clar e d th at fe v e r was n ot a

p e s p ,

2
d i s e a se but a s ym p tom .

Praxagoras of C os t h e t utor o f H ero p hi l u s w as a tru e

, ,

dogmati s t and maintain e d t h e exi s t e n c e o f n o l e s s than

,

e l ev en di ffe r e nt h umour s H e i s al s o said t o h av e fir s t dis

.

t i n gu i s h e d t h e art e ri e s from t h e v e in s an d t o h av e a s s e rt e d ,

t hat th e y cont ain air only though both t h e di s cov e ry and ,

t h e th eory hav e b ee n cl aim e d t o b e o f O ld e r dat e and a s w e , ,

3
hav e s ee n w e re not unknown to
,
t h e E gy p t ian s O f s p ecial .

i nt er es t i s h i s t r e at m ent o f int es tin al ob s tru ction for w hich ,

D iocl e s had p ro p o s e d l e ad p il l s a pp ar e nt ly on t h e s am e ,

p rin ci p l e that h a s cau s ed m e tal li c m e rcury to b e giv e n in

r e c e nt t im es l i us Aur e li an us t e l l s u s th at a ft er t h e
.

fail ur e o f p urgat iv es e n e mata e m e ti c s and r e ct a l inj e ct ions

, , ,

o f air Praxagora s r e com m e n d e d mas s ag e o f t h e abdom e n

, ,

and final ly l a p aroto my di vi d eud um ventr em r e moval of

, ,

t h e ob s truct ion and s ut ur e of t h e int e s t in e atque d etr acto ,

s ter core cousueud u m el i c i t ( i n testi n um ) I t i s ho w e v e r doubt .

, ,

fu l wh et h e r h e act ual ly p e rform e d t h e o p e rat ion or only r e ,

com m e nd e d i t as a coun s e l of p e rfe ction 4 C a li u s furth er .

r e lat e s that Praxagora s had a slave who at e six p o und s of

b r e ad d aily w ithout sati s fying h i s a p petit e which i s p robably ,

t h e e arli e st r e cord e d in s tan c e o f buli m ia o r abnormal hun ,

g er .

With all th e ir fau lt s t h e D o g m ati s t s w er e u p on t h e

,

right road ; th ey s aw that a s ci e nc e of m e dicin e m ust b e

ba s ed u p on p hy s iology an d th e ir e rror whi ch w as al most
, ,

unavoidabl e w as t h e att e m pt to e r e ct a com p l et e edific e

,

b efor e th e r e w e r e mat erial s s uitabl e or s u ffici e nt fo r t h e

foundation T h e t h e ory o f di s ea s e or p e rv e rt e d vit al action
.
, ,

form s t h e m o s t di ffic ult divi s ion o f t h e m ost com p l ex o f t h e

p hy s ical sci e n c es y et circum s tan c es d e mand e d th at it s hou ld

,
 M ED I C I N E A T A LE XA N D R IA . 61

be att ack e d first and t h e marve l i s n ot t hat t h e old p h y , ,

s i c i a n s fai l e d b ut t h at t h ey cam e s o n e ar t o t h e truth

,
If .

t h e D ogm ati s t s m i s s e d th e ir m ark th ey at l e ast aim e d high , ,

and it i s th ey and n ot t h e E m p iri cs t h e M e thodi cs or e v en

, , ,

t h e E cl e cti c s who are t h e tru e st son s o f H i pp o crat e s t h e

, ,

most l e giti m at e fath e rs of m od ern m e di c in e .

TE S NO .

1
Republ i c iii P l a t o a d m it s t h a t t h er e ou gh t t o b e go od p h y s i c i an s
, .

i n a S t a t e b u t m akes t h e c u r i o u s s u gges ti o n t h at “ t h e y h a d b e tt er n o t
,

b e ro b u s t i n h e a lt h an d s h o u l d h av e h a d al l m ann er o f d i s e as e s i n t h e i r
,

o w n p er s o n s T h o u gh h e m en ti ons H i pp oc r at es w it h re s p e c t h i s tw o ,

n o ti c es o f h i m ar e n ot e n ti re ly w it h o u t w h a t l o o k s l ik e s ar c a s m t h us i n ,

t h e P r otagor as H i p p oc r at es i s i n t ro d uc ed a s a d i s ti n gu i s h e d d o c t o r w h o
,

rec e ives p ay for h i s t e ac h i n g w h i c h w as a favo ur it e ac c u s a ti o n agai n s t

,

th e S o p h i s t s ; w h il e i n t h e P h aed r us w h en t h e ph y s i c i an s a u t h o r ity i s
’

i nvo ke d S o c r a t es i s m ad e to r e p ly : “ Yes b ut m us t w e n ot c o m p ar e
, ,

reas o n w it h H i pp oc rat es t o s ee i f t h e y agr e e

S o m e o f t h e w o r k s o f D i o c l e s s ee m t o h av e b een e xt an t i n t h e
t h i rt ee n t h c e n t ury for J o h n A c tu ar i us h as c op i ed from h i m t h e fo l l o w i n g
,

r ec e i p t fo r a l a x a ti v e m e d i c i n e T ake 3 0 fi gs 2 4 d rac h m s of s o d a 1 5 .
, ,

d rac h m s o f fa l s e s affro n s ee d (car th amus ti nctor i us) r u b u p t h e w h o l e ,

w it h h o n e y an d d i v i d e i n t o 3 0 p a r t s o n e t o b e t ake n d a i ly b efo r e
, ,

d i n n er .

r x r
P a a go as s a y s G a l e n
“
s h am e l e s s ly as s e rt e d t h at t h e ar t e r i es
, ,

e n d i n n e rv e s an e r r o r w h i c h w a s re p eat e d b y Ar i s t o tl e an d r ev i ve d
”
, ,

i n t h e s ixt ee n t h c en t u ry by C es al p i n o .

4
Ca l Au r A out iii 1 7
. .
, .
,
. .

X I I —T H E A L E XA N D RI N E A N AT O M I S T S
.
.

W H E N Ptol e my I est ablish e d th e M u s e um of Al exandria . ,

abo ut B C 3 0 0 h e m ad e th at city t h e c e ntr e of Gr ee k sci e nc e

. .
,
,

in cl uding m e di ci n e a p o s ition whi ch it maint ain e d for ,

n early a t h ou san d y ear s so that e v en in t h e fourth c e ntury , ,

A D .
to hav e st udi e d at Al e xandria was a s u ffi ci e nt rec om
.
,

m e n d at i o n fo r a you ng p hy s ician in any p art of t h e Rom an

1
E pm i r e .
62 M ED C I AL H S I T O RY .

Th e arli e st m em b e r s of t h e school H e ro p hi l u s an d
e ,

E ra s i s trat u s w e r e amon g t h e gr e at es t it p roduc e d and th ey

,
,

carri e d t h e s ci en c e o f human anatomy to t h e high e st p oint

th en attainabl e Th e r e ar e ind eed trac es o f thi s s t udy in
.
, ,

ol d e r ti m e s but th e se may s a fe ly b e di s m is s e d in t h e
,

languag e whi ch Thucydid es a pp li e s to t h e d e ed s o f th e

L it t l e i s known of th e m but t h e y w e r e
“
e arli e r Gr k
ee s : ,

”
robably no gr e at thing s N or i s it n e c e s s ary to r eviv e
p .

t h e di s cu s s ion s d ating p e rh a p s from cla s s i cal tim e s as to

, , , ,

w hich p arti c u lar discov e ri es ar e to b e attribut e d to e ach of

t h e gr e at anatomist s Both inv es tigat e d t h e n e rvou s sy s t em
. ,

trac e d t h e ori g in of t h e n e rv e t run k s to th e brain and s p inal

cord and di s tingui s h e d s e n s ory and motor bran ch e s t ho ugh
, ,

th ey p e rha p s s om e tim es mist ook t e ndon s for t h e latt er .

B oth d e s crib e d t h e cov e rings of t h e brain and H e ro p hilus ,

“ ”
t ra c e d t h e s in u s e s of t h e d ura m at e r to th e ir m ee ting
“
p oint w h ich i s s ti ll known by t h e n am e h e gav e it t h e win e
, ,

”
p re s s , or torc ular H e ro p hi li H e al s o gav e an account .

o f t h e v e ntri cl es o f t h e brain e s p e cial ly t h e four t h

, w ith i t s ,

“ ”
calam u s s cri pt ori us and b e li ev e d lik e s om e m od e rn
, ,

p h y siologi st s that it w a s t h e s p e cial s e at of t h e s oul

, .

B oth s ee m t o hav e notic ed t h e lact e al s fo r E ra s i s tratu s ,

s ay s that t h e m es e nt e ric art e ri es s om e ti m es cont ain milk

”
in s t e ad o f vital s p irit s an d H e ro p hi l u s a s s e rt s tha t s om e
,

v e in s of t h e m es e nt e ry e n d not i n t h e p ortal v e in but in

, ,

g land s .T h e l att er al s o d es crib e d and nam ed t h e hyoid

bon e 2 t h e duod e nu m and t h e p rost at e gland an d m ad e a
, , ,

v ery car eful s tudy o f t h e ey e t h e r e by gr e atly i m p roving,

t h e old o p e ration fo r catara ct t hough t h e as s ertion that ,

h e fir s t e xtract e d t h e l e n s in s t e ad o f m e r e ly d ep r es s ing it
s ee m s un w arran t e d E ra s i s trat u s inv es tigat e d t h e an atomy
.

o f t h e h e art w ith i t s valv es and chord ae t e ndi n e ae whi l e

, ,

H e ro p hi lu s i s s aid t o hav e m ad e t h e fir s t post m or tem e xamin a -

t ion s at s om e o f w hich Kin g Ptol e my him s e l f w as p r es e nt

, .

Both w e r e p hy s ician s as w e ll as anatomist s and h er e ,

th e y di ffe r e d wid ely H e ro p hil u s m aintain e d t h e hu moral

.

p athology and r ev e r e d H i p p ocrat es in so m uch that wh en

, ,
 D OC TR I N E OF E R A S I ST R AT U S . 63

ob l ig e d t o cont radi c t h i m h e always avoid e d m e ntioning

h i s n am e H i s t utor Praxagora s h ad fi rst shown t h e i m
.
, ,

p ort an c e of t h e p ul s e t o whi ch H e ro p hi lu s d evot e d gre at

,

att ention c o m p arin g t h e di ffe r e nt vari eti es t o th e rhythm s

,

o f m u sic an d giving t h e m s p e cial n am es on e of whi ch t h e

, , ,

l e a p in g o r goat l ik e p ul s e (pul sus c apr i zaus s di cr otus) still

-
.
,

surviv e s 3
. H e al so wrot e on t h e ca us es of sudd en d eat h ,

attribut ing it to p ara lysi s o f th e h e art an d noti c ed a cas e of ,

it s o c curr en c e d uring t h e e xtra ctio n of a t oot h H e p u t .

“
a high val u e on drugs w hi ch h e call ed th e han d s of t h e ,

god s an d us ed th em in great va ri ety Wh e n ask e d wh at

, .

was th e b e st quality of a p hy s ician H e ro p hil u s i s s aid to ,

“
hav e r p li ed : Th e p ow e r to distingui sh t h e p o ssibl e from
e

t h e i m p ossib l e
E ra s i st rat u s on t h e cont rary r ej ec t e d t h e h umoral
, ,

do ctrin e s a n d foun d e d a syst e m of h i s own b as ed on th e

, ,

”
t h e ory t hat th e art eri e s cont ain air or vital s p irit s To .

m eet t h e obvio u s obj e ct ion th at th e s e v ess el s bl ee d wh e n

inj ur e d h e assum ed t h e exi s t enc e of com m uni c ations b e tw een
,

t h e m and t h e v ein s clos e d n orma lly but a llowin g blood t o

, ,

e nt e r t h e art eri e s a s soo n as t h e air e s c a p e s N oticin g .

t hat wo und s are o ft en fol low e d by infla m mation h e a s su m e d ,

that thi s also was d ue to a p a s s age of blood into t h e art eri e s ,

an d t h at wh e n it involve d t h e l arge r v ess e l s it p rodu c e d

fev e r . Th e great c a us e of inflammation fev er and di s e a s e , ,

g e n erally was h e con sid e r e d an ov erful n ess of th e v e in s

, , ,

”
o r p l et hora whi c h c om p e l l ed s om e of th e bl ood to p as s
,

through into t h e art eri es Y et st ran ge ly e nough h e e ntir e ly

.
, ,

r ej e ct e d b l ee di ng tr eatin g hi s p at i ent s by low di et an d by

, ,

ban daging t h eir li mbs w i t h t h e vi ew of c l o sing th e commun i

cat ion s by p r essur e Thi s horror of v en e s e ct ion h e prob ably
.

ac quir e d from hi s t e ach e r C hry s i pp u s of C n i d u s l wh o had

, , ,
‘

s p e nt sixt ee n m ont h s with t h e E gy p tian p ri e st s and had l e arnt ,

“
fro m t h e m t h e do c trin e t hat t h e blood is t h e l ife or as , ,

”
C hrysi pp u s c al l ed it t h e food o f t h e so ul
,
H is m edicin e s .

w e re of t h e m il d est c haract e r con si s t in g of l axat iv e s b arl ey

, ,

wat e r and wi n e wh i c h l ast h e g av e in homoeo p at hic dos e s

, ,
64 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

b eginning wit h thr ee dro p s and gradual ly in c re asing This .

,

how e v e r was not d ue t o any timidity if w e m ay b e li e v e

, ,

t h e s tory t hat E rasi s trat u s w as i n t h e habit of c ut ting down

u p on t h e liv e r and s p l een a nd a p p lyin g his drugs dire ctly
,

t o t h e s urfac e of t hos e organ s H e rej e ct ed t h e o p e ration.

o f ta p p in g t h e abdom e n in dro p s y for h e d e c lar e d it did not ,

affe ct t h e origin of t h e dis e a s e whi ch was u su ally an affe ction

,

of t h e liv e r a fact whi c h h e m ay hav e dis c ov e r ed by m e ans

,

of post m or tem examin ation s Fin al ly E rasistrat us inv ent ed

.
,

a cath e t e r th ough p robably not t h e first instru m ent of that

,

n at ur e T h e follow ers of both t h e gr e at anatomi st s form ed

.

school s ,
whi c h l ast e d m or e t han t hr ee c e nt uri es and ,

Gal e n dir e ct s two of his tre ati s es against th e E r asi s t r at e an s

and th eir anti v en e s e ction p rin ci p l e s
- .

T h e d ev elo p m e nt of anatomy would natu ral ly b e follow ed

by im p rov e m ent s in surge ry and that thi s w as t h e cas e,

may b e s ee n by co m paring t h e condition of t h e art d es crib ed

by C e l s u s with that found in t h e H i ppo c rat ic w ritings .

T h e advan c e of m echanical kn owl edg e t end e d in t h e s am e

dir e ct ion and th e wond erfu l i nv e nt ion s by whi c h Archim ed es
,

d efend e d S yra c us e again s t t h e Roman s w er e mor e s ucc e ss

ful ly e m p loy e d by t h e surgeons of Al exandria T h e endl ess .

s c r e w p rov e d e s p e cially u s eful whil e th e trisp aston a

“ ”
, ,

contrivan c e for draggin g s hi p s on shor e was adap t ed by ,

Pas i c r at e s t o t h e r educt ion of di s location s an d w a s s oon to ,

b e found in ev ery re s p e ctabl e gymnasiu m T h e l e arn ed .

l e i s ur e o f t h e m edical oc cu p ant s of t h e m us e um w as furth er

e m p loy e d i n d evising n ew and com p licat ed m od e s o f b an d a
g
ing and t h e m aj ority of our e xi s ting m ethod s ar e p robably
,

on ly s urvival s of th e fitt es t of thos e t h en i nv ent ed .

T h e variou s o perat ion s introduc e d at th is t im e will b e

mor e conv eni ently di s cu s s e d wh e n w e com e t o t h e gold en
age o f G r ee k surge ry t h e d ays o f Antyl l us H el i o d or u s and
, , ,

Archige n e s but in c on clu s ion w e m u st not shrin k fro m ex

, , ,

a m i n i ng a p ainful and di s cr e ditabl e as e c t of t h e Al e xand ri n

p e
m edicin e I t is said that t h e Ptol emi e s in th e ir z eal fo r s ci e n c e
.
,
,

h and ed ov er cond em n ed crimin als to H ero p hi lus and E r as i s

 V I V I S E C TI O N . 65

t r at u s , and t hat t h e l att e r o p e n e d t h e variou s cavit i es of th e ir

y e t livin g bod i es in t h e ho p e o f m a king im p ortant p h y s i o l o
,

gi c al di s cov e ri es M od ern writ e r s hav e att e m p t ed th ough

.
,

with scanty s uc c e s s t o d i s cr e dit t hi s story ; antiquity n ev e r

,

do ubt e d it C e l s u s whi l e cond e mn ing t h e p ra cti c e adduc e s

.
, ,

argu m e nt s to d efe nd it b ut w e m ay w ell ho p e that T e rt ulli an

,

e xagg e rat e s wh e n h e
p ut s t h e n um b e r o f t h e vi cti m s at
60 0 . N o r ar e w e wit ho ut s om e wh at s im ilar in st anc e s
i n m od e rn t im e s ; Abo ut t h e y e ar 1 550 t h e D uk e of Tu s cany
h an d ed ov e r a con d e mn e d c rim ina l t o t h e m edical faculty of
Pi sa ,t o ki l l a ft er th eir own fa s hion and anatomi s e ,

Fal lo p iu s gav e t h e un fort un at e m an two l arg e do s e s o f o p i um ,

b ut it m ay b e qu es t ion ed wh e t h er any o n e wo u ld h av e int er

fere d e v e n h ad h e fol low e d t h e su pp os e d e xa m pl e of H e ro
,

5
p h i l u s W e r e n ot t ort ures e qu al ly gr e at d ai ly infli ct e d i n t h e
.

n am es o f l aw and r e ligion T h e sam e stori es h av e b ee n t old

o f gr e at art i st s P ar r h as i u s an d M i cha e l An ge lo who ar e
, ,

s aid to h av e tri e d in t hi s way t o obtain mod e ls o f t h e s u f ~

fer i n g Prom e th e us and —h or r i bi l e d i ctu —t h e crucifi e d S avi

,

o ur . S u ch t al e s how ev e r might r e adi ly b e m an u fa ct ur e d

, , ,

an d w e m ay p e rha p s sti l l v ent ur e t o ho p e th at th ey ar e al l

e q ual ly fal se ; b ut th e r e can b e no do ubt t hat e x p e ri m e nt s of

t h e effe ct s o f p oi s on s an d a ntidot e s w e r e fr e qu ently m ad e

u p o n cond e mn e d cri min al s by G r ee ks Arabs an d ev e n , ,

C hri s ti ans .

N OT ES .

1
Am . M arc e l li n .
,
xxii . 16 .

He ca l l ed it th e p ar as t at e re l ati o n t o t h e t o n s il s
b o n e fro m i t s .

3
T h e n a m e s ee m s d e r i ve d n o t s o m u c h fro m th e l e ap i n g o f t h e go a t
:

as fro m t h e w ay t h a t an i m al r i s e s t o i t s fee t g i v i n g fi rs t a l arge h e ave ,

w it h i ts h i n d l e gs an d t h e n a s m a ll er o n e w it h i t s fo re li m b s ; c o rre
s p o n d i n g t o t h e d o ub l e b ea t o f t h e d i c r o ti c p u l s e .

P nl i y sa y s t h at Ch ry s i pp u s
“
C h an ge d t h e o p i n i o n s o f p h y s i c i an s

by h i s i m m e n s e garru l ity b ut h e s e e m s t o h ave c o n fo u n d e d h i m w it h a

,

l at e r Ch ry s i pp u s a s t o i c p h il os oph er w h o w ro t e 7 0 5 t reati s es
, ,
.

5 D e Tumor i bus 1 4 ; fo r a d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e a l l ege d v i v i s ec ti o n o f

,

h u m an b e i n gs i n t h e s ixt eent h c en t ury s e e app V l l . .

66 I AL
M ED C I T RY
H S O .

X I I I —H E RA C L I D E S
. A N D T H E E M P I RI C S C H O O L .

SOM E r e ad e r s may hav e found t h e nam e H er ac l i d es m e n ,

t i o n e d among ty p ical Gr ee k p hy s i cians in a p r e c e din g

a rticl e rath e r s trang e to th e m but in H er ac l i d es o f Tar en
, ,

t um H er ac l i d es t h e E m p iric ( B C
,
w e may I t hin k . .
, ,

find an almo s t forgott e n h e ro of m e di cin e s om e of who se ,

claim s to re m e mbran c e shall h er e b e bri e fly r e pe at e d H i s .

w ork s hav e p e ri s h e d —our r e li c s o f an ci ent l it e rat ur e a re by

no m e an s s urvival s o f all t h e fi t t e s t — and what w e kn o w of
him i s g ath e re d from s catt e r e d notic es i n lat e r w rit ers .

G al e n cal l s hi m a most e xc e ll e nt p hy s ician givin g him ,

t h e high p rai s e that h e n e v er p r efe rr e d h i s p arty to t h e

truth and S oranu s con s id e r e d hi m t h e on ly E m p iri c w orth
,

r e futin g ; had h e n ot b ee n in h i s grav e for th r ee c e nturi es ,

h e mi g ht hav e g iv e n t h e gr e at M ethodi s t s om e thing mor e to

d o B ut H er ac l i d es w as not fond o f controv e r s y and h i s
.
,

l u k ew armn es s in that r es p e ct l ed h im to b e ac cu s ed of
r e l a p s ing into d ogm ati s m H e did not l i k e S era pion s ee k
.
, ,

notori e ty by abu s in g his coll e agu es or by int rodu cing s om e ,

n ew and s tartl in g r e m e dy w hi ch s hould e xc e l t h e virt u e s

o f tortoi s e blood or crocod il e d ung b ut d e vot ed hi m s el f to ,

t h e h um bl e r t a s k of w ee d in g t h e alr eady ov e r luxuriant -

gard e n of E m p iric m ed icin es Thi s h e did in his gr e at e s t

.

work On th e P repar ati on an d P rovi ng of D r ugs w hich h e

, ,

d e cl ar e d in t h e b es t s p irit of E m p irici s m contain ed nothing

, ,

b ut w hat h e h ad him s e l f ob s e rv ed an d w hich form e d a rich ,

min e fo r all fut ur e writ e r s on m ater i a medi ca I n thi s ,

t re ati s e H er ac l i d e s s ee m s to hav e fi r s t p oint e d o ut t h e great

va l u e o f o p i um and to hav e d efin e d t h e indi cation s for i t s
,

us e . T hat drug ind ee d w as as w e h av e s e e n p robably

, , , ,

u s e d from t h e e arli es t tim es and thou g h only on c e m e ntion e d

,

in t h e H i pp ocrati c w riting s w as e m p loy e d by D ioc l e s ( B C

, . .

3 50 ) a s a r e m e dy for toothac h e an d i s noti c e d by h i s con

.
,

t e m p orary D i agor as who a s s e rt s that it act s inj uriou s ly on

,

t h e s pe cial s e n s e s and i s t h e r efor e to b e avoid e d in affe c

, , ,

t ion s o f t h e eye and e ar H er ac l i d es how e ve r disr egard s

.
, ,
68 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

To p ass to th e s ect of w hich H e r ac l i d es wa s t h e gr e at es t

ornam e nt ; E m p iricism i s n o w a by word and a r ep roa ch i n
' -

m e dicin e but t h e sy ste m p r i m ar i l y s o call ed ow ed it s origi n

,

m ainly to t h e t ea c hin g of on e who s e nam e on t h e gr eat rol l

o f t h e A s c l ep i ad m p r e c e d es e v e n t hat o f H i p p oc rat e s th e ,

most s ci entific of t h e Gr ee k s t h e grand est int el l ect p erha p s

, , ,

o f t h e human rac e Ari s totl e s o n of t h e A s cl ep iad N i co ma

. ,

ch us p robably studi ed m e d icin e i n e arly youth and may

, ,

e ve n hav e p ractis ed it ; h i s an at omical discov e ri es ar e

worthy to b e com par e d with tho se of H e ro p hi lu s and
E rasistratus an d hi s t e aching which brou ght down t h e
, ,

p hilo s o p hy of Plato from h e av e n to e arth from t h e id e al t o ,

t h e r ea l m ad e it at l e a s t mor e suit e d fo r t hat art wh i c h

,

d e als wit h human bodi es A s th e r e sult p art ly of thi s .

,

t e ach ing p artly of t h e sc e p t i c p hilo s o p hy taught about th e

,

s a m e tim e by Pyrrho an d p artly o f t h e n at ura l r ea c t io n

,

a g ain st th e extravaga n t th e ori s ing of t h e D ogm atist s th er e ,

aros e at Al exandria about 2 80 B C t h e E m p iric school of

,
. .
,

m e di c in e of whi ch t h e m or e dir e ct foun d e rs w e r e two p u pils

,

of H ero phil us Ph i l i n u s and S e ra p ion Of t h e s e t h e form er

, .

a rgu ed with t h e D ogm ati s t s and t h e latt er ab u s e d th e m not

, ,

s p aring ev en H i pp ocrat es hi m se l f I nd eed S erap ion s eem s .

,

t o hav e b een a sort of Gr ee k Para c e l s us an d l i ke t h e notori , ,

o us G e rm an is said to hav e int rodu c e d an i m portant mi n e ral

,

re m e dy into m edicin e and t o h av e first u s ed sul p h ur i n

,

c h ron i c skin di s e a s e s T h e E m p iric s though a bran c h of th e

.
,

Al exandrin e school d es p i se d an atomy Th ey e ve n wrot e

,
.

t re ati s es t o p rov e i t s worthl es s n e s s an d w e may w ell fancy ,

S era p ion ex c lai ming in t h e l an guag e of Para c el su s :

,
What
is t h e u se of kn owing t h e s ha p e and p osition of th e brai n
and liv e r or wh eth e r th er e ar e s uch t hings as brain s and
,
”
l iv e rs at all ! N o l es s did th e y r ej e ct th e D ogm ati c
p hysiology an d p atholo g y and o n e o f th eir favourit e m otto es
, .

“
was : It i s not t h e ca u s e but t h e c ur e of dis eas e s that
,

con c ern s us ; not h o w w e dige s t but wh at i s digestibl e , In

short th ey r e duc ed t h e whol e a rt and s c i enc e of m e dici n e to
,

a syst e m of th e ra pe uti c s A p e r s on i s i l l th at is h e h as
.
, ,
 T HE EM P I R I C T R I PO D . 69

c e rt ai n un p l e a sant fee lin gs or sym p tom s ; sur ely t h e fir s t

t hi ng to do i s to find som e thing whi ch wi l l r e mov e th e m ,

and t h e who l e duty o f t h e p hysi cian i s t o di scov e r what

p arti c u l ar t r e at m e nt and es p e ci ally what drugs wil l g et rid
, ,

o f p arti cular s e t s o f sym toms Thi s h e m ay do in t hree

p .

ways ( 1 ) By hi s own ob s e rvat ion s and e x p erim e nt s

a uto p sy ; ( 2 ) by l e arn in g fro m h i s cont e m p orari e s and
p r e d e c e ssors — h istory ; ( 3 ) in t h e ca s e of n ew and s trang e
d i s e a s e s by drawin g con cl u sion s from t hos e m ost s i m il ar
,

t o th e m —an alogy . Thu s w as es t abli s h ed t h e fa mou s

”
t ri p od of t h e E m p iric s but b ein g foun d rat h er s h aky o n
,
‘

i t s thre e l e gs a fo urt h w as a ft e rward s add e d

, e p ilogism , ,

o r t h e p ro c e s s of in fe rrin g p r e c e ding e v e nt s from t h e p r e se nt

s ym p to m s . Thu s by e p i logism t h e consi s t e nt E m p iric

, ,

m i g ht con cl ud e fro m t h e e xtr e m e inflam m at ion of a woun d

t hat it was p oi s on e d and tr e at it ac cordingly with out
,

fa lling int o t h e D ogmati c h e r e s y o f loo kin gfo r h idd e n cau s es .

E m p iric is m p ra cti cal ly r e solv ed it s e l f into a s e arch fo r

s pe cific s and i t s i m m e diat e r es ult w as t h e i ntrod u ction
,

o f a gr e at n u m b e r o f dr u gs s om e o f v ery
,
e xt raordin ary

n at ur e s uch as h are s h e art c am e l s brain t h e fl es h o f

,
’
,
'

w e as e l s and of h u man b e ing s and t h e two exam p l es giv e n

, ,

a bov e ; but do ubt l e s s th e r e was a m p l e e vid e n c e both from ,

” “
aut o p sy and history of p ati e nt s r e cov e ring a ft e r
‘
,

t akin g any of t h e m .

I t h as b ee n sai d th at t h e b e s ett ing sin of m en o f sci e n c e

i s t o fan cy t h e y h av e fini sh e d o ff all t hing s in h e av e n a nd
e arth by giving t h e m n a m es T h e E m p irics say s Ga l e n
.
, ,

”
w ere t e rribl e m e n fo r n am e s an d in thi s t h ey w e r e
,

e n co u rag e d by Ari stotl e who wa s not on ly t h e fath er

,

of n at ural sc i e n c e b ut h ad oth e r o ffs p ring o n e of whom

, ,

s p ran g from hi s m arv e l lo u s brain a full grown Pal l a s Ath e n e - .

T hi s wa s logi c an d its d efin ition s and s yl logi s m s w e r e

,

s e iz e d u p on with d e l ight by t h e p hy s i cian s o f t h e day who ,

s oon s how e d t hat as m u ch m e nt al e n e rgy co uld b e w a s t e d

i n word s p littin g d e finit ion s o f t h e p ul se et c as in t h e

-
, , .
,

v ag u e r s p e culation s o f D ogmat i s m .
70 I AL
M ED C H I S T O RY .

T h e E m p iric s xi s t e d as a s e parat e s chool fo r s om e

e

c ent uri es and w e s hall find o n e o f th e m among t h e t e ach e rs of

,

Gal e n but t h ey final ly s ep arat e d i nto t w o di s t inct bran ch e s ,

one hilo s o hical and culminat ing in t h e s c e p ti c agno s t i ci s m

p p ,

o f S e xt u s E m p i i i c u s ; whil e t h e oth e r or p ra cti cal bran ch , ,

w ho s e w ritin g s hu man cre dul i ty in matt e rs m e dical s e e m s

to h av e a chi ev e d i t s utmo s t C uriou s ly e nough th e se two
. ,

a r e almo s t t h e on ly m e m b e r s of t h e s e ct o f who s e work s w e

o s s e s s mor e than f ragm e nts and th ey may b e con s id e r e d

p ,

i n gr eat e r d et ai l h er e a ft e r .

M e anwhi l e l et u s r e m e mb e r that t h e E m p iri c s chool

,

w a s u s eful in i t s g e n e ration in C h e c king t h e e xt ravagan c es

o f D ogmati s m and in e xt e ndin g and d efinin g t h e u s e of
,

s uch r e m e di e s as O p ium and s ul p h ur and abov e al l t hat it , , ,

p rod uc e d o n e gre at p hy s i cian w orthy to s tand w ith t h e

n obl e s t round t h e H i p p ocratic thron e H er ac l i d es of Tar en ,

tum .

N OT E .

The “
r
so u c es t h i s an d t h e tw o form er C h ap t ers ar e m a i n ly
fo r
s c att e re d p as s age s i n C e l s u s P li n y C ze l i us A u e li a n us an d G a l e n
, , r
,

e s p e c i a lly t h e l a s t n am e d F rag m e n t s o f t h e S y m p o s i u m o f H er a l i d es
. c

a re p r e e rv ed by A t h e n aeu s
s D ipnasoph i s tte (pass i m)
, e Th p efa c e . e r

t o t h e D e Il l d i i na o f C e l s u s c o n t a i n s a b r illi a n t c r iti c i s m a n d c o m p ar i s o n
e c

o f t h e D o m a ti c an d E m p i r i c s c h oo l s
“
g

XI V . M I L I TA RY M E D I C I N E I N ANCI ENT
G RE E C E .

DR . H FROH L I C H who s e int e re s t ing es s ay s on H om e ric

.
,

m e dicin e hav e alr eady b ee n notic ed h as com e to th e con clu ,

s ion that t h e p o e t hi m se l f w a s nothin g l es s t han an army

s urg e on Thi s wil l p robably add an oth er to t h e m any d i s

.

p u te d H om e ri c qu es t ion s but w e w il l n ot v e nt ur e t o d i sc u s s
,
 V O LU N T E E R S U R G EO N S .
71

it h e r e ; nor n ee d w e r ep e at what h a s alr e ady b ee n s aid

abou t t h e su rge on s who foll ow e d A gam e mnon .

I n G r ee c e i ts e l f w e n at ura lly l ook fo r our e arli e st i nfo r

m ation to t h e gr e at m il i t ary S tat e L ac ed ae mon and am on g , ,

t h e laws a s crib ed t o L yc u rgus w as o n e which p rovid e d th at

army s urge on s s houl d r etir e to th e r e ar of t h e right win g

d urin g a b att l e X e n o p hon al s o s ay s that th e m e di cal m en
.

w h o a c co m p an i e d t h e S p artan armi e s s h ar ed t h e s a m e t e nt s
“
wit h t h e p ee r s th e fl ut e p lay e r s th e p ri e st s an d any
, , ,

vol unt ee r s who m ight b e p r es ent which s ee m s highly r e ,

s pec t a bl e com a ny
p W e hav e how ev er no in formation as
.
, ,

t o wh o th es e s urge on s w e r e or what th e nat ur e of th e ir

,

qu alifi cation s and ind e ed know c urious ly l itt l e about t h e

,

p hy s i cian s o f Gr ee c e p ro p er a s di s ti nct from h e r coloni es .

B ut n ot i m p os s ibly som e o f t h e youth o f S p arta m ay hav e

fo un d t h e l a w o f L ycurgu s r es p ecting s u rg e on s mor e at t r ac
t iv e t h an t hat ordinan c e wh ich forbad e t h e m en of L acon ia to
r e tr e at w h e n in fa c e of th e e n e my .

O n e o f t h e O ld es t aut h entic r e cord s of Gr ee k milit ary

m e di cin e dat es from t h e p e riod o f t h e P e r s ian war s about ,

B C 4 50
. . . Th is i s an in s cri p t ion fo und at D al i in C y p ru s t h e ,

t ran s l ation o f w hi c h h as m u ch e x ercis e d p hi lologist s W e .

l e arn from it t hat wh e n t h e m e n o f I dalion w e nt forth t o

r ep e l an in road of P e r s ian s and Ki ti an s a c e rtai n p hysician , ,

O n a s i l o s and h i s p u p il s ( or brot h ers ! ) w e nt with th e m and

,

t e nd ed t h e woun d e d fr e e of ch arge ; wh e r efor e t h e D e mo s

d e cr e e s t hat r ewa rds s hal l b e give n ( I ) to O n as i l o s and h i s
u il s ( 2 ) to O n a s i l os h i m s e l f s e p arat e ly I n e ach ca se
p p ,
.

mon e y and l an d s ar e m e nt ion ed but fo r s om e r e a s on th ey

,

are n ot to hav e both an d t h e a m ount s give n cannot b e

,

t ran s l at e d T h e r e s t o f th e in s cri p tion i s v ery im p e rfe ct but

. ,

from it s con cl u sion w e gath er that O n a s i l o s r e c e iv e d a land e d

e s ta t e fr ee fro m t ax e s fo r him s e l f and h i s h e ir s
, ,
.

S u ch vol unt ee rin g a pp ear s to hav e b een fr e q u ent in l at e r

t i m e s for a H i pp o crati c writ er advi s e s t h e youn g s urg eon t o
,

s e e k o pp ort un iti e s o f fol lowin g a m ilit ary e x p e d ition an d ,

r e m arks t hat t h e r e ar e work s s p e ci al ly d evot e d to army s u r

7
” M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

gery I t may hav e b e e n on s uch an oc ca s ion that D io cl es

.

inv ent e d h i s gr ap h i s c u s a s p oon lik e in s trum e nt fo r e xt ra ct

,
-

ing e mb edd ed w e a p on s aft er w ard s m uch u s e d in t h e Roma n

,

H i pp ocrat es s e nt h i s so n Th es s alu s w ith t h e e x p e dition to

S ici ly “
Wh e n you w er e con s ulting about a s urg eon t o
.

accom p any t h e e x p edition s ay s t h e imaginary Th e s s alu s , ,

who i s s u pp o se d to b e addre ss ing t h e At h e nian s my fath e r ,

o ffe re d to s e nd m e to fit m e out at h i s own e x p e n s e and t o

, ,

”
a s k no p ay till t h e e x p e dition s tart e d M ay w e v e nt ur e to .

con cl ud e from thi s that a t t h e tim e o f t h e w rit e r th e r e w as

a p aid army m e dical s e rvi c e a nd that t h i s p aym e nt w as in , ,

t h e ca s e o f p u p i l s giv e n to th e ir m a s t e r s !
,
T h e m e ntion o f
o n e s urg e on for t h e w hol e e x pe dition how e v e r mak es u s , ,

s u s p e ct t hat t h e a ccount i s e ntir ely im agi nary .

T h e i m morta l T en Thou s and s ee m t o h av e b ee n ac c o m

p an i e d by at l e a s t e i g h t s urg e on s fo r X e no p hon s ay s that ,

t h ey a p p oint e d thi s n um b e r on o n e oc ca s ion to look a ft e r

t h e w ound ed E l s ewh er e w e r e ad th at t h e g e n e ral C h e i ri
.

s o p h u s di e d a ft e r taking a n ant i fe bri l e p otion B ut n e ith e r -

.

o f t h e s e p a s s ag es i s con cl u s iv e for t h e p e r s on s a pp oint ed ,

m ay n ot h av e b een r e gul ar s ur geon s an d t h e d e ath o f C h e iri ,

s o ph us w as p e rha p s t h e natural r e s ult o f an a t t em p t at

, ,

s e l f m e dication
-
Th ey c e rtain l y had nothing in t h e s ha p e
.

o f an am bulanc e t h e w ound e d b e in g c arri e d u p on t h e ba ck s

,

o f th e ir comrad es o n e o f w hom w as ca ught tryin g to bury

,

hi s b urd e n b efore h e w as quit e d e ad X e no phon ord e r ed .

h im to b e p ublicly s cour ged fo r w hi ch h e a ft e r w ard s acc us ed ,

t h e g e n e ral o f und u e s e v e rit y b e for e t h e tribu na l o f t h e

army T h e s oldi e rs ho w e v e r d e cid e d tha t h e had not b ee n

.
, ,

b e a t e n e nou g h .

’
X e no p hon s account o f military m e di cin e in t h e Gy m
[medi a m ay b e mor e s a fe ly tak e n a s t h e id e al o f an exp er i
e n c e d g e n e ral as to what s uch a s e rvic e s hou ld b e than as a ,

tru e p i cture o f anythin g actuall y e xi stin g in P e r s ia in t h e

S ixth c e nt ury B C C yru s t h e mod e l kin g an d com mand e r
. .
,
,
 A LE XA N D E R ’
S M ED C I A L S TAFF .
73

i s m ad e to say that havin g s ee n an d h e ard how c it i es which

,

c ar e for t h e h e alt h o f th e ir in habitan ts e l e ct

p ub li c p hysi
e i a u s a n d how g e n e ral s t ak e s urg e on s wit h t h e m for t h e
,

b en e fit of th e ir soldi e rs h e h as m ad e it his first obj ec t to

,

p rovid e hi s a r m y wit h t h e m o s t s ki l fu l p ra c t it ion ers h e c o ul d

find an d h e aft e rward s e m p l oy s t h e ir s e rvi c e s n ot on ly for
h i s own wo und e d b ut al s o fo r tho s e of t h e e n e my I n th e .

H ell eni ca t h e historian t e ll s u s that t h e Th e ssalian p rin c e ,

j a son att ach e d h i s m e rc e nari e s to hi s s e rvi c e by t h e care

,

wit h whi ch h e h ad th e m t e nd e d in s i ckn e ss as w e l l as by ,

h igh p ay and p re s ents Th e w e ll known sto ry of t h e d e at h

.
-

o f E p am inond as show s that t h e re w e r e surg e on s p r e s ent in

t h e Th e ban army at M antin e a .

I n th e M a c e donian age hi s toria n s un fort u nat ely giv e u s , ,

o n ly an e cdot e s as for in stan c e o f t h e s urg e on who

, , extra c t e d,

a n arrow fro m Phi li p s ey e or Of th at oth e r p ra c t ition er who

’

r e c eiv e d t h e flatt erin g tok e n o f confid e n c e from Al exan d er

t h e G r eat
; I t i s in d e e d p l e a s an t to l e arn that th e kin g so
.

t ru st ed hi s p hysi cian as to drin k t h e su ppos ed p oison whil e ,

h ol ding in his han d t h e ac c u s ation again st h im b ut w e ,

sh o uld hav e b ee n gl ad to hav e al s o h e ard so m ething of t h e

a rran g e m e nt s for t h e wound e d o f t hat army which con qu er ed

W e st ern A sia and w hich was accom p ani ed by th e m o st

,

c e l e b rat e d p ra c tition e rs fro m al l p arts of Gr ee c e B esid e s .

Al exan d e r s own p hysician Phili p of Ac ar n ani a w e h ear of

’
, ,

C a ll i s t h en es of O lynt h u s who s e o ut s p ok e n criti c ism of t h e

,

kin g s Clai m s to adorat ion co s t h i m his l i fe C ri t od em us t h e

’
,

A scl ep iad of C os Gl au cia s who w as cru ci fi e d for failin g t o

, ,

c ur e H e ph a e st i o n Pau s ania s Al e xi pp u s and oth e rs C al

, , ,
.

l i s t h en es wrot e a hi s tory of t h e e x pe diti on whi c h may hav e ,

c ont ai n e d int e r e sting m e di cal d et ail s but on ly a fe w frag ,

m ent s h av e surviv ed .

F in ally wh en S p arta fought h e r la st b att l e for th e

,

f r eedo m of H e l l as and s a w h er warriors driv e n in n o ignobl e

,

d efe at from t h e h il l of S e ll asi a w e ar e told that ev ery hous e ,

o p e n e d it s doors an d th at al l w h o w e r e l eft in L a c ed
ae mon
,

u nit e d in r efr e shin g t h e s oldi e rs and b inding up t h e ir wound s

.
74 M ED C I AL H S O I T RY

Thu s t h e s tory o f t h e mi lit ary m ed icin e o f ind epe nd en t

Gree c e end s with t h e city wh e nc e it b e gan but w e s hal l ,

s oon find Gre e k s urge on s activ e ly e m p loy e d i n Ro ma n

armi es and on r e aching that w id e r d e v e lo p m e nt o f H e l l e n i c
,

civili s ation known as t h e Byzantin e E m p ir e shall com e ,

u p on an army m edi cal s e rvic e s uch as L ycurgu s n ev er

d re amt of and not unworthy to b e com p ar e d e v e n w ith that
,

o f mod e rn ti m es .

N OT E
X eno ph o n D e , K epuhl . L aced a m ’
.
,
mu .
7 ; A nabas i s , iii .
4 30,
-
v . 8;

Cy r op i 6 1 5 iii
.
, .
, . 2-12 ; H el l eni ca ,
vi . 1 ; j u s ti n xxviii 4
,
.
, 5; H i pp o c
r a t es iii 844 an d D e M ed i i 65
’

, Epi s tl es ( K ti h n s . .
co, . .

M o rit z S c h m i d t , D i e I nsch r if t vo u I d a l i on d as cy pr i sch e Sy l l a bar ,

u nd

j en a ,
1 8 74 ; F ro h l i c h , Die a l tg r i ec h i sr h c Mi l i ta r med i c i u d er N achh omer
i sch en Z ei t . in Roh lf s A r c h i e , 1 87 9 .

XV .
— T H E M E D I C A L P RO F E S S I O N I N A N C I E N T
G RE E C E .

P H Y S I C IAN S in Gr ee c e though cl a s s e d amon g th e artisan s , ,

h e ld from fir s t to l a s t from t h e day s o f H om e r to t h e fal l ,

o f C on s tantino p l e an honourabl e p o s ition in s o ci e ty

,
E v en .

Plato t h e d e s p i s e r of m e dicin e int rodu c es a p hy s i cian into

, ,

t h e hi g h ly ari s t ocrati c a s s e mbl y o f h i s S ym p o s i um an d ,

H erodotu s attribut es to th e ir influ e n c e t w o o f th e m o s t i m

p ortant e v e nt s o f antiq uity t h e conqu e st of E gy p t by C am ,

b y se s an d t h e i nvasion o f G re e c e by t h e P e r s ian s
, We .

hav e alr e ady s een h o w m edi cal p ractit ion e r s w e r e valu e d

in H om e ri c t im e s ; in t h e s tory of D e m o c ed es w e found ,

citi es c om pe t ing fo r t h e ir s e rvi c e s and outbid di ng o n e

anoth e r in lib e rality and s imi lar e vid e n c e i s d e rive d at a ,

l at er p eriod from t h e d e cr ees in honour of th o s e wh o hav e

d es e rv ed w e l l o f t h e S tat e a not abl e p ro p ortion o f wh i ch ,

m ention p hy s i cian s Th u s an in s cri ption datin g fro m t h e

.
,

b e gi nn in g o f th e fourth c e nt u ry B C fo und on t h e Ath e nian . .

,
76 M ED C I AL H S O I T RY .

T h o u w h o d o s t h e a l w it h s w eet w i ne w e ar i o m e p a i n s i n o ur j o i n t s
s .

W h er efo re t h e fam e o f t h y ar t h a l l l i ve t h r ugh t h e ages t o fo ll ow

s o

P a i n g i n b r i gh t n es s t h e s t a rs s h i n i n g fo r
ss ,
e r o n h i gh ev .

—Corpus i nscr i pti ouu m A tti r a r u m , III .

7 79 .

A r gae u s m s to hav e b e longe d to t h e s e ct o f

s ee win e
doctor s ( di voddr a i ) who flouri s h e d gr e atly at thi s p e riod
,
.

An epigra p h found in t h e i s la nd o f C o s t e ll s u s that

t h e p e o p l e o f I s thm u s honou r ed w ith tri p l e honour s
S at y r u s s o n of Th e mi s tocl es t h e p hy s ician and b es tow ed
, , ,

o n him a cro w n val u e fi fty gold p i e c es

,
an d a bronze
s tat u e b e cau s e o f h i s s kil l in h i s art and hi s good wil l toward s
-

t h e D e mo s 3 .
S aty r u s w a s p robably a n ativ e o f C o s and ,

rha s an A s c l e iad but t h e gr e at m aj ority o f t h e p r ac t i

p e p p ,

t i o n e r s m e ntion e d in th es e in s cri p tion s are for e i g n e r s fo r ,

t h e p hy s ician li k e t h e p ro p h e t s e e m s to hav e had no honour

, ,

i n h i s o w n countr y .

I n lat e r tim es s uch r e cord s b e com e mor e com mon but

l es s valuabl e fo r a p hy s ician So fortunat e as to cur e an
,

Antiochu s or a Ptol e my w as s ur e t o hav e t h e fr e edom of

n um e rou s citi es laid at h i s fee t Th es e hon our s are s om e .

t im es m e ntion ed on th e ir tomb s ton es of w hi ch a con s id e rabl e ,

n umb e r hav e s urviv ed s om e d es cribin g t h e p hy s ici an s vir

,
’

t ue and s kill oth e r s t h e g ri ef o f h i s r e l ativ es an d fri e nd s

, ,

whil e s om e S how a t e nd e ncy to that s c e p ti ci s m which h as

al w ay s b e e n attribut e d to t h e p ro fes s ion Thu s t h e p h y .

“
s i c i a n N i c o m e d es cho s e as h i s e p it a p h I w as not and I ‘

b e cam e ; I am not and I s orrow n ot

,

I n an ci ent G r ee c e any o n e might pra cti se m edicin e who

thou g ht him se l f qu alifi e d to do s o and cou ld find p ati ents ,

but to get a S tat e a pp ointm e nt h e mu s t not on l y hav e b e ,

com e di s tingui s h e d i n his p ro fes s ion but in Ath en s at any , ,

rat e had to giv e an ac count o f h is t each e r s and cours e of

,

e d ucation b e for e t h e A s s e mbly Practical ly ev e ry phy s i cian

.
,

b e gan as an a pp r e ntic e o ft e n to h i s o w n fath er fo r m e d i cin e

, , ,

p e rha p s mor e than any oth e r h a s alway s b e en an inh e rit ed

,

p ro fe s s ion . C e l ebrat ed p ractition e r s how ev e r wou ld nat ur , ,

 A
C L SSE S O F P H Y S C I IA NS .
77
“
a l ly at t ract n u m rous fol low ers and th us s c hoo l s aro s e
i n vario u s p l a c e s —
e ,

C rot on C yr e n e Rhod e s C o s and C n idu s

, , , ,

t il l a ll w e r e s u p ers ed e d by A l exan dria Arist ot l e di stin

gu i s h es t hr ee cla ss e s of p hysi cian s —
.

ordina ry p ractition e r s ,

t eac h e rs o f t h e art an d am at e ur s wh i c h last w er e p rob ably

, ,

v e ry n u m e rou s for t h e c u lture d G ree k p rid ed hi m s e l f u p o n

,

t akin g al l kn owl e d ge a s h i s p rovin c e .

H aving fin i sh e d h is e du cation t h e you ng doctor w e nt on ,

h i s t rav e l s an d s ettl ed down in any c ity whi ch s ee m e d t o

,

o ffe r a favo urabl e o p en ing nor wa s h e i gn orant of t h e p lan

of working u p a p ra c ti c e by t r eating t h e p oor grat is I n an .

in s cri p tion of th e y e ar 3 0 4 B C th e Ath en i an A s s e mb l y

. .

d e cr ee s th at Ph ei di as son of A p ol lon iu s t h e Rhodian i s to

, ,

b e p rai s e d and c rown ed b e caus e to show h i s good wil l t o

,
-

t h e city , h e vol unt ee red t o act a s p ubli c m edical o ffic er

without p ay W e shou ld p robably do no inj ustic e t o t h e
.

worthy Ph ei d i as by su pp osin g that h e may h av e som e ot h er

obj e ct b e s id e s t h e o ne m ent ion e d in m aking t hi s ge n erou s
o ffer
.

S om e furt h er att e m p t e d to adv e rti s e t h em se lv e s by

exagg e rat in g t h e H i pp ocrat i c ru l e as t o e l egan c e o f dr e s s

a n d s uavity of m ann e r th e r e by in currin g t h e ridi c ul e of

,

t h e satiri st s an d w e h e ar o f no l ess than four Ath e nian

,
”
com e di es c all ed Th e D octor t hough unfort unat e ly l ittl e
, , ,

m or e th an t h ei r tit l e s h av e s u rviv ed Th e p ros pe rou s . .

p hysi cian train e d his slav e s t o ac t as assist ant s and to tr e at ,

p at i e nt s of t h e ir own C l as s whi ch t h ey did ac cordin g t o

, ,

Pl ato in a v e ry ro ugh an d r e ady ma nn e r B ut slav es m ight

,
.

al s o do ct or fr eem en for D iogen e s t e lls hi s m a s t e r that h e

,

o ught t o ob e y h i m t hough a s lav e sin c e ev e n free m e n ob ey ,

slav e s wh en t h ey ar e p hysi ci an s or p il ots and a p hilo s o p h er ,

i s b e tt e r th an e ith e r Th es e sl ave s so m etim e s p urchas e d

.

l ib e rty by th e i r earn in gs an d w e have an in s cri p tion i n

,

whi c h such an on e agr ees to cont in u e a s h is form e r ma s t e r s

’

as s ist ant for a p eriod of fi v e y e ars in r et urn for h i s board , ,

4
lodging an d c loth es .

I n th e P r otagor as Plato in c id e ntally t e lls u s how t h e ph y

 78 M ED C I AL H I ST O R Y .

s i c i anb egan to examin e h i s p ati ent : H e look s at h i s fac e

and t h e ti p s of h i s fi nge r s and th e n h e s ay s U n cov e r you r , ,

” ’
ch es t and back to m e t hat I m ay hav e a b e tt e r vi ew
Ac cording to Xe no phon dilige nt p ractition er s vi s it e d th e ir,

p ati e nt s morning and e v e ning an d Gal e n s ay s th at wh ,

en ,

at Rom e h e w e nt twi c e a day into t h e country t o s ee a ca s e

,

o f o p hthal mia from w hich hi s tori an s h av e con cl ud e d that

,

h i s p ractic e mu s t hav e b e en a v ery p oor o n e With r egard .

t o fees cla s s ic writ e r s un fortunat e ly on ly giv e ext raordin ary

, , ,

c a s e s s uch as Pl iny s s tory o f t h e w hi ch Ptol e my

’

i s s u p p o se d to hav e p aid E ra s i s tratu s or C l eo m b r o t u s but , ,

s cat t e r e d p a s s a ge s in t h e comi c p o e t s s e e m to indi cat e that

t h e u s ual fee fo r advic e an d m e di cin e vari e d from o n e t o two

d rachm ae ( n in e to ei gh t e en p e n c e ) S om eti m e s a p ati e nt r e .

m e mb e r e d h i s p hy s i cian in h i s w il l as did t h e p hilo s o p h er ,

Ly k o n w h o b id s h i s h eir s
,
s ati s fy h i s t w o m e dical att e nd
“ ” 5
a nt s ,w h o d es e rv e it and mor e fo r t h e i r z e al and ability
H i p pocrat e s as w e hav e s ee n urge d h i s p u p il s not to be
, ,

ov er e age r for gain but t hi s warn in g w as n at ural ly o ft e n

-
,

di s r eg ard ed and w e h ear of p hy s i cian s who n ev e r O p e n ed

,

t h e ir mouth s w ithout r equiring to b e p aid fo r it and w ho s e ,

fir s t d e aling with th e ir p ati e nt s w as al w ay s to arrange about

t h e fe e T h e b eauti ful A s p a s ia o f Phoc aea wh e n a girl w as
.
, ,

horrifi e d by t h e a p p earan c e of a t umou r u nd e r h er chin A .

p hy s ician w a s se nt for b ut though t h e girl s p are nt s w er e

’

, ,

p oor h e r efu s ed to und e rtak e t h e ca s e til l h e w as p aid thr ee

,

s tat e r s ( about forty fi v e s hilling s ) on account

- 6
.

N ext in im p ortanc e to t h e p hy s i cian i s h i s o ffic e th e ,

I atr ei o n which w a s at on c e s urge ry di s p en sary and con

, , ,

s u l ti n g room -
and which in lat e r ti m es b e cam e lik e t h e
, ,

gym na s ia an d barb e r s s ho p s a favourit e loungin g p l ac e for

’

idl e r s H e re t h e p hy s ician gav e advi c e p e r form e d o p e ra

.
,

tion s com p o un d e d m edi cin es and s om eti m es ev e n r e c e iv e d

, ,

r es id e nt p at i ent s E v e ry l arge city al s o h ad i t s p ubli c I at re

.

ion w hich as w e l e arn from an in s cri p tion found at D e l p hi 7

, , ,

w as in s om e ca s e s s u pp ort e d by a s p e cial tax W e hav e no .

e vid e n c e as to wh eth e r th es e in s titution s r e c e iv ed i n

p ati e nt s
-
,
 WO M E N I N M ED C I INE .
79

b ut it wo uld c ertain ly hav e r e quir ed v ery littl e to conv e rt

t h e fr ee di s p e n sary into a rat e s u pp ort e d hos p ital
-
.

S om e writ ers con sid e r t h at a stil l cl os er a pp roach to t hi s

w as m ad e by a buildin g n e ar Ath e n s c all e d th e Pae o n i u m ; b ut
o u r on ly in format ion abo ut it a fragm e nt of a com e dy p r e
,

s e rve d by A t h e n mu s hardly b e ars o ut t his id e a

,
Two Ath e n .

ian dan di e s ar e disc us sing wh at th ey shou l d do if t h e r e we r e

n o su ch conv eni e n c e s as sl av e s “ I ( says o n e) w il l rig up a
.

m e ch anical arran ge m ent l i k e th e y hav e at t h e P aeo n i um ,

d own on t h e sea s h or e ; hot wat er bro ught o n arch es will

-

r u n s trai ght int o t h e bat h an d sto p wh en you t el l it to ;

,

s c e nt box , s p onge a nd s an dal s wi l l com e in of th e ir own

a ccord . From t his w e m ay p e rh a p s con c lud e t hat t h e
p l ac e wa s a w el l a p p oi nt e d hydro p athi c e stab l ish m e nt wh e r e
-

an e xh au s t e d Ath e ni an m a s h e r could r ecruit him s e l f with

a bath p robably o n p aying a r e ason abl e n u m b e r o f ob o l s
,
.

Wo m e n a s in H om e ri c t im es h a d a sh ar e i n m e dic al
, ,

p ract ic e . Th e m oth er of S ocrat e s wa s a mid w i fe brav e

an d burly an d a sist e r of t h e s c ep t i c p hiloso p h e r Pyrrho
,

b e longe d to t h e sam e p ro fe s s ion whi c h as Plato t e ll s u s

, , ,

was c onfin e d t o e l d e rly and e x p e ri enc ed m atron s Th e y .

p robab ly p ract is e d wid e ly amon g th e ir own s ex for in t h e ,

”
H i pp olyt us t h e n urs e t e ll s Phaedra th at if h er di s ord e r
i s o n e whi ch c an not b e r ev e a l e d to m en th e r e ar e wom e n
who un d e r s tan d t hos e matt e rs .

Th e s e fa c ts ar e al on e s u ffici e nt to show t h e mythi cal

c hara ct er of th e story of Agn od i c e which is som etim e s r e ,

e at ed a s t hough it w er e s ob e r hi st ory Th e Ath e n ian s

p
. ,

say s H ygin u s t h e fabu l i s t t ho ug ht so highly of m e dicin e

, ,

th at t h ey forbad e wom e n an d s l av e s to pra c t is e it ; wh e re

u p on m any wom en di ed through e xc e ssiv e mod es ty Thi s .

i nduc e d a c e rtain Agno di c e t o a s sum e th e dre ss of a ma n ,

i n whi c h guis e s h e l e arnt obst e tri cs from t h e p hy s i cian

H i er op h i l u s an d aft e rward s by r ev eal ing h er s ex to h er
,

pa
ti e nt s a c qui r e d an i m m e n s e p ra c ti c e in that d e p artm e nt .

H er m al e col l e agu es o ut of j e alousy a c cu s ed h er b efor e t h e

Are o p agu s of c orru p tin g wom e n b ut by d ec larin g h e r s elf
,
 80 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

Sh e obtain ed both h er ow n a cquit tal and t h e r ep e al o f t h e ,

law Th e nam es Ag n o d i c e ( h oly l aw ) and H i e ro p h i l u s

.

( wh ich th e re i s no good re a s on to c onv e rt into H e ro p hil u s )

s ee m to indicat e that t h e s tory i s an al l e gory Th e only .

p ro fess ion o p e n to w om en w a s a c e rtai n d ep a rt m e nt o f

m e dicin e I t i s cl e arly j u s t and right t hat thi s s hou ld b e s o
.
,

and s om e inge niou s p e r s on p robably i nv ent ed th e abov e

s tory to account for it Wom e n in Gr ee c e a s in al l age s .
,

and countri es doubtl es s did mu ch nobl e i f unn otic e d work

,

a s n ur s es Y ou kno w ( s ay s D e mo s th e n e s ) h o w val uabl e a

.

w i fe i s to a m an w h e n h e i s il l .

N OT E S .

1
Rh an gab e A nti q H el l en , . .
, N o 3 78 . .

W e sc h e r , T ext e et e x p li ati o n c d
’
un D ec r e t en D i al e c t e Do ri e n ,

Rev ue A r ch eol og i q ue , 1 86 3 , p 470

. .

3
Pa ton an d H i c ks , I nsc r i
pti ons of C os , No .
40 8 . Fo r o t h er in
s c r i pti o n s i n h o no u r of ph y i c i an s
s s ee B r i ti s h M useum I nsc .
, N os . 1 43 ,

2 58 , 3 6 4 ; Corp I n s G r aze . . 89 7 , 3 59 6 , 4 3 1 571 , 6 2 6 5 ; C I A ,

, 1 . . . ii .
, No . 2 56b,

iii 7 79 ; P e r o ,
. r t E xpl or a ti on d e l a G a i a ti e, N o 2 7 ; h r en s . A .
, P h i l ol ogus ,
3 5, 2 8 ; L e B a s , Voy ag e A r ch eol og i q uc , v .
, N os . 161 , 3 1 4 , 56 8 , 13 36 .

4
Hi s n am e w a s D am o n , an d h e pa d i six m i me ( a b o ut £2 4 ) fo r th i s

p ar ti al fre edo m, ab o u t d ou b l e th e av e r a ge v a l ue of a s a l ve at t h e p e ri od
( s ec o n d c en ut ry) ; W es c h er , I nsc r i
pti ons a D elph es , No . 234 .

5
S e e t h e L ife of Ly ke n by B i og . L a er t i us .

i El i an , V H , 12, I
6 z
. . .

7
W esc h er op , . vari ous d i c ti o n ar i es o f anti
ci t .
, No . 16 . B es d es th e i
q u i t i es B ec k e r C h ar c l es e t c t h e r e a d e r m ay c o n s u lt M a h a ffy S oc i a l
, , t , .
,
,

L ife i n Gr eece ; W e l c ke r K l ei n S ch r i t n v o l iii an d H er m a n n Leh r buch

f , e e , . .
, ,

d r G i ech i sch en A nti q ui tateu 1 88 2 v o l i v

'

e r
, , . .

X VI .
— E A RL Y RO M A N MEDICI NE .

RO M E say s Plin y w as fo r s i x c e nturi e s without

,
ph y ,

s i c i an s but not w itho ut

,
p hy s i c and in h i s N atur al H i story ,

h e giv e s u s a co p io u s account of t h e mixtur e o f si m l es

p
and s u pe r s tition o f whi ch thi s p hy s i c w as com po s e d .
 E A R LY R O M A N M ED CI INE . 81

B ut Pli ny i s a p r ej udic e d witn es s ; hi s id e al is t h e an ci ent

Ro m an of t h e good o ld day s who s e sm al l farm su pp l i ed hi m
,

wit h food an d with al l t h e m edicin es which h i s h ardy fram e

r e q ui r ed an d h is obj e ct i s to s how t hat e m p i r e l uxury an d
, , ,

p hysi cian s al l cam e in about t h e s am e ti m e Y et e v e n by .

h i s own a c count t h e first Gre e k p ractit ion e r ca m e to Rom e

,

i n t h e y e ar o f t h e city 53 5 and ot h e r writ e r s m e ntio n,

m edi ci at a m u ch earl i e r dat e .

T h e n at iv e Rom a n m e di cin e m ay b e bri efly di s miss ed .

King N uma i s said to hav e d e cl ar e d that all di s e as e s com e

fro m t h e god s and a r e to b e av ert e d by p ray e r and sacrific e
, .

Th e n u m b e r o f m e dical divin iti es w a s v e ry gre at for b e s id e s ,

A p ol lo and M in erva t e m p l es w er e d e di cat e d t o F ebri s

, ,

M e p hit i s and ev e n it is s aid a D ea S cabi e s whil e t h e

, , , ,

young mot h e r m ight a p p eal t o no l e ss than fourt een god

d e ss e s from j uno L u cina down t o Prosa an d Por tv or ta
, .

I n l at er ti m e s t h i s p ri mit iv e m e dicin e was modifi e d in

t wo dir e ct ion s by t h e magi c of E truria and by t h e mor e
ration al p ra ct ic e o f t h e Gr ee k coloni e s in S o uth Italy and ,

indication s o f bot h t h es e infl u e n c es ar e s ee n in t h e works o f

Pliny s favourit e h ero C ato t h e C e n s or who hat e d all
’

, ,

Gr eeks and es p e cially hat e d Gr ee k p hysic ia ns I n h i s boo k

,
.

On A gr i cu l tur e C ato giv es dire ction s fo r tr e ati n g si ck s l av es

and cattl e o f which t h e latt e r are most i m p ortant
,
For .

ox e n h e p r es crib es a r e m e dy in wh ich thr ee is t h e rul in g

n u mb e r— thr ee grai n s of salt thr ee l aur el l e av e s thr ee l e av e s
, ,

o f r u e et c
,
to b e giv e n th r ee t im es a day fo r thr ee day s ;
.
,

bot h t h e anim al and t h e giv e r of t h e drug m u s t b e fa s ting ,

an d bot h m u st s t an d e re ct Of l ike n at ur e ar e t h e in canta

.

t ion s whi ch h e r e com m e nd s for ca s es of fractur e and dis

location .

B ut C ato s gran d p an a c e a i s cabb age t h e favourit e

’
,

v egetabl e of t h e Pythagor e ans H e giv es it int ernally .

both raw an d cook ed ; h e a pp li e s it as a p oult ic e to s ores ,

d e cl aring t hat it wil l e ve n c ur e can c e r ; and h e s quirt s i ts

j uic e i nto s in u s es and fi s t ul ae by m ean s of a syring e com
o s ed o f a bladd e r ti ed to a r eed I f a sl av e i s il l an d
p
.

6
82 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

cabbage wil l not c ure him h e s hould b e got rid of fo r it i s ,

bad e conomy to fee d m en who cannot work Th at t hi s hint .

w as not n e gl ect e d is evid e nt from a d e cr ee o f t h e E m p eror

C laudiu s which p rovid es that s ic k s lav es e x p os e d by th ei r
,

ma s t e rs s h all b e fr ee i f th ey r e cov e r an d that th e kil l ing o f

,

a si ck s l ave s hall b e m urd e r 1 Th e r e i s how e v er o n e , ,

d ep artm ent o f t h e h e alin g art in which t h e Rom an s h av e

s om e claim to originality that o f S tat e m e dicin e and hygi en e
,
.

Thu s t h e “ l e x r e gia of Kin g N uma ord er e d th e p e r form

anc e of C ae s arian s e ction on wom en w h o di e d in ch ild b e d -
,

“
w hil e t h e l aw of t h e T w e lv e Tabl es com m i t t e d th e
madman ( fur i osus) to t h e car e of h i s n e ar e s t r e lat iv e s fix ed ,

t h e e xtr e m e duration o f p r eg na n cy at 3 0 0 day s and forbad e ,

t h e b urnin g or burial o f bodi es w ithin t h e city wal l s .

O n e o f t h e mo s t an ci e nt r e mnant s of Rom an m a s onry is

t h e g r e at s e w e r or C l oaca m axima
, a s crib e d by L ivy to
,

t h e Tarq uin s Re c e nt e xcava t ion s hav e r e v e al e d s p e cial

.

s p ot s ( us tr i u e
e) s et a art for b urnin g d e ad bodi e s and
p p rob
ably r efu s e al s o and a p i l l ar h as b ee n fo und with th e
, .

” 2
in s cri p tion Tak e yo ur rubbi s h farth e r or you ll b e fi n e d ,
’

Abov e al l t h e fourt een great aq u e d uct s w hich w e r e at

, ,

o n e tim e ca p abl e o f s u pp lyin g t h e city with mor e than

gallon s of drinkabl e wat e r daily s ho w that ,

in s om e form s of sanitation anci e nt Rom e n e e d not hav e

fe ar ed co m p arison with mod e rn L on don 3 With a few .

doubt ful e xc e ption s s uch as th es e it m u s t b e r e m e mb e r ed

,

th at t h e m edicin e n o w to b e d es crib e d i s e nti r e ly Gr ee k and , ,

i nd ee d that ev erythin g w orthy of t h e n am e from H i pp o c

, ,

rat es to H arv ey i s G r ee k m e di cin e wh eth er w e find it at

, ,

Al exandria Rom e B agdad S al e rno or Pari s

, , , , .

A ccordin g to Pliny th e fir s t Gre e k p ractit ion e r ca m e to

,

Rom e B C 2 1 9 and h ad t h e a pp ro p riat e n am e of Archa

. .
,

g at h u s ( a good b e ginnin g ) H e wa s r e c e iv e d with favour

.
,

grant e d t h e citiz e n s hi p and a s urge ry in t h e A c i l i an c ro s s

“ ”
w ay and e ntitl e d
,
V u l n er ar i u s t h e Wound cur e r
, B ut -
.

“
t h e p e o p l e w e r e s oon di s gu s t e d by his fe rocity i n c utt ing
”
and burn in g s o th ey call e d him th e E x e cuti on e r (car uifex)
, ,
84 M ED C I AL H S I T O RY .

Thirdly A s cl ep iad es e m p loy e d mod es of tr e atm e nt w e l l

,

ada pt e d t o h i s p ati e nt s Rej e cting e m eti c s and vio l e nt

.

p urgativ es
,
h e r e li ed chi e fly on di e t rubbing win e an d , , ,
:

a siv x rci r cri tion s s uit ed to h i s mor e E p i cur e a n

p s e e e se , p es p
cli e nt s and u pon activ e e x erci s e a nd cold wat e r i n cl u din g
, , ,

t h e r e c ently inv ent e d s how er bath which would attra ct

-
,

tho s e anxiou s t o g ain t h e an ci ent Roman h ardiho od Wit h .

s uch q ual ification s it was hardly n e c es s ary that A s cl ep iad e s

s houl d al s o hav e r es tore d an a p p ar e nt ly d e ad p e r s on t o li fe

to achi e v e a brilliant p ro fes s ional s ucc e s s .

H is act ual m e rit i s mor e di ffic ult to es ti mat e fo r h i s ,

w ritin gs hav e p erish e d and h i s criti c s a s might b e e x p e ct e d

, , ,

giv e o pp o s i n g v e rdict s but on t h e whol e t h e j udgm ent i s

,

favourabl e . C e l s u s con fess es hi m se l f m u ch ind ebt ed t o

A s cl ep iad e s ; Pliny thou gh i ndignant that
,
a p oor man ,

s p rung from t h e mo s t volatil e of n at ion s sho uld give l aw s ,

”
o f h e alth to m ankind cannot w ithhold h i s ad miration
,
.

A p ul e i u s call s him a s e cond H i pp oc r at es an d i f Gal en j udges ,

mor e s e v e r e ly it i s p artly b e cau s e h e can n ot forgiv e him for

,

attacking t h e Fath e r o f M edi cin e and for b ein g in s om e ,

s e n s e t h e p r e c ur s or of t h e h at ed M e thodi s t s A mod er n .

“
writ e r has cal l ed Ascl ep iad e s t h e H i pp ocrat es of ch ronic
d i s e as e Thi s i s p e rha p s e x c e ssiv e but i f not to be
, , ,

com p ar e d to t h e Fath e r of Phy s i c h e m ay b e sa fe ly cal l ed ,

t h e Fath e r o f Fashionabl e Physician s .

T h e following is p erha p s t h e most int er e sting of t h e

, ,

few fragm ent s whi ch s urviv e o f t h e writ ings o f A scl ep iad es

“
That t h e j oint s of p ati e nt s s u ffe rin g from chroni c di s e a s e
m ay b e di s locat e d w ith out e xt e rnal viol e n c e is t e stifi e d by
H i pp ocrat es in h i s t r e atis e D e A r ti cul i s I hav e m et with .

two s uch ca s es ; on e in a Parian who witho ut bl ow or fal l

b eg an to hav e p ain in h i s h i p and a ft e r h e had l ain i n b ed
, ,

fo r thr ee months t h e h e ad o f h i s thigh bon e w as drawn and

,

di s locat e d o utward s I s u ppo se through th e e xc e ss of t h e p ain s

, .

T h e oth e r ca s e w as that o f a youn g t ragic p o e t who s e thigh

bon e w as al s o di s locat e d outward s by t h e inflam ed m u s cl e s
d raw ing asid e t h e bon e and forcin g it from it s p lac e ” ( Or z
,
‘
 T HE M ET H O D I C S C H O O L . 85

h asi us li b xlvii ) Ascl ep iad es w as al s o t h e first to m e ntion

, . .

t rach e oto my though it i s doubt fu l wh eth er h e e v e r

,
p er
f orm e d t h e o p e rat ion .

N OTES .

1
S ue t on ius , Cl a ud i us , c ap . 25 .

Lan c i an i , A nc i ent Rome i n th e L i gh t of M od er n D i scover i es .

3
W h e n F r o n t i n u s w r o e h i s D e aqui s Rai n ce ( A D
t h er e w e re t e n . . t
a q ued u c t s s upp lyi n g ga l l o n s d a i ly O f t h i s on e h a l f w e n t t o .
-

th e p u b li c b at h s o n e i g h t h t o t h e i m p e r i a l p a l a c es a n d t h e res t t o
, e- ,

p r i vat e h o u s e s a ll o w i n g ab o u t fifty gal l o n s p er h e a d fo r a p o p u l a ti o n o f

,

F o ur o f t h es e aqu e d u c t s h ave b een r es t o re d an d ar e fo u n d

a m p ly s u ffi c i e n t fo r t h e n e e d s o f t h e m o d ern c ity U n d e r D i oc l eti an .

t h ere w e re 8 56 p ub l i c b at h s an d t h e gre at b at h i n g es t ab li s h m e n t o r
,

“
t h erm ae b u ilt by t h at e m pero r al o n e c o n t a i n ed 3 0 0 0 ro o m s
,
”
, .

Th e c h i e f “ au t h o r iti es ar e m en ti o n e d i n t h e t ext A m on g m o d e rn
”
.

w o r k s o n t h e s u bj e c t a r e D up o u y M éd eci ne et M oc ur s d e l anci enne Rome

’

, ,

P ar i s 1 8 9 1 ; L an c i a n i op c i t an d P agan a nd Ch r i sti an Rome w h i c h

, , . .
, ,

c o n t a i n s a n i n t e re s ti n g a c c o u n t o f t h e va s t n u m b e rs o f v oti ve o ffer i n gs

rec en tly d i s c o ve re d n e ar t h e t e m p l e s o f [E s c ul ap i us M i n erva M e d i c a , ,

a n d o t h e r h e a l i n g d e iti e s .

X VI I —
T H E M E T H OD I C
. SC H O OL .

A S C L E P IA D E S had m any foll ow ers s om e o f who m s ee m ,

t o hav e a s s um e d h i s nam e in t h e ho p e of th er e by a cquiring

s om e o f his p o p ularity but t h e y would p robably h av e soon ,

b e en ab s orb e d by o n e or ot h e r o f t h e domin ant school s had

n ot o ne o f t h e m in hi s o ld age con c e iv e d t h e id e a of at on c e
s im p lifyin g m e di cin e and di s cov e ring a m iddl e way which

s ho u ld avoid t h e e rror s an d co mbin e t h e e xc e ll e n ci es o f

t h e E m p iric s and D ogm at i s t s Th i s w as Th e mi s on o f . ,

L aodi c ea who s e fe llow cit iz e n s a ft e rward s t ri e d s o u n s u c

,
-

c ess fu l l y t o find a middl e w ay i n r e ligion and who i s p rob ,

ably r efe rr e d t o by J uv en al i n t h e un com p lim e ntary lin e ,

”
Q uot Th e mi son ae gros au tu m n o o c c i d e r i t uno !
I n st e ad of s earching fo r th e ca u s es of di s e as e l ik e t h e ,

D ogm ati s t s o r d i s tingui

,
s hing di ffe r e nt d i s ord e r s by th e ir
86 M E D I C A L H I ST O RY .

sym ptom s lik e th e E m p iric s Th emi s on d eclar ed that t h e

, ,

p
hysi c ian shou ld ob s erv e w hat s ym p tom s vario us di s e as
es

hav e in common H e wou ld th en find that in al l or n early

.
,

al l ca s e s th e r e w as an in cr e a s e or dim inution of t h e s ec r e
,

tion s and excretion s and adap ti ng thi s t o th e th eory of

,

Ascl ep iad e s Th emi s on argu e d that all dis e as es w e re d ue t o

,

a rel axation or a con s triction o f t h e por e s Th es e w e re

”
t h e two funda m e ntal
“
comm uniti e s of t h e M ethodi sts bu t ,

a t hird or “ mixe d w as s oon add e d to in cl ud e ca s e s wh er e ,

o n e p art o f t h e body w a s r e l ax e d an d anoth e r c onstrict e d

.

T h e tre atm ent fol lo w e d at on c e on t h e p rinci p l e contr ar i a

c ontr ar i i s and con s i st e d o f a s tring e nt s or laxat iv e s whil e in
,
,

mix ed communiti es th e mo s t thr e at ening of th e two stat es

w as to b e co unt e ract ed Among astrin g ent r em edi es w er e
.

cold air and wat e r vin e gar d e coctions of various h erbs

, , ,

e s p ecial ly t h e p lantain an d t h e min era ls al um l ead and

, , ,

“
chalk which w er e u s e d e xt e rn ally Th e great laxativ e
,
.

was bl eeding wh eth er by v e n ese ction cu pp in g or l eech e s

, , ,

( which last th e M ethodi s t s introduc e d into E uro p ean m edi

cin e) a ft er which cam e p oultic es fom e nt ations an d warmt h
, , ,

gen erally P urgativ es th ey entir e ly r ej e ct ed d ecl aring t hat

. ,

th ey on ly substit ut ed th e o pp o s it e form of dis eas e .

Th e M et hodi s t s thu s agree d w ith t h e D ogmati st s that

t h e p hysi c ian might re a s on from t h e s ee n to t h e uns ee n e g ,
. .

from t h e stat e of t h e s e cr e tion s to that of t h e p or es whil e , ,

like th e E m p irics th ey taught that dis ea s es are to be j udged

,

from t h eir sym p tom s and not from th e ir cau s e s and t h ey

, ,

d i ffe r ed from both i n th e doctrin e that it i s u nn e c essary t o

consid er th e individual p e culiariti e s o f a cas e wh e n on c e
“
clas s e d und e r o n e of t h e communiti e s O n th e whol e ,

th ey w er e most n e arly alli e d t o t h e E m p iric s L ik e t h em .

th ey d e s pi s ed anatomy though it might b e us eful to kn ow

,

t h e n am es of p arts Th ey h e l d that most d i s e as es w e re

.

gen eral and that in any c a s e t h e locality was unim portant

, ,

for const ri c tion an d r e laxation ar e th e sam e wh erev e r th ey

o cc ur and r e quire t h e s am e tre atm e nt N or was it nec es
, .

sary to kno w t h e remot e cau ses of d i se a s e for th ey a lwa y s ,

 T H ES SA LU S . 87

a c t by p rodu cin g one of th e abov e condition s Thu s lik e .

,

t h e E m p iri cs t h ey r e du c e d m e di c in e t o a syst e m of tr eat

,

m ent an d T h e m i son s boast t hat h e had r ev e r s e d th e aph or

’

ism o f H i pp ocrat e s an d th at life w as l on g and t h e ar t s hort

, ,

was n ot u nj u sti fi ed T h e stri ct e r M ethodist s h e l d th at ev en

.

in c a s es of p oi soning it w as not n ec e s sary to c onsid er t h e

p oi s on b ut on ly t h e s tat e of con stri ctio n or re laxat ion pr o
,

d u c ed by it b ut in oth ers com m on —

, s e n s e wa s not ent ir ely
ab s o rb e d by syst em and to m e et such ca s es t h ey inv ent e d a
,

“ ”
fourth c om m unity t h e p ro p hyla cti c j u s t as th e E m
, ,

p i ri es h ad e sca pe d from a sim il ar d i ffi c ulty by m e an s of

”
ep ilogi sm .

T h e M e thodi c do ctrin e s w ere bro ught t o p e rfe ction by

“
T h es s al u s of Tral l es who call e d hi ms e lf C onqu e ror of ,

Phy s i ci an s cl ai m e d to b e t h e inv e ntor of th e whol e sys

,

t em and o ffe r e d to t ea c h it anybody in six months

, He .

flouri s h ed u n d e r N e ro an d d e d icat e d on e o f his w or k s t o

'

t h at e m p ero r in whi c h h e d e clar e s that h e has fo und e d a

,

“
n ew s e ct t h e on ly tru e o n e
, for no p r e c e din g p hy s ician s ,

h av e l eft a nythin g p rofitabl e e ith er for t h e ob s e rvation or

”
c u r e o f dis e a s e H i s p rin ci p al c ont rib ution to M ethodism
.

”
wa s t h e m et asy n c r i t i c or alt erat iv e mod e of t re at m ent ,

by whi ch h e p r et end e d that th e st at e o f t h e whol e body an d ,

e s p e cial ly of th e p or es migh t b e e nti r e ly chang e d , Though .

h e c la im e d this l ik e ev erythin g els e a s his own inv e ntion

, , ,

h e m i ght h av e fo un d it and p robably did fi nd it in t h e , ,

H i pp o c rati c writin g s wh en c e w e may tak e t h e s i m p l es t an d

,

mo st con v eni e nt exam p l e I n c hron ic di sord e rs say s t h e .

,

a ut hor of t h e t reati s e On I n ternal D i seases it i s oft e n , ,

,

advant ag e ou s t o t ry to m ak e t h e p at i e n t fatt e r For thi s .

ur o s e t h e a m o unt o f food should b e grad u a l ly dimi ni s h ed

p p
and t hat of th e ex e rci s e in cr e as e d t i ll t h e p ati ent final ly ,

e at s o n e t e nth of t h e u s ual q uantity and wal k s tw elv e mi l e s

-

o r m or e d aily Aft e r mai nt ain in g t hi s for a few day s t h e

.

c o nd it ion s sho ul d b e gradually rev er se d t h e food in c re a s ed , ,

an d t h e e x erci s e di mini s h ed ti ll t h e normal st at e i s re gain e d ,

.

As a p p ro p riat e di et fo r t h e fir s t sta g e t h e writ e r re comm en ds

88 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

roast pork and sour win e and for t h e s e cond br ead porridge
, , ,

fatty substan c es and sw eet s

,
H e r e w e hav e t h e al t e rativ e
.

“
treat m ent of t h e M ethodi st s w ith it s r e sum ptive an d ,

”
rec orpor at i v e cy c l es in t h e s im p l es t form an d Th essal u s ,

m er e ly add ed com p licat e d rul e s o f di et an d c ertain drugs to

which h e attrib ut ed s p e cial alt e rativ e p ro p erti e s Thi s .

”
m ethod says Gal en “ b e cam e a sh eet an chor fo r al l who
, ,
-

could not mak e a diagno s i s and was o ft e n su cc e ssful for, ,

many di s eas e s ar e d ue t o e rrors in di et .

T h e l at er M ethodi s t s w hil e d e p arting consid e rably from

,

t h e strict rul e s of t h e s e ct s till re t ain e d t h e t it l e and it i s

, ,

e s p e cially a pp li e d to S oran u s of E p h e su s wh o flou ri sh ed ,

shortly b efore Gal en ( about A D M any fragm ent s of

. .

hi s works hav e s urviv e d es p e cially from t h e tr eati s e On

,

D i seases of Women which w a s co p i e d by anot h e r M e thodist

, ,

M o s c h i on and it h as b een s h o w n t hat t h e writings o f C ael i us

,

Aurelian us are littl e mor e t han L ati n tran s l ations from

S oranus . I n th e m w e find m uch att e ntion p aid to an atomy
and diagnosis matt er s d es p i s e d by t h e orthodox M eth od i sts
, ,

and t h e gen eral rul es o f tre atm ent w hi ch al wa y s form ed th e ,

strong point o f t h e s e ct ar e p articul arly w ell giv en Th us

, .
,

fr esh air i s s aid to b e e v e n mor e im p ort ant than di et for w e ,

are alway s br e athing but e at only at int erval s w hil e c ha rms

, ,

and incantation s though th ey h av e no obj ec t ive effi c acy

, ,

are not to b e e ntire ly d e s p i s ed fo r th ey may sustain t h e

,

ho p e s and th e refor e th e vital ity o f t h e p ati e nt .

W e shal l b e abl e to t rac e a clo s e an alogy b e tw een

M ethodi sm and t h e B runonian s y s t e m whi ch flo urish ed ,

at t h e clos e of t h e l a s t c e nt ury nor ar e th e r e wanting re ,

i
s emblan c es a d contra s t s to a stil l existing s c hool of
r
“ ”

m edicin e and t h e s yst em o f Th e m i s on and Th e ssal u s i s in

,

som e re s pect s t h e e xact count e r p art o f that of H ahn em ann .

T h e t erm al lo p athy w ould ind ee d hav e p uzzl ed S oran u s ,

but if w e tak e it as d enoting a m edical s yst em of whi c h th e

o ne th era peuti c rul e i s C ontr ar i a contr ar i i s cur eutur it may ,

fairly be a pp li ed to t h e M ethodic and B runon ian do c tri n es ,

and to t h em only .
 M ET H O DI S M AND H O M tE O PA T H Y . 89

T h e M e thod i c syst e m originat e d d uring a p e riod of

t ran sition an d was r ej e ct e d by t h e c h i ef adh e rent s of t h e
,

o ld e r school s T hu s C e l s us who ho lds t h e b alan c e s o

.
,

fairly b et ween t h e E m p iri cs and D o gmat ist s h as no good ,

word for t h e M ethodists whom h e com p are s to c ow doctors

,
-

a nd s avage s d ec l arin g th at t h e old p hysi ci an s kn ew all

,

a bo ut t h e c om m un it i e s b ut w e r e not c ont e nt with th em

, ,

a nd t hat t h e m et hod of tr e atin g dis e a s es i n b ul k i s p e rm is

s ibl e only in larg e sl av e i n fi r m ar i es wh ere nothing b ett e r ,
'

can b e got G al en wa s th e ir m ortal en e my and call ed

.
,
“ ”
th e m t h e a ss es of Th es s al us tho ugh a s u sual i n s uch , ,

c as e s it i s h ard to say wh ic h s id e first e m p loy e d ab u siv e

,

l angu age T h e ssal us li k e H ahn e m an n a ppe al e d from t h e

.
, ,

p ro fe s s ion to t h e p ub li c and li k e H ahn e mann h e wa s

, , ,

s ucc e ssful ; c rowd s foll o we d him i n c l udin g if w e m ay t rust

, ,

a p r ej udic e d wit n e ss all t h e n e e r do w e l l s i n Rom e

’

, N or
- - .

a re t h e ca u s e s of th i s su c c e ss far t o s ee k H e re w as a .

t h eory s u it e d by its c onn e cti on wit h t h e do minant E pi

c u r e a n do c t rin e s to t h e p hilo s o p hi c Gr ee k H ere was a .

rul e o f th u m b whi ch attra ct e d th e p ractical and m e thodi c

m in d of t h e Roman Abov e all h e r e wa s a sh ort and e asy
.
,

sy s t e m by whi c h a s e l f c o n fi d ent i nd ividual might w ith

-
,

l e a s t p re lim in ary l abour p u t mon ey in hi s p urs e l ab e l

, ,

h i m s el f with an at tractiv e n am e and b ec om e a fashion abl e ,

p ractit ion e r .

T h e fa ct th at so m any M e thodist s w ere di s tin gui s h e d

as ladi e s do c tors
’
m ay indi c at e that that s e x was
p artic ul arly att ra c t ed by t h e n ew syst em C el s u s t e l ls .

u s t h at it was fo und u s eful i n slav e i nfi r m ar i es an d ,

w e may rha s i ct ur e t h e L ady B ounti ful of th e

, p e p p ,

e riod wal kin g th ro ugh s u ch an in stitution arm e d w ith

p ,

t h e l a st p am ph l e t by Th e s s a l u s and follow e d by a s lav e ,

b e arin g t h e ty p ical M ethodic re m e di e s a bottl e of l ee ch e s ,

”
fo r a ll t h e st ri c ti on o n e s id e of t h e ward and a
j ar fu ll of d ec o c tion o f p o pp y h ead s and hon e y — th e
,

fa m o u s dia c odion of Th e mi son for a ll th e l axat i on t h e -

o t her .
90 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

N OT E .

T h e full es t t M et h o d i s m i s i n G al e n w or ks
'
ac c ou n of t o b e fo un d s ,

i lly t h e t r eati s es D e Opti ma S ecta a n d D e M eth odo M edend i i and

e s p ec a , , .
,

i n t h e w r iti ngs o f Ca li us A ure li a n u ; s ee a l C o n s t an ti n Ts i n ts i r op o ul o s

s so ,

La M edec i ue G recque depui A scl e pi ade j u qu a G al i en Par i s 1 89 2

s s , , .

X VI I I .
—C E L S U S AN D A NC I E NT S U RG E RY .

A U LU S C O RN EL I U S C E L S U S om ewh at extr ava

,
who h as s

g ant l y b ee n c al l ed t h e C ic e ro o f p h y s ician s and t h e L atin

H i pp ocrat es i s t h e mo s t im p ort ant of Rom an m edical
,

writ ers But h e do es not s eem to h av e b een a m e mb e r of

.

t h e p ro fe s sion and p robably int end e d h i s t re ati s e s on agri

,

c ultur e m edic in e war and rh etoric to form a com p endium

, ,

of all t h e knowl edg e r e qui s it e fo r a w e althy citiz en wh o ,

had a farm and s l av e s to s u p e rint e nd and might h old a ,

p ubl ic o ffi c e H e may him s e l f hav e b e en in su ch a p osition

.
,

and m ay hav e acq uir ed s om e p ract ical knowl edge in t h e

Val et udinaria or slav e i n fi r m a r i es w hich w er e m aint ain ed
b v ri ch landown e rs b ut e xc e p t th at h e l iv e d i n t h e A ugu stan
, ,

age w e p ractically know nothing o f him

, Th e histori c al .

im p ort an c e of his wor k D e M edi c i na consi st s in t h e , ,

e xc e l l e nt but too bri ef sk e tch o f m e di cal hi story wit h whic h

it com m e n c e s in it s notic e s o f more than s ev enty G r ee k

,

p hysician s whos e work s hav e p e ri s h e d an d in t h e l a st two ,

books wh ich giv e us s om e id e a of t h e p rogr e ss of surge ry ,

sin c e t h e tim e of H i pp ocrat e s I t may th er efor e be con .

, ,

v eni ent l y t ak en as t h e t e xt fo r a bri ef a ccount of s om e o f th e

mor e im p ortant as p e ct s of an ci e nt s urgery a su bj ec t whi c h ,

may be furth er s im p l ifi e d by conn e cting it with t h e n am es

of th e thr ee gr eat e st o f Gree k s urge on s H el i o dor us Ar c hi , ,

gen es and Antyllu s

, .

C e l s us t e ll s us t hat m e dicin e w as divid ed at Al exandri a

into thr ee bran c h es o ne curin g by di et anot h er by drug s
, , ,

an d a t h ird by hand w hi ch w e r e cal l e d by t h e G reek s

,
92 M ED C I AL H S I T O RY .

m any tim e s thu s clo s in g th e ir m outh s

,
Ga l e n at a lat er
p e riod ev en t ell s u s that t h e b es t s ho p at which to buy li g a t ure s
w as in t h e Vi a S acra b e t w ee n t h e t e m p l e o f Rom e and t h e
,

Forum .

Archigen es w as e q ually g r e at as p hy s i cian and s urge on .

H e d es crib e d t h e vari eti es o f t h e p ul s e with ev en mor e

mi n ut en e s s than G al en and s ugges t ed that t h e di ffe r ent
,

k ind s of p ain might s e rv e t o i ndi cat e t h e organ s a ffe ct e d ;

h e fir s t dr ew t h e im p ortant distinction b e t w ee n p rimar y and
s e condary s ym p tom s in d is e as e and mad e t h e e arli es t ,

a tt e m p t to cla s s i fy min e ral w at e r s accordin g to th e ir com

p o s ition ; but h e i s es pe cial ly m e morabl e in conn e ction with

t h e h i s t ory o f am p utation
_
T h e early Gr ee k s s hrun k from
.

t hat o p eration p artly n o doubt b e cau s e of t h e formidabl e

, , ,

h aemorrhag e but p artly al s o from t h e horror wit h w hich

,

t h ey lik e t h e Arab s look e d u p on any form o f m utilation

, , ,

t h e e ffe ct s o f which might th ey thought b e contin u e d in a

, ,

futu re li fe . H i p p ocrat es do e s not m e ntion am p ut at ion in

i t s tru e s en se but in c a s es o f gangre n e wh e n a lin e o f
,
.

d e marcat ion h a s b een form ed and t h e i rr etri e vabl e lo s s o f

,

t h e limb i s e vid ent to t h e p ati e nt as w e l l a s to t h e s urg e on ,

t h e latt e r may a s s i s t n at ur e by r emoving t h e d e ad p art ,

c ar eful ly avoidin g to cut into living ti s s u e fo r thi s may ,

c au s e fatal s ynco p e S om e S light advan c e w as m ad e by t h e

.

Al e xandrin es but C e l s u s s till d es crib es am p utation as t h e

,

la s t s ad rem edy l awful only in ca s e s o f gangr e n e though

, ,

t h e circ ular in ci s ion i s n o w mad e rath e r th rough l iving th an

d e ad ti s s u e and t h e s o ft p art s ar e d ra w n back as far as

,

p o s s ibl e b efor e dividin g t h e bon e But in t h e hand s o f .

Archig en es t h e o p e ration a s s um es quit e a mod e rn sha p e .

T h e indication s includ e not on ly gangr e n e but chronic ul c ers , ,

m alignant tu mour s se ve re inj u ry and gr eat d eformity I n

, , .

s om e ca s es t h e whol e p art to be r e mov ed s hou ld b e s rin kl e d

p
with cold wat er and bandag e d t h e li mb b eing th e n t ightly ,

con s trict e d wit h a cord abov e t h e p oint of am p utat ion ;

wh e re thi s i s not practicabl e t h e ch i ef art e ri es goin g to t h e
,

p ar t S hould b e cut do w n u p on and ti e d Rubb er bandage s .

 H E LI O D O RU S .
—A N T Y L LUS .
93

w er e t h en unknown or A rch ige n e s might hav e anti ci p at ed

,
“ ”
th e b lood l e s s m ethod o f Profe ssor V o n E s m arch .

T h e s u rg e on s of t h e e m p ir e s ee m to h av e b ee n acquaint e d
with am p ut ation by fla p s as w e l l as t h e circu l ar m ethod .

Th u s H e l i o d o r u s writ es : “
A m p ut ation abov e t h e e lbow o r
kn ee i s v e ry da n ge ro u s owing to t h e s iz e of t h e v e s s e l s
divid ed S om e o p e rat ors in t h e ir foolish h a s t e cut through
.

al l t h e s o ft p art s at o n e st rok e b ut it s ee m s t o m e b ett e r t o

,

first divid e t h e fl e sh on t h e sid e away fro m th e v es s e l s an d ,

t h en t o s a w t h e bon e so as to b e r e ady at on c e t o ch e c k th e
,

b l ee d in g wh e n th e l arge v e ss e l s are cut And b efor e o p e rat .

i n g I am wont to t i e a ligat ur e as ti ght ly as p os sibl e abov e

t h e p oint of am p ut ation Thi s wou ld p robably r e sult i n
.

som ething l ik e a fl ap o p e ration which i s s til l mor e cl e arly ,

d e scrib e d by H el i o d or us i n his dir e ct ions for r e movin g a

“
su p ern u m erary digit A c irc u lar in ci s ion is mad e roun d t h e
digit n e ar i t s ba s e From thi s two v ertical in ci s ion s ar e
.

mad e o pp o s it e on e anoth e r and t h e fla p s so form e d di s s e ct e d

up . T h e ba s e b e in g th us laid ba r e t h e digit i s to b e r e ,

mov e d by c utt ing forc ep s and t h e fl a p s ar e t h e n bro ught

,

”
t ogeth e r an d s ut ur e d .

A ntyl l us l i ke Archige n e s s e e m s to hav e b ee n a gen eral

, ,

ract ition er for b es id e s p ur e ly surgi cal s ubj e ct s h e wrot e

p , , ,

on hygi e n e t h e choic e o f p ro p e r s it es for hou s es and t h e

, ,

action o f p urgat iv e s and oth er drugs H i s nam e i s p robably .

b e tt er kn own than that of e ith e r of h i s p r e d e c e ssors o w ing ,

t o it s con n e ction wit h t h e e arl i es t o p e ration fo r an e uri s m ;

t hi s how ev e r i s d es crib e d in most w ork s on surgery and
, , ,

our bri ef r e m aining s p ac e wil l b e b e tt e r occu p i e d by a h i s

t o r i c al s k e t ch of t h e t re atm e nt o f cat aract Wh en t h e l e n s .

of t h e ey e i s o p aq u e it m ay b e r e m ov e d from t h e axi s o
,
f
vi si on in at l east four way s all o f w h ich s ee m to hav e b ee n
,

kn own to t h e Gr ee k s : ( 1 ) I t m ay b e s im p ly d ep r es s e d or
cou ch ed ” Thi s o p e ration t ho ugh now abandon ed i s of
. , ,

r e at anti quity havin g b e e n known t o t h e E gy p tian s and

g ,

H in d u s and w as p robably t h e only o n e p ra cti s ed up to t h e

,

C h ri s t i a n e r.a ( )
2 I t m a y b e extract e d entir e a m ethod ,
94 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

fi rst m ention ed by G al e n a pp ar e ntly as a r ec ent inv ention

, ,

for h e say s : Som e hav e ta k e n in hand to r emov e c atara c t

”
al so .
( 3 ) Th e l en s may b e bro ke n up and l eft t o be ab
sorb ed Ce l s u s noti c es t h e d ivi s ion o f catara c t though only
. ,

a s a pr eliminary to couch in g b ut Gal e n c l early d es c rib e s ,

t h e o pe rat ion which h e rightly confin e s to soft c atara c ts

, ,

or as h e t erm s i t tho s e of more s erous hu mor ( 4) T h e

, , .

l e n s may be brok e n u p and at on c e r e moved by su c tion .

This Ope ration r ec e ntly introduc e d into mod e rn m edi c in e

, ,

was long p ra c ti s ed i n P e rs ia and a ccording to Albu c asi s , , ,

was inv ent e d th ere in h i s tim e ( e l e v enth c e nt ury ) ; but

Rhaze s who w as him s e l f a P e r s ian and who had s pecial
, ,

ind uc em e nt s to st udy t h e tre atm ent of c at aract attrib ut es ,

t h e e arli e st m e ntion both o f e xtraction and su c tion to

Antyll us r emarking : Antyll u s s aid S om e al so hav e m ad e
, ,

an o pe ning und er t h e p u p il and hav e extract e d t h e c atarac t ;

,

thi s can b e don e w h e n t h e cataract i s sma ll but if large it ,

c annot be extract ed for t h e h umor com e s out wit h it And

, .

so m e hav e us ed a gla s s in s trum e nt ( conci l um vi treum) and ,

by suc king it hav e suck e d out t h e catara c t and th e hu m or

with it ( Conti nens ii ,
.

An account of anci e nt s urge ry would b e in c om pl et e

without s om e n otic e o f t h e int e r es ting discov e ri e s of surgical
in strum ent s m ad e in r e c e nt y e ars Th e m o s t n um erou s and
im portant are thos e from Pom p ei i and H e rculan eum about ,

2 0 0 in nu mb e r forty o f whi ch w e re fo und in o ne hous e at

,

Pom p eii which has th e refore b ee n c all ed th e S chool of

,

S urge ry or th e S urg e on s H ou s e w hil e fi ve oth e rs were

'

, ,

dis c ov ere d among som e cookin g i m p l e m ent s in an oil sho p .

Th ey inc l ud e nin ety p ai r s o f bronze forc e p s t h e m aj ority ap ,

parent l y int end e d for r e moving s u p e rfl uou s h ai r tho ugh on e ,

has curved c laws and anoth e r s p oon l ik e bl ad es w ith d en

,
-

t at ed e dg e s B es id es t h e s e th e re ar e forty fi v e p rob e s of
. -

variou s shap es and s izes thirt e e n bronz e cu pping i nst r u ,

ments and t h e sam e n umb e r o f iron bi stouris ; a l an c et with

si lv er bl ad e and bronz e handl e ; an S s ha pe d cath et er and -
, ,

l ast but not l ea s t a thr ee blad ed ut e rin e and doubl e anal

,
-

,
96 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

of P ericl es a s p eriod s in t h e hi s tory of h u m a n d e v elo p m ent

,
,

th ey cannot for a mom e nt b e com p ar ed H i ppo c rat e s gr eat . ,

as h e w as m ight hav e found mor e than o n e e qual amon g

,

h i s cont e m p orari e s but t h e s e cond c e nt ury c an boast o f but

,

few m e n of g enius t h e mo s t famous of whom was far in fe rio r

,

to H i pp ocrat e s Thi s wa s C l audiu s G al en ( 1 3 1

. a man
w h o not only kn ew al l that th e r e wa s to know in h i s age ,

but p o s s es s ed s uffici ent tal e nt and origin al ity to a cq uire t h e

o s ition o f a m edi c al dictator and to m aintain it fo r mor e
p ,

than 1 0 0 0 y e ars .

G al e n w as t h e most p rolific o f an ci ent authors ; h e wrot e

u p on p hilo so p hy math e matic s gram mar and l aw a s w e l l
, , , ,

as m e di cin e and his 50 0 tre at i s es e quall ed in n umb e r and

, ,

robably e xc eed ed in bulk tho s e of Aristotl e O f th e 1 8 1

p
.
,

which s urviv e und er h i s n am e about eighty are s p urious o r

doubt ful or exi st on ly I n fragm e nt s an d in L atin t r an sl a
,

tion s ; b ut th e r emaind e r contain a com p l et e and sy s t e matic

vi ew o f Gr ee k m edicin e and g av e law s t o t h e c ivili s e d world
'

in ana t omy p hysiology and t h e d octrin e and tr eatm ent of

, ,

di s e a s e fo r u p wards of fourt een c e nt uri e s Th eir i nfl u enc e .

c an stil l be trac e d i n m any d ep art m ent s of mod ern m edicin e ,

and s om e of t h e t eachin g of t h e p hysician of P e rgam u s

re m ain s a poss e ssion for ev e r for t h e h eal ing art Th e .

foll owin g i s a v ery bri ef out lin e o f th e mor e p ractical p art

o f thi s t ea c hing

G al e n s anatomy was ba s ed p artly on that of t h e Al exan

’

d r i n es and of h i s im m ediat e p r ed e c essors M arin u s and Ru fu s ,

o f E p h e s u s but es p ec ially on h i s own di ss e ction s o f monk e y s

,

and oth e r animals of wh ich h e m e ntions m any kin d s from

, ,

an e l e p h an t down to mic e bird s an d fi sh e s A mong oth er , .

di s cov eri e s h e first p oint ed out t h e p l atysma p o p lit e us and

, , ,

int e ro s s ei m uscl es th e duct u s a rt erio sus and t h e t hr ee coat s

, ,

o f t h e art e ri e s H e om it s n o o pp ortun ity of a s s e rting th e

.

gre at im p ortan c e of an atomical kn owl e dge in m edi cin e an d ,

d e clar es t hat though h e rar e ly o perat ed hi m s el f h e had

, ,

o ft e n s aved h is c ol l e agu e s by t im e ly warning s from such

di s a s t ers as b efe ll a c ert ain s urgeon who divid e d th e m u s e u
 G A LE N ’
S PH Y S I O LOGY .
97

l os p i r al , m e dian and uln ar n e rv es and th e br achial v e ss el s

, , ,

owin g to h i s ignoran c e of th e ir p o s it ion T h e o p erator s ay s .

,
.

Gal e n wa s so t e rrifi e d that h e on ly l igat ur e d t h e v es s e l s

, ,

and th e p artially p aralys ed p at i e nt av e n ge d him s e l f by fo l

-

lowin g th e s urgeon i n th e str e et s call ing aft e r h im : Y o u

c ut my n e rv e s
’
G al e n s p hysiology t ho ugh som e what s p oilt by e xc es s iv e
,

th eorising w as no l es s admirab l e H e p rov e d by exp er i

, .

m ent t h e fal sity of E rasi strat u s doctrin e t h at t h e art eri e s ’

contain ai r only t ho ugh at th e s am e t i m e h e hind er e d t h e

,

di s cov ery of th e circ ul at ion by t hr ee e rron e ou s s tat e m ent s

( 1 ) t hat t h e v e in s origin at e fro m t h e liv e r ( 2 ) th at t h e m o s t
i m p ort ant mot ion of t h e h e art i s i t s diasto l e an d ( 3 ) that ,

t h e s ep t um b e tw ee n t h e v e nt ricl e s i s p e rm e ab l e I n o pp osi .

tion t o h i s p r e d e c e ssors h e d e cl ar ed t hat r e s p i rat ion s erv e s

,

not on ly t o cool th e body but to m aintain t h e animal h e at

, ,

and m ad e t h e ha ppy s ugges tion t hat wh en w e di s cov e r what

p art of t h e at m o s p h e r e su pp ort s c omb u s ti on w e s h all al s o
know what i s t h e sourc e of t h e bodily t e m p erat ur e H i s .

com p ari s on of s oun d to a wav e lik e mov e m ent w a s e qu all y -

fort un at e .

B ut G a l e n s ch i ef p hysiological work was h i s i nv e st iga

’

tion of t h e n ervous syst em in which h e m ad e e xt en s iv e u se ,

of vivi s e cti on s H e distin gui sh e d s e n s ory m ot or and mix e d

.
, ,

n e rv e t runks t rac e d t h e con n ecti on b e tw ee n th e vagu s an d

,

t h e sym p at h eti c show e d t h e i m p ortan c e o f t h e r e curr e n t

,

n e rv e s for t h e p roduct ion o f voic e and abov e al l p oint ed , , ,

out t hat t h e n e rv es hav e n o p ow e r in th e m s e lv e s but m e r e l y ,

cond u ct i m p uls e s t o and from t h e brain and s p i nal cord .

Thi s knowl e dg e gai n e d hi m a vi ctory ov e r t h e hat e d M etho

dist s Pau sania s a c el e brat e d s o p hi st had co m p lain ed of
.
, ,

loss of s e n s ation in t h e fourth an d fifth fing e rs of his l eft

h an d and t h e M ethodist p hy s i cians who att end e d him con
,
,

“
s i d er i n g t h e d is e as e t o b e d u e to con strict ion a pp li e d ,

ou lt i c e s lo ca l ly but witho ut effe ct Gal e n w a s t h e n sum

p
.
,

m o n ed a n d at on c e r e cogni s ed t h e di strib ut ion of t h e ulna r

,

n e rv e . O n inquiry h e foun d that t h e so p hist had b ee n

7
98 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

t hrown from h i s chariot som e tim e b efor e and had struck

h i s back again s t a s ton e H e th e re u p o n a pp li e d count e r
.

i rritant s to t h e re gion o f ori gin of t h e brachial p l exu s an d ,

t h e p ati e nt r e cov e r e d to t h e con fu s ion o f t h e M e t hodist s

,
.

a n d t h e trium p h of Gal e n w h o t e l l s t h e story at l e a s t thr e e ,

t im es in h i s e xtant writin g s .

M edicin e a ccording to Gal en rest s u p on anatomy and

, ,

hy s iology and i s t h e art o f maintaining and r e s toring

p ,

h ealth . D i s e a se i s t h e o p p o s it e o f h ealth and takin g ,

t h e s im p l es t o f h i s m any d efinition s is an abnormal ,

a ffe ction o f t h e body g iving ri s e to a l e s ion o f fun ction

H e furth e r d ivid es di s e a ses into thr ee cl ass e s t ho s e

“
a ffe ctin g t h e similar p art s or s im p l e ti s s ues m u s cl e , , ,

n erv e ligam e nt s e t c ; ( 2 ) thos e o f t h e com p o und ti s s u es

, ,
. ,

or organ s h e art l un gs etc ; ( 3 ) tho s e a ffe ctin g t h e body

, , ,
.

g e n e rally and es p e cially t h e fou r humours D i s eas es of

, , ,
.

t hi s la s t cla s s ar e “ d y s c r as i ae an d contra s t w ith t h e ,

”
com p l et e and harmon iou s mixt ur e of t h e h umour s e ucrasia .

B ut th i s s tat e of id e al h e alth rar e ly occ ur s and th e pre ,

dominan c e o f t h e variou s h umour s giv es ri s e to t h e t e m

p er am e n t s s anguin e
, p hl eg mat ic biliou s or m e l an cholic
, , , ,

which though p artaki ng of t h e natur e of di s e as e ar e not

, ,

act ually to b e so cal l e d un l es s th ey p roduc e a p e rv e r s ion of

function .

T h e caus es o f di s e a s e a r e al s o divid ed by G al en i nto

th r ee cla s s es p rocatarcti c ( p rim itiv e or e xcit ing) ; ( 2 )
p r o —e g u m e n i c ( ant e c ed e nt or p r e di s p o s in g ) and ( 3 ) syn e ctic ,

( conj un ct or p roximat e) Of t h e s e t h e firs t ar e e xt e rnal

.

and i ncl ud e m e chan i cal inj uri es and abnorm aliti e s in what ,

“ ”
cam e to b e call ed th e six non nat ural s or thin g s not -

innat e vi z air food and d rin k r es t and e x erci s e sl eep

, .
, , , ,

and w aking e xcr etion s and r et ention s and a ffe ction s of th e

, ,

mind . T h e oth e r two a re int e rnal t h e p r o eg um en i c ,

- -

cau s es b eing thos e morbid s t at e s of t h e body which are

ant e c e d e nt to di s e a s e th e s yn ectic tho s e whi ch coin cid e with
,

it s o that wh en t h ey ar e p r es ent t h e dis e as e i s al s o p re s e nt

, ,

a n d vi ce versd Thus to ado p t a mor e mod ern nom en c latur e

.
, ,
I OO M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

of th ey ear and ext e rnal circum s t an c es gen e rall y and . ,

’

finall y as Gal en curiou s ly add s t h e p ati e nt s dr e am s

, ,
.

H is t e aching as to t h e a ction o f drug s w as l es s exc e l l e nt ,

but un fortunat e ly far more infl u e ntial H e h e ld that som e .

,

su ch as e m eti c s p urgat iv es p oison s and th e ir an t idot e s act

, , ,

through th e ir w hol e s ub s tanc e and are in a s e n s e s p e cifi es , , , ,

a doctrin e con sonant w ith t h e old e r dogmat ic t h eory of t h e

s p e cific action o f p urgativ es w hich s til l surviv es in t h e ,

m od ern t e rms h y dragogu e and chol agog u e B ut mo s t drugs .

act accordin g t o G al e n t hrough o n e o f th e e l e m entary

, ,

qu aliti es —h e at cold dryn es s an d moi st ur e w hi ch th ey

, , , ,

oss n ot in an act ual b ut a ot e ntial for m e ach quality

p
l

p e s s ,

b eing furth e r divi s ibl e into four d egr ee s ac cording to its ,

i nt en s ity Thu s pe pp er and o p iu m ar e ( p ot e ntially ) hot

.

and cold r e s p ect iv e ly in th e fourth d e gr ee Th is th e ory .

,

a ft er b e ing d e v e lo p e d to an ab s urd ext ent by t h e m e d i mv al

p hy s i cian s has ha pp ily vani s h e d l e avin g u s only t h e t erms
, ,

“ ”
actual and p ot ential as a pp li ed to caut e ri es .

I t i s a curious fact that t h e tr e at i s e On A nci ent

M ed i c i ne in w hich H i pp ocrat es m e ntion s thi s doctrin e
,

and r ej e ct s it i s t h e on ly o n e o f h i s g e n ui n e w orks on
,

whi ch G al e n h as not w ritt e n a com m entary p robably ,

b e cau se h e felt h e could not r e con ci l e it with h i s own

t eachin g .

N OTE .

T h e m o s t c o nven i e n t e d iti o n o f G a l e n i s t h at o f K uh n 2 2 v o l s Li ps , .
, ,

1 82 1 3 3 -
T h e tw o
. c a s es ab o ve r e l a t e d m ay b e fo un d i n t h e t reati s e s

D e A na t A d m i n iii 9 ( K I I
. .
, an d D e L oc i s Afl e t i
. .
,
. i 5 ( K v iii c s, . .
, .

S ee al s o G a s q u e t “ Th e Prac ti c a l M ed i c i n e of G al en an d h i s Ti me
, ,

M ed Ch i r Revi ew 1 86 7 ii
.
-
. F alk Gal eus L eh r vom N cr uus vstcm
, , , e t
‘
c,

L e i p s i c 1 87 1 , .

XX .
—GA L E N AN D H I P P O C RAT E S C O M PA RE D .

W H E N M ar c u s A ur e li us r et urn e d from h is first cam p aign

again s t t h e G ermans A D 1 7 5 h e w as doubt l ess w e l c om ed , . .
,
 AN I M PE R IA L P ATI E N T . 10 1

wit h fe stivit i es an d w e m ay s u p p os e t hat e v e n t h e p hilo

,

so p h i c e m p eror far e d mor e s um p tuously in t h e p alac e than

in t h e cam p At any rat e s hortly a ft e r h i s r etu rn w e find
.
,
-

h im taking in addition to h i s u s u al morn in g p il l of th eriac

,
,

a do s e of bitt e r alo e s t h e hi era p icra o f G al e n I n s p it e

, .

of t his h i s di sord e r s o in cr e as ed that on t h e following e v e n ,

ing a m e s s age was s e nt to G al e n r e q u es ting hi m to s l ee p

,

at t h e p al ac e H ard ly h ad h e got t h e r e wh en a sl av e cam e

.

in li ght e d t h e l am ps and s u m mon e d hi m to t h e e m p e ror s

, ,
’

b edroom H e r e h e found thr ee army s urge on s fee ling h i s

.

p u ls e who s aid t hat h e w a s in t h e e arly s tag e o f a fev eri s h

,

attac k Th e e m p e ror ask e d G al en fo r h i s o p inion b ut h e

.
,

r ep li e d th at t ho s e who had b ee n with h im d uring t h e

“
cam p aign wo uld b e th e b e s t j udge s H ow ev er on s p ecial .

co m mand I f e lt h i s p uls e and finding it q uit e n orm al con , ,

s i d e r i n g h i s age and t h e t im e o f d ay I d e clar e d it w a s no ,

fev er but a dig e stiv e di s ord e r d u e to t h e food h e had eat en , ,

whi ch m u s t b e conv e rt e d into p h l egm b efor e b e ing e xcr et e d .

’
Th en t h e e m p eror r e p e at ed thr ee tim e s That s t h e v e ry ,
‘

’
t hin g and a s k e d what w as to b e don e I ans w e re d th at
, .

I u s ual ly gav e a gl a s s of w in e with p epp e r s p rin kl e d on it , ,

‘
but for yo u ki n gs w e only u s e t h e s a fes t re m e di es and it .

’
wil l su ffic e to a pp ly wool s oak e d in hot n ard ointm e nt l o cally .

T h e e m p eror ord er e d t h e wool w i n e etc to b e b rought and , ,

.
, ,

I l eft t h e room H i s fe et w e r e warm e d by rubbing w ith hot

.

hand s and a ft er drin king t h e p ep p er e d w in e h e s aid to

, ,

P i t h o l a u s ( h i s s on s t utor ) W e hav e only o n e doctor and

’

th at an hon es t o n e and w e nt on to d es crib e m e as t h e fir s t

,
’

o f p hy s i ci an s ; an d t h e on ly p hilo s o p h e r for h e had tri ed ,

m any b efor e who w e r e not only lov ers o f m on e y but al s o ,

”
cont e nt iou s amb iti o u s e nviou s and m alignant
, ,
.

T h e abov e ( w hi ch i s s l ightly abridg e d from t h e D e

P r en oti one ad P os thuni ur n c ap xi ) i s i nt e r esting both i n ,
. .

it s e l f a n d as a ffordin g an e xam p l e of G al e n s id e a of a
’

cli n ic al hi s t ory T hough h e h as writt e n comm e ntari es on

.

e ac h o f t h e forty two ca s es s o w e ll d e s crib e d by H i pp ocr t

- a es ,

it s ee m s to h av e n e v e r o cc urr e d to him t hat th ey w e r e worth

 I O2 I I T
M ED CA L H S O RY .

i mitatin g an d th eir di ffe r en c e in thi s r es pec t i s on e of th e

,

many contrast s b et w ee n t h e t w o great e st of anc i ent ph y

s i c i an s
. H i ppocrat e s t e ll s u s bri efly and s im pl y what h e
h as ob s erv ed of t h e nat ural hi s tory of various di s eas es in ,

ord er that oth ers may do li k e w i s e an d t hat som e d efinit e

,

kn o w l edge m ay be obtain e d o f w hat d i s eas e is how it a ffec ts ,

t h e h uman body and i t s p robabl e cours e in e a c h ca s e

,
B ut .

th e stori e s w hi ch from tim e to ti m e e nl iv e n t h e e ndl e ss

di s cu ssion s of Gal en ar e introduc e d e it h e r t o show how
m uch cl eve re r h e w as than h i s coll eagu e s or at b es t to ,

e x e m p li fy and su pp ort s om e p arti c ular th e ory .

And in thi s as in oth e r matt e rs t h e m e di aeval physicians

, ,

followed G al en and not H i pp ocrat e s I n t h e m edi c al w rit

.

in g s of t h e n ext tw e lv e c ent uri es w e sh al l fin d m any i n

,

t er es t i n g s tori e s o f p ati e nt s b ut w e s hal l not fin d a singl e

,

cl inical hi story of t h e typ e origin at e d by H i pp ocrat es and ,

“
tak en down dail y by ev e ry mod e rn clin ica l c l erk \t
was it that our an c es tor s cho s e G al e n as th eir guid e w hil e ,

t h e p hy s ician whom h e hi m s el f ac kn o w l e dg e s as hi s m ast e r ,

an d whom all now admit to hav e b ee n t h e grand e r genius b e ,

c am e fo r a ti m e littl e mor e than t h e s hadow of a gre at nam e !

On e r eason was that t h e s y s t e m of t h e form er w as ado pt ed
by t h e Arabs who s e g re at e s t r ep r es e ntativ e Avi c en n a may
, , ,

b e d e scrib ed as m ore Gal e nic than G al e n him s e lf but oth ers ,

m ay b e foun d i n t h e div e rs iti e s b et w ee n t h e two p hysi cians ,

t h e more im p ortant o f whi ch may b e b ri e fly e nu m e rat ed .

S om e of th e m l i e u p on t h e s urfac e . H i p p oc rat e s s ep a rat ed

m edi cin e from p hi lo s o p hy ; t h e gr e at aim of Gal e n w as to
r e un it e th em H i pp ocrat es thin k s littl e o f th eory and m uch
.

of obs e rvat ion ; Gal e n i f h e do es not ab s ol ut e l y r eve rs e

,

t h e ord e r at l e ast c on s id e r s t h e m o f e q ual im ort an c e To

,
p .

H i pp ocrat e s m e dicin e i s b efor e al l thin gs an art “ t h e Art , ,

as h e contin ual ly cal l s it ; G al en con s id e r s th is a s it s lo w e st

as pe ct but his obj e ct i s not s o m uch to conv ert it i nto a
,

sci en c e as into a p hilo s o p hic s y s t e m and h e a c c epts in its

,

full es t s en s e th e D ogmatic motto : Th e physi cian who i s also

a philoso ph er i s godlik e
104 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

a ntiq uat ed and out w orn th ere by bringing ridic ul e both on

,

th em s elv e s and th eir m ast er w e mu s t not l et thi s blind u s

,

t o th e gr eatn ess and im p ortanc e o f h i s work S om e of it .

,

a s w e hav e s e e n i s of p e rman e nt valu e

,
M u ch mor e of it .

w as th e b e st t hat could b e don e und e r t h e circum stan c e s ;

and G al e n se em s to hav e coll e ct ed toget h er as i f by som e ,

s p e cial p rovid enc e tho s e p art s o f t h e Gr e e k m e dicin e whi ch

,

c ould b e most r eadily assimilat e d by h i s s ucc e ssor s I t h as .

b ee n w e ll s aid that j u s t as t h e Rom an C hurch p r es e rv e d t h e

s p iritual un ity o f W e st e rn E uro p e during t h e m iddl e ag e s ,

s o did t h e writing s of Ari stotl e and Gal en p r e v ent it from

falling to p i e c es int el l e ctually H ad G al e n s work s b e en ’

.

lo s t th er e can b e littl e doubt that th e dark age o f m e di cin e

,

w o uld hav e b een dark e r and mor e p rolonge d t han it w as ,

for t h e m e di aeval p ract iti on e r could no mor e hav e app re c i

a t e d t h e high e r an d fr ee r t e aching of t h e p hy s ic i an o f C os

th an h e could have und e rstood thos e grand word s It ,

”
s ee m e d good to t h e D em o s which H i p p ocrat e s s aw in scrib ed
,

at t h e h ead of e v ery d e cree and h eard p roclai m ed in ev ery

,

a s s embly .

XX L —T H E M E D I CA L P RO F E S S I O N IN RO M E .

I N 1 7 2 3 t h e ann ual H arv e ian oration d e l iv e r e d by D r , .

Richard M e ad d e alt with t h e e arly hi story of m e dicin e and

, ,

g av e ri s e to a controv e r s y on t h e s ocial s tat e of p hysici an s in

Rom e which s p r ead t hroughout E uro p e an d l a s t e d s o long ,

t hat indu s triou s G e rman s hav e d evot ed s p e cial work s to it s

h i s tory 1 B ut it w ill b e s u ffi ci ent fo r u s to ac c ep t t h e j udg
.

m ent of C ic ero who s ay s that m e dicin e l ik e archit e ct ure i s

, , ,

no di s honourabl e occu p ation for tho s e to w ho s e ran k in li fe

it i s s uit e d H ad t h e gr e at orator b een a s k e d w hom h e
m e ant ,
h e would p robably hav e an s w e r ed w ith s om e ,

surp ris e Fre ed m e n and fore ign e rs ; c e rtain ly no Rom an

'

c itiz e n Re coll e cting h is own p hy s i cian A s cl e p iad e s h e , ,

might have add ed that oth er nat ion s h ad oth er id e a s and ,

 PH Y S I C IA N S I N R OM E . 10 5

t h at sho uld a c u lt ure d an d t rav el l e d Gr ee k c om e to Rom e h e ,

( t h e con sul ) wou ld not h e sitat e to m eet h i m a s a n e q ual ,

t h ou gh a p hysi c ia n and m i ght ev e n invit e h im to t h e T u s

, ,

c ulan vill a to di s c u ss Fal e rn ian win e and t h e E p icure an p hilo

so p hy wit h L i c iniu s C ra s sus an d ot h e r c on sulars B ut th at .

h is own son or t h e son o f any oth er r e s pec tabl e Rom an

,

m edicin e e xc e p t p ur ely as an am at eur —as

,

s hou ld s t udy
,

t h at int e ll ig ent young m an C orn e li us C elsus s e em e d to b e

, ,

d 0 1n g w o u l d b e a c al amity
quam aver tant D ei i m ni or tal es
~
.

Cra s s u s I nd e ed was d ead wh en C i c ero b ec am e con s ul an d

, , ,

C e ls u s was p rob ably y et unborn b ut t h e abov e m ay b e t ak en ,

as e x p r e ssin g t h e id e a s o f e v e n t h e m or e lib e ral mind e d -

Rep ublican s on t h e st at u s o f t h e p hysi c ian .

I n l at e r ti m e s wh e n J u liu s had grant e d th e cit iz en shi p ;

,

wh e n August us had twic e ow e d his l i fe t o hi s p hysi cian s ;

wh e n Ti b e ri u s a nd N ero h ad w e ll n igh d est roy e d t h e old -

ari s tocracy of Rom e an d s lav e s an d fr eedm en had t h e ear of

,

t h e e m p e rors t h e so c ia l p osit ion of m edicin e was gr e at ly

,

alt er ed and w e fi nd Quintili an 3 r e com m endin g a s a subj e ct

,

for l ega l e x er c is e s a qu estion w h ic h wo uld p rob ab ly hav e

m u ch di sgu st ed th e con s ul who s e e loqu en c e sav e d hi s ,

c o untry : Whi ch i s th e mo s t u s eful m emb er of t h e S tat e ,

”
t h e orator t h e p hysi ci an or t h e p hi loso p h e r !
, ,
Two oth e r
c aus es c ontrib ut ed t o t his ri s e of m e dicin e in th e social scal e ,

t h e e stabl ish m e n t of t h e Ar c h i at r at e wh i c h d e s e rv es a ,

c ha p t er t o it s e lf and t h e w e alth a cqu ir ed by som e o f it s

,

p ra ct ition e rs W e m u st not exaggerat e th e l att er ; t h e ca s e

.

w as t h e n m u c h a s it i s now A fe w abl e p ractit ion e r s a few

.
,

4
n otoriou s q ua cks m ight obtain gr eat p oss e ssion s X eno p hon
,
.

m ight r e c e iv e £ 50 0 0 y e arly from an e m p eror an d com p lain

t h at h e cou l d h av e got m ore in p rivat e p ractic e ; C h ar m i s ,

t h e wat e r doctor from M ar s e il l e s m igh t b e p aid £2 0 0 0 by a ,

s in gl e p ati e nt ; but t h e re was t h e u s u al c rowd at t h e bottom

of t h e ladd e r and w e h e ar of s ev e ral p hysi c ian s who w e r e

,

c o m p e l l e d to tak e t o l ess honourabl e but mor e l ucrativ e callings

t o es c a p e s tar vat ion on e of whom t o t h e d el ight of t h e w it s

, ,

6
o f t h e age b ec a m e an und rt ak r s assista nt
’

,
e e A larg e p r o .
10 6 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

p ortion of th e p ro fe s s ion , too , s til l b e long ed to t h e

s e rvil e
cla s s N or i s
. t h e r e a s on far to s eek fo r , by h avin g
,
o n e or

mor e s lav es ed ucat ed as p hy s i cian s th e ir own e r n ot on ly ,

s av ed m edical e x p en s es b ut gr e at ly in cr ea s e d t h e va lu e o f
,

h i s p ro p erty and t h e J u s tin ian cod e es t imat e s t h e ser vus

,

uzed i c us at 6 0 solidi j u st th re e t im es th e v a l u e o f an
ordinary l aboure r an d doubl e t hat o f an arti s an
,
.

Th e d ev e lo p m e nt of s p e ciali s m and o f tho s e variou s,

m e di cal p arasit e s who natural ly flo urish in large and

l uxuriou s com muniti e s i s p e rha p s th e most striking char
,

ac t er i s t i c of p ro fe s s ional hi s tory un d e r t h e e arly e m p e ror s .

T h e s kirt s of t h e m e dical rob e h av e alway s had an u n

fort unat e t end en cy to d rag in t h e dirt and t h e ge n e ral ,

C haract e r o f m any o f th es e S e ci ali s t s w as anything but

p
r e p utabl e O nly t h e m ore p romin e nt cla s s es can b e h e r e
.

m e ntion ed and w e s hall fir s t co n s id e r t h e o p ht halmi c

an d drug—
,

s urg e on s s el l e r s l e avin g t h e l ady do ctors and

,

m ed ical rubb ers fo r a fu ture C ha p t e r .

I n t h e D e O r a tor e C ic e ro ma k es C ra s s us ob s e rv e that
al l art s ar e d e grad ed by divi s ion ; and h e a s ks ironical ly
D o you s u pp os e that in t h e day s of t h e C oan H i p p o crat es
t h e r e w e re s p ecial p hy s ician s fo r di s e a s e s oth e r s for wo unds , ,

an d oth er s again fo r t h e ey es !
, ,
”
W e hav e s ee n that th ere
c e rtainly w e r e at any rat e in E gy pt and in G r ee c e w e h e ar
, ,

both o f s urge on s and o p hthal mi s t s v e ry soon a ft e r t h e H i pp o c

r at i c a e though it w as n o t till t h e Rom an
g , p e riod t hat S p e cial
i s m b ecam e p romin ent Gal en t e ll s u s t hat i n h i s t im e larg e
.
, ,

citi es s uch as Rom e and Al e xandria s w arm ed with S p e ci

, ,

al i s t s who al s o trav ell ed about from p l ac e to p lac e

, M artia l .

e num e rat es s om e o f th e m in an e p igram : C as c e l l i u s e x

tract s and r ep air s bad t eeth ; you H yginu s caut e ri s e i n , ,

gro w in g e y e l a s h e s ; Fanni n s c ur es a r e l ax ed uvula w ithout

cutting ; E ro s r e mov e s brand marks from s lav es ; H e rm es -

”
i s a v e ry Podaliri u s fo r ru ptur e s (x B ut t h e most
.

n um e rou s an d notoriou s w er e t h e oc ulist s who s ee m to h av e ,

b ee n furth er divid ed into a m e di cal and s urgical branch .

T h e gr e at occu p at ion of t h e form e r w as t h e i nv ention of n ew

10 8 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

p art s l e ad
, oxid e 2 3 p art s carbonat e of lim e 1 8 p e roxid e , ,

of iron 1 6 , black oxid e o f co pp e r and s ilica 4 p arts ;

ot h er fragm e nt s gav e a con s id e rabl e p erc e ntag e of zin c and ,

“ ”
cadm ium i e calamin e t h e nativ e carbon at e o f t hat m etal
, . .
, , ,

i s a common ingredi ent o f t h e p r es cri p tion s fo r ey e salv e s -

which hav e com e do w n to u s .

T h e Roman s u s e d t h e tit l e m e dicu s as w e that of ,

doctor wit h gr eat lib e rality and s om e ti m e s a pp l i e d it to

, ,

“
a c la s s o f p er s on s whom t h e G r ee ks call e d drug s e l l e rs -

( p h ar m ac opo l m) w h o w er e t h e middl e m e n b et w ee n t h e
,

p hy s ician s and t h e h e rb gath e re r s ( rhizot om i ) T h e anci e nt

-
.

p hy s i cian com p ound ed h i s own p r es cri p tion s though Pliny ,

r ep roach e s thos e o f h i s day with b eing un abl e to do so and ,

havin g to buy t h e m r eady m ad e from t h e drug s el l er ; and - -

w e m u s t re m e mb e r that it w as not til l t h e Arabi c p e riod that

t h e drug s e l l e r d ev e lo p e d into t h e a p oth e cary or middl e man
-
,

b e tw ee n t h e p hy s ician and h i s p at i ent B ut doubtl es s t h ey .

o ft e n s old m e dicin es to t h e p ubli c as w e l l as p e rfum es , ,

p oi s on s lov e p hiltr e s et c and t h ey c ertain ly manag e d to

, ,
.
,

e arn a v e ry bad r e utat ion

p W e find th e m cl a s s ed with .

actor s ball et girl s an d oth e r ( at that tim e) di s r ep utabl e

, ,

p er s on s . A d e m agogu e i s s aid to b e ar t h e s am e r e lation to

a ge n uin e p olitician as a drug se l l er do es to a do ctor an d a -

writ e r s ee kin g for a ty p e of utt er folly s ay s it i s as t hou gh a

t o w n p a s s ing ov e r a good p hy s ician cho se a drug se l l er as its -

doctor T h e chi ef charg e again s t th e m i s indicat e d by t h e

.

fact that m ed icam e nt ariu s which i n t h e day s o f Pliny ,

-

”
m e ant drug s e l l e r had by t h e t im e of Th eodosiu s b e com e
-
, , ,

t h e r e cogni se d word fo r p oison e r

O n t h e oth er s id e w e may m e nt ion t h e la s t w il l and
,

t es ta m ent o f a d rug s e l l e r in t h e s mall t own o f L ar i n u m

-
,

who b equ e ath e s 3 0 0 p ot s of drugs and about £60 0 in mon ey , ,

t o hi s so n i n law on condit ion t hat h e s hal l alway s s u pp ly

- -

“
t h e p oor with m e di cin e s grati s 6 H e m u s t hav e b een a .

”
C hri s t ian s ay admi ring com m e ntator s ; but w e m ay ho e
, p
that ev e n a p agan m ight ri se t o t hat h e ight o f post mor tem -

b e n e vol en c e .
 O FFI C I A L M ED I C I N E I N ROM E . I 09

NO TES .

1
Sc h l ager H i s tor i a l i ti s d e Romanos
a

, ni ed i c or um a pud veter os d egenti um

cond i ti on e, 1
7 40 .

2
D e Offici i s , i .
42 .

v ii i .
Qu i n til i an s u gges t s t h e fo l l o w i n g c as e : A m an h av i n g
.
38 .
,

t h ree s o n s a p h il o s o p h e r an o r at o r
, l aw yer an d p o liti c i an ) a n d
, ,

a p h y s i c i an d i v i d e s h i s
, p r o p e rty i n t o fo u r p art s an d l e av es t h e e xt ra
s h ar e t o t h e o n e m o s t u s e fu l t o t h e S t a t e W h i c h s h o u l d h ave it .

4
li n y N H xxix 5 T h er e c an b e l ittl e d ou b t t h at t h e Q S te ti n i us
P , . .
, . . . r

o f P l i n y i s i d e n ti a l w it h t h e X eno h on o f T a c it us an d t h e C S ter ti n i us
p c .

X enoph on o f t h e i n s c r i p ti o n s C h av i n g b e e n c h an ge d t o Q b y s o m e ,

c o p yi s t .

5
D i aul u s , w h o w as o n c e a s ur ge o n ,

it N ow t ass s s an u n d er ak er ,

H e e a t l gt h h fi d t h r ffi c e en e n s e o

T o w h i h al o e h i s s k ill i s su it d ( M a ti al i
c n e r , .

T w o m o r e o f M ar ti a l s m e d i c a l e p i gr am s d e s e rve q uo t ati o n o n e fo r
’

t h e li gh t it t h r ow s u p o n t h e c li n i c al t eac h i n g o f t h e p er i o d th e o t h er for ,

t h e e x c e l l en c e o f t h e t r a n s l ati o n .

T h e for m er m ay b e free ly r en d e r ed t h u s

L a gu i d I l ay an d t h u a n e t O S ymm a h u qu i k ly t o s
n ,
o m e r s ,
c s, c ee e

Qui c k ly th a n s t a d w ith th
ou e a hu d
r e d m ed i c al st ud n t s
n ee n re e :

Th h u n d d p aw d m e al l o e w it h h a d s
e re e geal d by t h o th w in d v r n c on e e n r .

A gue b ef I h ad on b ut n o w b y A po ll I h a it (
ore n e, ,
o, ve v .

Th e fo l l o w i n g i s fro m t h e D ubl i n Uni ver s i ty M agazi ne o l xl v ii : ,

v . .

L ast n i gh t A d ago a w a w ll a d h ea ty n r r s s e n r ,

T h m e i e t gu st at al l o u d i
e p a ty
rr s e r n n er r ,

A n d d ad t h i s m i g I W h at w as h i attack
e or n n s

H e d eam t h e s aw H e m o at r t h e qu ac k ( i r cr es v .

6
O re l l i I nscr ipt L at . .
,
1 14 .

O n t h e gen e ra s ub l j ec t s ee M o mm s e n M arq uard t , H a nd buch der

an d

Roi ni sch en A l ter th i i mer , v ii 7 4 9 , etc ;

. . D up o uy , M éd eci ne et M ceu r s d e
L
’
a nci enne Rome P ar i s , ,
1 89 1 , a n d t h e var i o us D i c ti o nar i es of An tiq uity .

XX I I — O F F I C I A L M E D I C I N E
.
IN A N C I E N T RO M E .

W H E N t h e E m p e ror C laudi u s mad e a s p eech to t h e S enat e

r e q u e s tin g e x e m p tion from t ax e s for t h e I sland of C o s h e of ,

cour s e introd uc e d t h e nam e of i E s c u l ap i u s an d h e t old h i s ,

I IO M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

h ear ers that h i s o w n m edi cal att e ndant X e no p hon w as a , ,

dir ect d es c en dan t of that divin e p hy s i cian 1 I f t h e e m p e ror .

d id not mak e thi s u p fo r t h e oc ca s ion X e n o p hon i s t h e ,

lat e s t known m e mb e r o f t h e gr e at famil y o f t h e A s c l ep iad ae

h e i s al s o p erha p s t h e fir s t of a n e w ord e r t hat o f t h e
, , ,

I m p e rial Archiatri but h e see m s to hav e gain e d o r at l east

, ,

r etain ed thi s honour by br e aking t h e oath o f h i s gui ld and

,

a s s i s ting in t h e m urd e r of h i s ma s t e r Phy s ician s ala s ' .

,

are too O ft e n found as ab e ttor s in t h e crim es o f t h e e arly

e m p ir e but w e m u s t r e m e mb e r that m an y w e r e s til l in t h e

,

p o s ition o f s lav e s or at b es t fr e e dm en
, ,
I n t h e h ands o f an
,
.

A gri pp in a or a M es s alina t h e C hoic e m u st o ft en hav e b een

b et w ee n virt u e and li fe and w e n ee d not gr e at l y blam e a
,

p agan p ractition e r i f h e s om etim es p r efe rr e d t h e la t t e r

'

What ev e r e l s e i s k nown o f X eno p hon i s t o hi s c r edit W e .

h av e t h e in s cri p tion s of t h e p eo p l e o f C o s p rai s in g him as

t h e ir p ublic b e n efactor ; and r e lat ing h i s lon g s e rvic e with
t h e army in which h e gain e d t h e bl unt s p e ar and t h e gold
,

c rown re ward s for di s tingui s h e d condu ct in t h e fi e ld ; and

,

w e m ay ho p e th at that o n e t erribl e crim e i s t h e on ly blot on

t h e oth e r w i s e honourabl e li fe of t h e la s t A s cl e p iad 3 .

I n th e p rin ci p al ep igra p h 4 X e no p hon i s e ntitl e d archia

”
t ru s or chi ef p hy s i cian to t h e augu s t divinit i es a t erm
, , ,

p robably m eant to in c l ud e A g ri p p ina and N e ro ; and h e w as

s u cc ee d e d in that o ffic e by An d ro m ac h u s inv e ntor of a ,

famou s th e riac or antidot e

, I t u s ed to b e thought t hat t h e
.

A r c h i at r at e w as a p ur e ly Roman in s tit ution but t h e o ffic e , ,

a s w e l l as t h e nam e a pp e ar s to b e G r ee k for t h e t it l e i s
, ,

a pp li e d in in s cri p tion s t o t h e p hy s ician s o f E a s t e rn king s ,

s u ch as M ith ridat e s o f Pont u s W e m ay p erh a p s e v e n

.
, ,

”
t rac e i t s ori g in to E gy p t w h er e t h e titl e chi ef p hy s ician
, , ,

w as v e ry common and w as as w e hav e s ee n a pp li ed to t h e

, , ,

mo s t an ci ent kn o w n p ractition er O f m edicin e B ut w hat e v e r .

b e i t s antiq uity t h e n am e h as s urviv ed in an alt e r ed form

, . ,

t o ou r o w n day fo r ph ilologi s t s t e l l u s that t h e G erm an

,

arzt i s d e riv ed not from arti fe x but from archiat e r w hich

, ,

b e cam e corru pt ed to aers at er

1 12 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

an aut hority which w e cou ld not right eously ex erc i s e ov e r

oth ers .

T h e s econd class w e r e a furth e r d ev elo p m ent of t ho s e

comm unal p hysician s w h o had s o long e xist ed in G r ee k citi es .

T h e p rivil eg es which t h e gratitud e of Augu st u s had b e stow e d

on t h e whol e pro fession w er e r es trict e d by Antoninus to fi v e ,

se v e n or t en p hysici an s in e ach city a cc ordin g to it s s iz e

, , ,

w h o w er e e l e ct e d by t h e m unici p ality and n eighbouring

landown ers and who in t h e r eign of C on stantin e had
, , ,

“
acquir e d t h e tit l e of archiatri p o p u lare s
At Rom e t h e n ee d o f a p ublic m e dic al s ervi c e s eem s to
have b e en l es s obviou s an d it w as not until A D 3 7 8 t hat an
, . .

archiat er w as a pp oint ed fo r e ach of t h e fou rt een dist rict s of

t h e city by a d e cr ee o f t h e E m p e ror V al e ntinian Th es e .

di ffe r ed from th e form e r cla s s in b e in g und er th e control ,

not o f t h e local authority but of t h e c entral gov ernm ent

, ,

w hi l e vacan ci e s w er e fill e d u p by t h e vot e s of t h e su rvivor s ,

w ho s e choi c e p erha ps had to b e a pp rov ed by th e e m p eror

, , .

T h e fou rth and fifth cl a s ses com p ri s e d t h e h ead s of tho se

” “ ”
cl ub or soci eti e s
s C oll e gia, or S chol ae which s p rang ,

u p in gr eat nu mb ers d urin g t h e early e m ir e bot h in th e

p ,

m e dical and in oth e r p ro fes s ion s and t h e physician s of t h e

,

“
p ort i on s xystu s or gymna s ium at Rom e and of t h e
, , ,

Ves tal Virgin s who cont in u e d t il l t h e b eginnin g of th e fi fth

,

c e nt ury .

“
Th e archiatri p o p ular es w er e p ermitt ed to p ractis e
p rivat e ly but t h e ir chi ef d uti e s w er e to att en d t h e sic k p oor
, ,

and to in st ruct p u p il s in th e ir art T h e im perial edict s .

command t h e gr eat es t car e to b e tak en in t h eir el ec tion ,

which was p r e c ed ed by som e sort of examinat ion but t h ey ,

do not s eem to hav e h ad any cont rol over th e p rofe ssion

g en erally and as in anci ent Gr ee c e t h e p ra c ti c e of m edicin e
, , ,

w as o p en t o any o ne Th e in s t itution how ev er doubtl e ss

.
, ,

h ad a favourabl e infl u en c e on m e di c al edu c ation Tho s e .

who int end ed t o as p ire to th e Arc h i at rate would be s pec ially

careful as to th eir c ou r s e of st udy of whi c h t h ey m ight h av e
,

to giv e an ac c ount wh i l e at t h e sam e t i me th e n u m b e r of

 L ADY DOC TORS . I I 3

w el l qual i fi ed t e ac h ers was gre atly in c re as e d an d s c hool s

-
,

of m ed icin e aro s e in vario u s l ocal iti e s som e of whi c h as at , ,

B en even t u m an d Avran c h e s l a s t e d til l t h e b eginnin g of t h e

,

m iddl e ag es Fin al ly th e a cq uir e m ent of a l e gally r ec og

.
,

ni sed tit l e carrying wit h it many p rivi l eg es and im mun iti es

, ,

by larg e n umb e rs of p hysi c ian s t end ed in no sm al l d e gr ee t o

rais e t h e social stat u s of th e wh ol e p rofession .

Th e ep it a p h of Val e ria Ve r e c unda 6 which call s h er h ead ,

midwife of h er di st ri ct s ee m s to indicat e t hat t h e p oor of

”
,

Rom e w e r e su pp li ed with s p e cial as w el l as ge n e ral m ed ical

ai d and that t h e an c i ent s had alr eady to som e e xt ent s ettl ed
,

t h e qu e st ion of t h e r egistration of midwiv e s That class .

,

in d eed h e ld a r e lativ ely m uch high er p osit ion t han at pr es ent

, .

“
Pliny s pe aks of a N obi l i t as o b s tet ri c u m t h e J ustinia n

cod e e stim at e d t h e obst etrix of s e rvi l e ran k at t h e sam e high

”
va l u e as t h e s ervu s m e dic u s an d t h ey ar e fr equ ent l y
,

“ ”
all ude d to by th e gen eral t itl e m edic ee fo r th ey by no
, ,

m ean s c onfin ed t h em s elv e s to ob st etri c s or e v e n to t h e ,

dis eas e s o f wom e n an d childr e n S c r i b on i u s L argus wh o

.
,

wrot e a book on drugs about A D 50 m e nt ion s a r e s p ec tabl e

. .
,

m atron who cure d ep il ep sy at Rom e wit h a s p e cifi c c on si st

’
in g chi efly of ani mal s blood and an African m edica w h o
,

had a wond e rful r em edy for col i c com p os e d of burnt horn , ,

snail s and win e t h e s e cr et of w hi c h h e bought at a gr e at

,

“
p ri c e A ccording to t h e satiri s t s of th e p eriod t h e s e m edic ee
.
,

w er e of anything b ut high charact e r and w e r e e v e r r eady ,

t o assist in p oi sonings abo r tion s and all kind s of wi ck e d

, ,

n ess ; b ut a fair e r an d not un favo urab l e es timat e may b e

gath e r ed from th e writings of th eir c ol l e agu es of t h e oth er
sex . Thu s t h e gr eat H er ac l i d es of Tar e ntu m d e di c at es h i s
tr eati s e on nos e bl eedi ng t o a c ertain Ant i oc h i s som e of
-
,

whos e p r es cri p tion s Gal en him s e lf has not di sdain ed to c o py ,

wh il e at a l at er period Th e odor e Priscian address ed t h e

gyn ae colo gi cal p art of h i s work on m e di cin e to Vi c toria ,

wh om h e call s th e sweet s er vant of my art Th e Roman ”

l aw dir e ct ed that t h eir assist anc e s h ould b e invok e d for t h e

d ec ision of c e rtain m edi c o l egal q u e stion s a cu sto m w h i c h
-
,

8
1 I 4 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O

of
w a s p robab ly t h e origin of th e no w n e arly extin ct j ury
m at ron s
I n con cl usion s p ac e only p e r m it s a bri ef not i c e of t h e
,

”
m edical rubb e r s t h e i at ro l i pt ze o f t h e Gr ee k s who flou ri s h e d
“
,
,

g r e atly at R om e and w ho se r e p ut ation w as ev e n wor s e th an

,

t hat o f t h e m e dic ee and t h e drug s el l er s T h e ir d ep ravity -

.

m ay b e b es t ex p r es s e d in t h e l anguag e of t h e p hiloso p h e r
S en e ca who d e clar es tha t h e woul d rath er thru s t h i s hand
,

into t h e fi r e lik e M uc i u s S c mv o l a than hav e it m a s s aged

, ,

by any o n e of t h e m mal e or femal e Pliny th e young er ,

. ,

how ev e r w as l e s s fastidiou s or mor e fortunat e for w e find

, , ,

him r equ es tin g t h e E m p eror Traj an to g rant t h e citiz en s hi p

not on ly to h i s p hysician M arin u s but al s o t o h i s privat e , ,

rubb e r H ar p oc r as ( x
,
.

N OT E S .

1
T ac it us ,xii 6 1 an d 6 7
A un.
,
. .

Th p a r a m o ur s of L iv i a a n d M es s a li n a ar e u n w o rt h y o f n o ti c e
2
e

i n a m e d i c a l h i s t o ry ; b ut w e ar e n t w it h o u t i n s t an c es o f an o p p o s it e
o

ki n d T h us ac c ord i n g t o H ero d i an t h e fi r t a c t o f t h e i n fam o u s

.
, ,
s

C ar ac a ll a w a s t o o r d e r t h e ex ec u ti o n o f t h e C o u rt p h y i c i a n s b e c aus e s

t h ey h a d r efus e d at h i s r q u es t t o h a s t e n t h e d e at h o f h i s fa t h er S ever us
e .

Ar c h d e ac o n F ar rar i n h i s r o m an c
J
D ar k ness a nd D a w n h o l d s e, ,

u p X e n o p h o n t o e x ec rati o n as a h i d eo u s e x a m p l e o f p ag an d e p r av ity

c o n t r a s t e d w it h C h r i ti a n v i t u ; c yn i c al a t h e i s ti c an d
“ “ ” “
s r e c as e ,

h a rd e n e d b y c r i m e ar e a m o n g h i s m il d r ep it h e t s B ut w e m ust
”
e .

r em e m b er t h at T ac it us q ua l i fi es h i s a c c o un t o f t h e p h ys i c i an s gu ilt ’

r an d t h at t h e w h o l e t o ry of t h e po i s o n i n g o f
“
by t h e w o d c re d i t ur
_ , s

C l a ud i u s h as b ee n q u es ti o n e d b y m o d er n c r iti c s X e n o p h o n m ay h ave .

b ee n as es ti m ab l e a m an a s a n y C h r i s ti an i n Ro m e a n d w as at an y rat e ,

c o n s i d r e d a c re d it t o h i s fa m ily fo r h i s s i s t
e l n l aw a ft e r r ec o u n ti n g h er
,
er- -

h u b an d s h o n o ur s i n c l u d i n g t h a t f “ t r i b u n e o f t h e t w e n ty s e c o n d
’
s o -

l e gi o n t w i c e i n s o l e c o m m an d c o nc l ud es a s a n ac m o f res p c t ab ility
,
e e

w it h a n d b r o t h er t o S t e t ti n i us X e n o ph o n t h e ar c h i at r us
“
,

4
P u sc h m ann c al l s it a t o m b s t o n e b ut a c c o r d i n g t o P at o n an d ,

H i c ks I nscr ipti ons of Cos N o 3 4 5 it f r med t h e b a s e o f a t at ue w h i c h

, , .
, o s

w a s s et up d u r i n g t h e r e i g n o f C l au d i us .

Al ex an d er S everus h ad s eve n Co urt ph y s i c i a ns o n ly o n e o f w h o m ,

w as p ai d t h e o t h e r s i x r e c e i v i n g t w o or t h r e r ati o n s (annome) eac h o n e

, e ,

-o i w h i c h w as o f s up er i o r q u a lity ( annona m und a ) L am p r i cl i us i n V it a , .

I I6 M ED C I AL H S O I T RY .

occa s ion a l arge numb e r of soldi e rs ban dag ed variou s p art s

o f th e ir bodi e s and p r et e nd e d th e y w e r e wo und e d i n ord e r to

avoid s e rving und e r an un p o p ular l ead e r A victoriou s a rm y .

i s unabl e to p u rsu e t h e en e m y b e ca u s e it h alt e d to coll e ct

,

i t s wound e d and a d efe at e d o n e carri es o ff with it as many

,

w ound e d as p o s s ibl e ; w hat b e cam e o f t h e r e st w e h ad b ett e r

not inquir e L ivy furth e r in form s u s th at t h e wound e d
.

wh en brought hom e w er e car e d fo r in t h e hou s es of t h e gr eat ,

and that t h e Fabian fam ily m ad e th e m se lv e s es p e ci ally

o ular by th ir z al in thi good work O n o n e oc c a s ion
p p e e s .

t h e chi ef o ffic e r s r e c e iv e d th e m in th e ir o w n t e nt s aft e r a

battl e and had th e m t e nd e d th e r e doubt l e ss by s lav e s s om e

, , ,

o f whom m ay hav e b ee n o f Gr ee k origin and hav e had ,

s e cial m e dical t raining

p Towa rd s t h e clo s e o f t h e Rep ublic
.

w e find di s tin g ui s h e d g e n e ral s s uch as C ms ar t h e young e r

, ,

C ato and t h e C on s ul Pan s a alway s att e nd e d by Gr ee k

, ,

p hy s ician s and th e r e a re e v en indic ati on s o f an ambulanc e

,

s e rvi c e fo r L ab i e n u s
, aft e r t h e batt l e of Ru s p ina s ent h i s
, ,

“
w o und ed in waggon s to Ad r u m e n t u m T h e fol lo w ing .

p a s s ag e from C i c ero s s e cond Tusc ul an D i sputa ti on ( writt en

’

about B C 7 0 ) s ee m s to S how that th e r e w er e alre ad y s p ecial

. .

milit ary s u rge on s : Re cruit s ( h e s ay s ) mak e s ham eful ou t

c ri es ov er s li g ht wound s b ut t h e s e a son e d s oldi e r m e r e ly
,

looks ro und for a s urgeon to a p p ly t h e dr es s ing s

C ae sar s grant of t h e citiz e n s hi p t o al l p hysician s p r ac t i s
’

i n g in Rom e m ay hav e b een p r elim inary to t h e e s tabli s h

m e nt of an army m edical s e rvic e fo r non e but citiz en s cou ld
,

s e rv e in t h e l e gion s and (as i s s hown by t h e w el l known

,
-

s tory of how C aes ar qu e ll e d a m utiny ) t h e haughty s oldi e r

con s id e re d ev e n that cov e t e d t itl e a d e gradation At any rat e .

t h e e xi st en c e of a s tanding army m ust s oon hav e mad e t h e

introd uction of s om e d e finit e m edi cal s y s t em a matt er at on c e
n e c es s ary and p olitic Th e s a fety of a d es p ot d ep e nd s m uch
.

on hi s influ en c e ov e r t h e army and w e find Tib eriu s t h e , ,

most cra fty of t h e e m p e ror s winning t h e favour o f th e

,

troo p s d uring h i s cam p aign in I l lyria by taking with hi m

p hysicians litt e r s and e v e n a bath for t h e s p e cial b en e fit of
, ,
 T HE R OM A N A R M Y . 1 17

th e wo und ed T h e d ev e lo p m e nt of an army m edical s e rvic e

.

Would th u s b e favou r ed by both bad and good rul ers and t h e ,

fol lowing i s a bri ef o ut lin e of i t s condition und er t h e mo s t

warli k e of th e l att er cl a s s t h e E m pe ror Traj an at t h e c lo s e
, ,

of t h e fi rst c e nt ury .

T h e Rom an army o f t hi s p eriod may b e c lass e d und e r

t hr e e h ead s : ( 1 ) Th e garrison of t h e city com p rising n in e ,

p r et orian an d four urb an cohort s tog et h e r with t h e s ev e n

,

cohort s o f t h e Vigil es who act e d as p ol ic e and fi r em e n

,
.

E ach cohort cont ain e d 1 0 0 0 t o 1 50 0 m en and each a pp e ars ,

to hav e b ee n p rovi d e d with four s urge on s or m e di ci Th e

p r et orian s s ee m to hav e ev en had s p e ciali s t s for w e h e ar ,

”
of a m e dic u s c l i n i c u s or p u r e p hy s ician att ach e d to o n e
, ,

o f t h e i r cohort s ( 2 ) Thirty l egion s e ach con s i s tin g of t en

.
,

cohort s and abo ut 6 50 0 m en H er e w e on ly find m ent ion

.

”
of a m e dic u s l egi o n i s but from what i s known o f t h e v e ry
,

lib eral p rovi s ion fo r t h e mor e stay at hom e s oldi ers it wo ul d

- -
,

b e ab s urd t o su pp o s e that t h er e was on ly on e surg e on for

e ac h l e gion an d w e m ay e stim at e t h e ir n umb e r a s at l e a s t
,

six or p e rha p s ten though t h e y w e r e not att ach e d t o

, ,

p arti cu lar cohort s . T h e y ran ke d with t h e s t andard b ear er -

“ ”
an d t ru m p e t e rs among t h e p rin ci p al es or non commis -

s i o n e d o ffic e rs an d as may b e s e e n on Traj an s col umn th e y

’

, , ,

w or e t h e ordinary dr e ss and arm s of t h e l e gionary (3 ) .

Th e in fantry and cavalry of t h e alli e s wh ich w e r e divid ed ,

into cohort s and al ae r e s p e ctiv ely Th eir surgeon s w e r e

.
,

p e rha p s of a som ew hat in fe rior cla s s and ar e s om et im es

,

di s tin gu i s h e d by t h e tit l e ordi nari us Thu s t h e N ew ,

cast l e M u s e um cont ain s t h e tomb s ton e of An i c i u s I n ge n uu s ,

m e di cu s ordin ariu s to t h e fir s t T ungr i an cohort o n e of ,

t hos e e m p loy e d in b uildin g and d efe ndin g t h e Roman wall .

With t h e standing army cam e t h e stationary cam p s wit h ,

which w e may p robably conn e ct t h e cam p s urge on m e dic u s ,

” ”
c as t r e n s i s
,
an d t h e val etudinarium or mi litary hos p ital ,
.

T h e l att e r i s first m ention e d by H ygin u s in t h e s e con d

c e nt ury b ut had p robab ly alr eady exi st ed fo r s om e tim e
,
.

H e r e com m en ds that it should b e p lac e d o pp osit e t h e

II8 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

i
v e t er nar u i m, but at a s u ffici e nt di s tan c e t o s av e t h e
ati e nt s from b e in g di s turb ed by t h e noi s e o f t h e fabri ca
p ,

or black s mit h s s ho p Wh e n mor e t han t hr e e l e gion s w e r e

’
.

"
"
in t h e cam p th e r e w e r e additional val et udinaria an d th e ir
,
,

g en e ral arrange m ent s w e r e s u p erint end e d by s p e cial o ffic ers ,

”
th e
“
o pt i o n e s v a l e t u d i n ar i i who ran k ed a ft er t h e c e n
,

turion s .

T h e syst e m thu s bri efly s k etch e d was continu e d du ring

t h e Byzantin e E m p ir e w ith s om e slight modification s and
, ,

with t h e int er es ting addition s of t h e d ep ut ati and t h e

“
no s ocomi Th e d e p utati ar e fir s t m e ntion ed in t h e
E m p e ror M auric e s book On Tac ti cs ( about A D but
’
. .
,

a s h e mod e st ly con fes ses that h e know s nothin g of t h e

s ubj e ct and has co i e d from old e r writ e r s t h e y m ay hav e
, p ,

originat e d s om ewhat earli e r I n ev e ry t roo p or bandon

.

of ~
200 to 40 0 m en e ight or t e n stout fe l lows we r e
,

d ep ut ed to rid e imm e diat ely b ehind t h e fighting lin e to p ick

u p and r es c u e t h e woun d e d fo r which , p ur p os e th eir s addl es
h ad two stirru p s on t h e l eft sid e whi l e th e y th e ms e lv e s ,

w e r e p rovid e d w it h wat e r fl a s ks and p erha p s a pp li ed ,

t e m p orary bandage s Th e y w e r e e n co urag ed by a r e ward

.

o f a p i e c e o f go ld fo r e ach man t h ey r e sc u ed Th e noso .

comi w e r e mal e n urs e s att ach ed to t h e m ilitary ho s p ital s ,

“
but not in s crib ed on t h e s t r e ngt h o f th e l e gion s an d w er e ,

p robab ly fo r t h e mo s t p art o f t h e s e rvil e cla s s es .

T h e Roman navy t hough con sid e red a d e cid edly in fe rior

,

bran ch of t h e s e rvic e w as e qually w e l l p rovid e d with sur

,

geons and w e p o s se ss t h e ep ita p h s of at l e a s t four naval

,

” ”
m edici of t h e trir em es C u p id
, Tig e r ,
Faith and , ,

o f o n e unnam e d v e ss e l r e s e ctiv e ly Thr ee out of t h e fou r

p .

hav e t h e ep it h et d up l i c ar i u s indi cating that th e y r e c e ived

,

doubl e p ay and t h e fourth L ol li u s Val e n s di ed a few w ee k s

, , ,

“ ”
a ft e r h i s a ppointm e nt to t h e Fait h T h e p rivi l e g e can .

s carc e ly hav e b ee n d u e t o t h e amount o f t h e ir work fo r t h e ,

"
sm all L i b ur n i a n s which com p o s e d t h e Roman fl eet
did not contai n mor e than about 2 0 0 m en inc l udin g ,

row e rs and s oldi ers ; but w e m ay pe rha p s attrib ut e it to t h e

1 20 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

h u sband and m arri ed again b ut b ein g l eft a widow p ub licly

, , ,

r ep ent e d of h er s i n s old al l h er p o ss es sion s and es tabli s h ed

, ,

a ho s p ital fo r t h e sick in whi ch s h e h e r s e l f labour ed H ow .

o ft e n did s h e carry t h e s ic k on h er own s hould e r s ! H ow

o ft en did sh e wa s h t h e p utrid matt e r from wounds anoth er
c ou ld not hav e born e to look u p on ! With h er own hand s
s h e p r ep ar e d th eir food and moist e n e d wit h wat er t h e
,

”
p arch e d li p s of t h e dying .

P e rha p s t h e fir s t hos p ital found e d by vol untary contri

b ution s w as t hat of E d essa which trac ed i t s origin to St
,
.

E p hr e m t h e S yrian a holy man who could d e clar e on h i s

, ,

d e ath b ed that h e had n ev er s p ok en an idl e word To

-
.

achi e v e thi s miracl e h e w as oblig e d to p as s m uch of h i s li fe

a s a h e rmit but about A D
, , 3 7 2 h earin g t hat t h e p oor of
. .
,

E d e s s a w er e dying of s tarvation in t h e s tr eet s h e i s s u ed ,

from h i s cav e and r e b u k e d t h e rich C hri s ti an s of t h e town

,

fo r th e ir h e artl es s n es s Th e y r ep li e d t hat it was not charity

.

th ey l ack e d but an hon e s t m an to tak e charge of th eir

”
o ffe rin g s . What do you thin k of m e ! asked E p hr em .

Y ou ar e a m an univ e rsal ly r es p e ct e d and worthy of t h e ,

”
f ul l e st confid enc e S o t h e s aint at on c e mad e a coll ection
.
,

an d w ith th e p roc eed s e s tabli s h e d a ho s pit al of 3 0 0 b ed s in

t h e p ublic gall e ri e s I t soon how ev er fe ll i nto n e gl e ct and
.
, ,

h ad to b e r es tor ed at t h e b eginning of t h e n ext c ent ury by

B i s ho p Rabb o ul a whom w e s hall m ee t again shortly
, .

But t h e g rand e st effort o f e arly C hristian p hi l anthro py

”
w as t h e gr e at Pt o c h o t r o p h i o n or Al m s hou s e of S t Basil
, .
,

Bi s ho p of t h e C app adocian C aes ar ea ( 3 7 0 though Um

fortu nat e ly w e know nothin g of i t s m edi cal arran g e m ents ,

e xc e p t that it h ad s p e cial
p hy s ician s nor in how far t h e ,

bi s ho p was su pp ort ed by t h e cont ribution s o f hi s flock Th e .

h u mility o f S t Basil h as l eft u s on ly t h e l ett e rs in whi ch h e

.

d efend s h i s e x p enditur e an d p l eads for e x em ption from

,

t ax e s and h i s sil en c e i s but p artially aton e d for by t h e florid

,

e l oqu e n c e o f S t Gr e gory N az i an z en
. Th at e nth u s iastic
.

o rator bid s h i s h ear er s go forth from t h e gat e of

C a sar e a and th ey wi l l find anoth e r city b efor e wh ich t h e ,
 I N F LU E N CE OF CH R I STIA N I T Y . 12 1

s e v e n won d ers of th e p a gan worl d sin k into i n s i gn i fi c an c e .

H e r e t h e saint ly bisho p h ad gath er ed t og et h er t h e p oor t h e ,

fall e n t h e si c k an d t h e a ffl i ct e d fro m all p art s o f C hri s t e n

, ,

do m n or di d h e h esitat e to ki s s and em bra c e th e most loath

,

som e of l ep e rs n ot out of o st e ntation b ut in tok en that t h ey

, ,

al so w e re h i s brot h e rs in C hri st At a y et e arli e r p eriod w e .

h e ar of co m m uniti e s both of m en an d wom en p arabol an i ,

an d d e acon e ss es who so ught out t h e sic k and t end e d th e m

,

i n th e ir own hom e s an d who in t im e s of p estil en c e attract e d

,

e v e n t h e not ic e of t h e h e at h e n by th e ir c ourag e an d d e votion .

“
B ut t h e p arabolan i un fort unat ely too o ft e n d egen e rat e d
into body gu ard s of t u rb ul e nt bisho p s whom th e y a s s ist ed
-
,

in as s e rting or refutin g t h e olo gi cal do c trin es by t h e p hy s ica l

argu m e nt s of th ei r sword s and cudge l s .

And t his brings u s to a l es s attract iv e sid e of our s ubj e ct ,

t h e con s id eration of t h e un favourabl e infl u e nc e s whi ch t h e

n ew r e ligion had u on m e dicin e
p Th es e a c t e d in t hr ee.

p rin ci p al ways first by h e l p in g t o r estor e t h e p rimitiv e

,

t h e ori es of dis e as e ; s e cond ly wh e n C hristianity had ful ly ,

triu m p h ed by im p osin g r estriction s on fr ee thought and

,
-

in ves tigation ; and thirdly by giving ris e to r eligiou s con

, ,

t r o v er s i es so wid e s p r e ad and v e h e m e nt th at th ey som e tim e s

s ee m e d to ab sorb all t h e int e l l e ct u al en e rgi es of th e age O f .

t h e s e t h e first wa s at t h e ti m e now t reat ed of m uch th e most

, ,

p romin e nt b ut it m u st alway s b e r e m e mb er e d th at t h e evil

,

work h ad to a gr eat ext ent alr eady b een a c com p lish e d by t h e

G n osti c s and N eo p laton ist s Far b e it too that w e should.
, ,

in any way exaggerat e th is infl u e n c e or bring forward chan c e ,

r efe r e nc es t o d em on s in c ubi and t h e lik e as exam p l e s o f t h e

, , ,

e arly fait h of C hri st endom L et u s rath e r c onfin e our s e lv e s

.

to t h e writin gs of one of t h e most c u ltured of th e E a s t e rn

fath e rs t h e gr eat B isho p of C ae s ar ea him s e lf
,
.

S t Ba s i l was of a w eakly con s tit ution m u c h liabl e to

. ,

i ll n e s s an d h ad t h er efor e p aid gr eat att ent ion to m e dicin e

, ,

w hi ch h e d ec l ar e s i s t h e nobl es t of all worldly p ro fe s s ions .

H e h ad in all p robability r e ad t h e famo u s t r e ati s e on e p il ep sy ,

i n whi ch t h e H i pp o crat i c writ e r 80 0 y e ars b efor e S t B a s i l s

’
.
,
1 22 I AL
M ED C H I S T O RY .

day s o cl e arly p roclaim e d t h e nat ural origin of al l di s e a s e

, ,

and th e r eby a s s i s t e d in produ cing a r evol ution in m edicin e .

Y et t h e bisho p b e gins by flat ly contradicting him N o t all .

di s e a s es h e s ay s ar e p rodu c e d by natur e or ev en by our

, , ,

o w n vic es and bad habit s ; s om e ar e s e nt dir e ct ly from God

H im s e l f a s t rial s of o ur faith or p uni shm e nt s fo r som e fo r

ott n i n ( 1 C xi and wh e n e v e r w e are con s ciou s o f
g e s or . .

t hi s w e shoul d by no m e an s go to a p hy s ician but b e ar ,

p ati e ntly t h e cha s t en ing of th e L ord til l H e se e s fit to r e

mov e i t ( M icah vii And mo re than thi s ; som e di s eas es
.

may by t h e p e rmi s s ion o f God b e cau s e d by S at an ( J ob ii

, ,
.

6, an d h e r e al s o our chi ef obj e ct shoul d b e to e mu lat e

t h e p ati en c e o f t h e p atriarch T h e g ood bi s ho p how ev e r
.
, ,

did not l et h i s th e ori es int e r fe r e with h i s p rovi sion o f m edical

aid for t h e p oor and in t h e E a s t t h e H i pp ocratic tradit ion
,

w a s s ti ll s t rong e nough to n e ut rali s e t h e worst effe ct s o f

th e s e doctrin es B ut w h e n w e com e to con s id e r t h e corr e
.

sp on d i n
g p e riod in W e s t ern E uro p e w e s hal l find t hi s th e o ,

logic p athology stil l furth er d ev elo pe d an d j oin ed to a

t h e olo g ic th erap eu s i s and a b e li ef in t h e s ol e e fficacy of p r ay er
and t h e r elic s o f t h e saint s which had it b ee n carri e d to i t s
, ,

logical con clu s ion w ould hav e m ad e m e dic in e not o n l y a

,

u s e l es s but an im p iou s p ro fes sion .

Am ong t h e more p romin e nt form s o f p agan r e ligion th e

w or s hi p o f t h e m e dical divin iti es see m s to hav e linge re d
long es t ; nor di d t h e o p p on e nt s of C hri s tianity h e sitat e t o
com p ar e t h e cur es w rought in t h e t em p l es of [E s c u l api u s
and S era p i s with t h e m iracl es of s aint s and martyr s and ,

ev e n w ith tho s e r e cord e d by t h e e vang e list s It wa s .

n at ural th e r efor e that th e C h urch as s oon as s h e obt ain e d

, , ,

control of t h e s e c ular arm shou ld proc ee d to attack t h e s e

,

p r es u m p t uou s rival s ; but it wa s not unt il a c ent ury a ft er

t h e conv e r s ion of C on stantin e that t h e p ract ic e of inc uba
”
tion i n h eath e n t e m p l e s w as fin ally su p p r es s e d by t h e
d e crees of t h e e m p e rors and t h e viol e n c e o f t h e C hri s tian s .

I n t h e y ear 3 9 1 aft e r num erou s and bloody cont e st s in

,

t h e s tr eet s of A l e xandria a fanatical mob h e ad e d by th ei r

, ,
1 24 I A
M E D C L H S O RY I T .

in p ity fo r his w ant o f faith bad e him go at daybr e ak and ,

e at what h e wou ld find by a w e l l out s id e t h e ch urch He .

found th e re what s ee m e d lik e a m e lon and had n early ,

fini s h e d e ating it wh e n h e di s cov e r ed t hat h e h e ld in his

hand not t h e r emain s of a m elon b ut t h e tail of an asp .

Thi s gav e him s u c h a s hock that h e vomit ed not only th e

r es t of t h e as p w hich h e h ad e at e n but a lso t h e p oi s on ,

t ak e n s om e t im e b efor e and th e hi s torian con cl ud es : Thu s

t h e s aint s cur ed not cont rari e s by contrari e s as do mortal
, ,

”
doctor s b ut lik e s by t h e u s e o f lik e s
,
T h e m artyr s C yru s .

and J ohn are e vid e ntly w e ll s uit e d to b e com e p atron s aint s of

hom oeo p athy And j u s t as th e invocation of C yrus and J ohn
.

w a s s ub s tit ut e d for t h e wor s hi p of S e ra p i s s o t h e p lac e of ,

[E sc u l ap i u s w a s t ak en by t w o y et mor e famo u s m edical

s aint s C o s ma s and D amian in s om e o f who s e ch urch es
, ,

“
incubation w as p racti sed and whos e h e aling miracl es w e r e ,

in no way in fe rior to thos e o f th eir coll eagu es at Al exandria .

N OT E .

J e ro m e , Ep .
,
84 ; B as il ,
84 , 9 4 , 1 89 , an d I nter r ogati o, 55, A n
Ep .
,

M ed i c i ne: Us us P i eta ti s r
I ns ti tuto Conveni a t 9 G e go , Or a t , 4 3 ; S o z o m e n , ry .

H E. .
, 3, 16 ( fo r S t . Eph re m ) ; E un ap i us L ife of E d esi us ; B o ll an d A cta
, ,

S a nctor um , 3 I s t Jan .
( Cy r u s an d J o h n) an d 2 7 th S ep t ( C o s m as an d .

D am an ) i . l
S ee a s o H a es er , Gesch i ch te Ch r i stl i ch er K r an kenpfl ege und

Pfl e er sc h a
g f ten Ch a s t l
e ,
E tud es H i s tor i ques sur L I
’

fl uence d e
u l a Ch a r i té
d ur a nt l es P r emi er s S i ecl es Ch r éti ens
‘

r tt
B u de ,
H ospi ta l s a nd A sy l ums f
o th e
Wor l d , etc .

XX V . N E S T O RI A N M E D I C A L S C H O O L S .

TH E gr eat i m p ortan c e of t h e N es torian s in t h e hi s tory of

m edicin e m u s t e xc us e a s hort in cur s ion int o t h e domain of
t h e ology I n th e y ear 4 2 9 N e storiu s th en r e c ently a pp oint ed
. .
,

to t h e see of C on st anti no pl e p r e ach ed a s eri e s of s e rmon s in ,

“ ”
which h e d e clar ed that t h e tit l e M oth e r of God cou ld not
right ly b e a pp l i ed to t h e B l es se d Virgin W e n eed not r e .

p eat h i s argum ent s ; t h e whol e t end en cy of t h e age was

 T H E SC H O O L O F E D E SS A . 125

again st hi m ; h e was acc u s e d d es p it e hi s p rot es t s of s ep arat

, ,

in g t h e n at u r es o f C hri s t and I n 43 1 t h e C oun cil of E p h e su s

,

p rono un c e d t h e an at h e m a o f t h e C h urch again s t t h e arch

bi sho p and al l h i s fol low e r s B ut th e h e r e s y s ti l l flouri s h e d
.

in S yri a an d t h e E ast and t h e N es torian s d eba rr e d from

,
, ,

attaini ng e min e n c e in C h u rch or S t at e d evot e d th em s e lv e s , ,

l ik e th e J ews at a som e wh at l at e r dat e e s p ecial ly t o ,

m e di cin e .

At E d es s a t h er e a l r e ady exi st ed a fam ou s school wh e r e ,

l e ct ur e s w e r e giv e n in S yriac Gr e e k and P e r s ian Th er e , ,

.

w e r e al s o two l arge ho s p ital s o n e tracing i t s origin to S t , .

E p hr e m t h e ot h e r e xc lu siv ely fo r wom e n built at t h e b egin

, ,

n in g of t h e c ent ury by B i sho p Rabb o u l a wh o p ul l e d down ,

four p a gan t e m p l e s fo r t h e p ur p o s e Al l t h es e i n s tit ution s

.

cam e into t h e hand s by t h e h e r et ic s and th ey e st abli s h e d at ,

E d e s s a a schoo l of m e dicin e which rival l e d fo r a t im e t hat , ,

o f Al e xand ria L ov e o f l i fe conqu e r e d e v e n t h e hat r e d o f

.

h er es y and N e s t orian p ractition e r s w er e t o b e foun d at t h e

,

ort hodox co urt of Byzanti u m s o m e of whom a p p e ar t o hav e ,

b e co m e tru st e d p hy s ici an s to t h e lord s bot h o f Rom e and

P e rsia B ut thi s could not lon g contin u e ; t h e ort hodox s ou l
.

o f B i s ho p C yru s w a s v ex e d by t h e p r e s e n c e o f m e n whom h e

con s id e r e d wor s e t han h e ath e n s and in 489 h e p r e vail e d on ,

t h e E m p e ror Z e n o to p ubl i s h an e d ict ord e rin g t h e s chool to ,

b e cl os ed and t h e h e r eti c s t o b e driv en from t h e e m p ir e

,
.

Arm e d with t hi s h e not on ly e x p e ll ed t h e N es torian s b ut

, ,

d e m ol ish e d t h e ir l e ctur e hall s an d from t h e mat e rial s bu ilt

,

a chu rch wh ich h e t riu m p hant ly d e dicat ed to M ary t h e

, ,

M oth er of God .

T h e fugit iv es w er e r e c e iv ed in P e rs ia by t h e lib eral

m ind e d S hah Kobad who s e y et gr eat er son C h os r o es
, , ,

N ushi rvan s oon a ft erward s w el com e d t h e la s t of t h e p agan

,

hi lo o h e r s whom t h e e di ct of J u s tin ian had e x p e l l e d from

p s p ,

t h e s choo l s of Al e xan dria and At h e ns T h e do ct rin e wh ich .

t h e N e st orian s had r e si s t e d w as o n e singu larly r ep ugnant ,

“
as th ey un d e r s tood it bot h to P ersians and M osl e m
,
I
wi l l c l eav e t h e s kul l of t h e blas p h e m e r who says t h e E t ernal ,
1 26 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

”
God h as a moth er ! is an exclamation attrib ut ed to a
M ahom etan conqu eror ; and thi s may hav e som ething to do
with th e r e markabl e favour s hown to t hos e h er etic s both by
t h e S hah s and t h e C ali p h s Th ei r skill in m ed icin e and
.
,

t h e ir ho s tility to t h e orthodox C hri s tians of t h e e m p ir e would ,

doubt l es s s t ill furth e r r ecomm e nd th em to t h e favour o f th eir

n ew ru l e rs .

\Vh en t h e exil es arriv e d in P e r s ia th ey found at Gon

d i s ap or a kind of school or univ e rsity but wh eth e r in t h e ,

hand s o f Zoroastrians or o f d e sc endant s of t h e P e rsian

,

C hri s ti ans said to hav e b ee n conv ert ed by St Thoma s t h e .

A p o s tl e w e do not know
,
I t may ind ee d hav e b ee n o f
.
, ,

Gr ee k origin for though t h e Arabic s tory that p hysician s

, ,

s e nt by Aur e lian to att e nd h i s s i s t er th e wi fe of S ap or , ,

s ett l e d th e re is un found ed t h e town was origin al ly p eo p l e d

, ,

by ca ptiv es from th e c iti es and armi es of th e em p ire In .

any ca s e it ra p id ly b ecam e N e storian t ho u gh th e h e r etic s , ,

with r e markabl e tol eration allo w e d t h e pagan p hilo s o p h e r s

,

t o tak e p art in t h e t eaching As at E d essa t h e m edi c al

.
,

facu lty s eems to hav e p r edominat ed and th er e ar e ev en ,

t rac es o f cl inical inst ruction fo r w e fi n d t h e s t ud e nt s of

,

“
t h e ology forbidd en to fol low t h e p hysician s whil e tho s e ,

o f m e dicin e are urg ed not to omit t h e daily re adin g of

r e ligiou s books Anoth e r chroni cl e r is y et m or e exp licit All
. .

t h e C h ri s tian st ud ent s h e s ay s b egan th e ir day s work

’

, ,

by r e adin g t h e Psalm s and G o s p e l s t h en t h e th e ologian s ,

b etook th ems e lv e s to t h e s t udy of t h e c om m entator s w hil e ,

t h e m e di cals w ent to t h e hos p it al Th e sam e a pp li es to .

o th e r N e storian school s at S e l e ucia and els ewh e r e in e ach ,

o f w hich m e dicin e s ee m s to h av e b ee n st udi e d and a C atholi c ,

h istorian r em arks with a s ton i s hm ent t hat t h e p hysician s and

j urist s had an e qual vot e with t h e bisho p s and p r es byt e rs in
t h e e l e ction of th e p atriarch .

M e anwhil e N estorian C hristi anity s p r ead ra p id ly in

P e rsia and it s mi ssionari es p e n et rat ed to t h e confin es of
,

C hin a an d t h e h eart of I ndia I t may hav e b een inform ation

.

t hu s obt ain ed whi c h induc ed N u shirvan to s end h i s own

1 28 M ED I C A L H I ST O RY .

x c l l n c unknown b efo r e h e would b e gri e vou s ly dis

e e e e ,

a pp oint ed What e v e r ecl e ctic s may h av e don e fo r oth er

.

d epartm e nt s of knowl e dg e th ey did litt l e fo r t h e p rogr e ss of

,

m e di cin e T h e tit l e has ind e e d b een a pp li ed to th e gr eat est

. , ,

hysi c ian H i ocrat es H er ac l i d es G al en S oran u s and

pp
s ,
p , , , ,

to our own m od e rn m e dicin e ; and in s om e s en s e it may , ,

b e clai m ed by all who are not absol ut ely bl ind e d by t h e

f anatici s m o f th e ir s e ct or s yst e m but t h e m e dical e cl e cti c s ,

strict ly s o call ed form e d a di s tinct school whi ch h ad many

,

sub divi s ions S om e l ike our old acq uaintan c e Arch igen es
-
. ,
,

form e d sy s t ems of th eir own an d t h e s e w e r e t h e b es t th ey , ,

h ad at l e ast e nthu s iasm b ut t h e lib e ral mind e dn ess of -

oth ers w as t h e r e su lt of that b as er sc epti ci s m whi ch d es pairs

of p rogr es s and h as no wi s h t o ov ercom e it s el f or of th e
,
,

ignoran c e whi c h s ee ks a ch e a p r ep utation for knowl edge by

p r et ending to hav e w e igh ed e v erything and found it want
ing B e tw ee n th e s e e xt re m es t h e ecl e cti c s c hool com p ris ed
.

many abl e and e xc e l l ent p hy s i cians though m ost o f t h em ,

s how an unfort unat e t e nd en cy e ith e r to dil e ttantism or c om

i l at i o n First bot h in age and ran k i s Ar et aeu s o f C a p pa

p .
, ,

do c ia ( A D 50 1 3 0
. . a schol arly phy s ici an who l iv e d a part
-

fro m t h e controv er s i e s of h i s t i m e and com p os ed in t h e old ,

I onic dial e ct word p i ct ur es o f di s e as e t h e t rut h and vigour of ,

which ar e univ ersal ly r e cogni s ed B ut h i s writings e x c el l ent .

,

as th ey ar e had littl e infl u en c e on m edical history and as th ey

, ,

ar e r e adily a cc essibl e to E ngli s h r ead er s n ee d not b e furth er ,

consid e re d h er e What t h e p hysi c i an s of that age re quir ed

.

was n ot a r ev ersion to H i pp ocrat e s and N at ure b ut to b e told

, ,

on good authority w hat th ey w er e to thin k and abov e al l wh at ,

r e m ed i es th ey w er e t o em p loy i n e ach s e p arat e dis e a s e ; and

t h e ty pi cal prod u ct s o f t h e p o s t G al eni c e p o ch are a s eri e s -

of com p il at ion s varying in s ize and val u e but havin g c ertain

, ,

t end enci es in c o m mon W e first m eet with l arg e com p il a

.

tion s which gradually su pplant t h e work s of origin al writ ers

, ,

and som etim es cau s e th eir com p l et e disa pp e aran c e Th es e .

are r ep l ac e d in th eir t urn by s hort e r abstract s and e p ito m e s ,

in which t h e t h erape uti c p art i s enl arged at th e ex p en s e of

 O R I BA S I US .
—A ET I US . 1 29

th e oth e r divisions of m e di cal sci e n c e ti ll w e fin al ly get t o ,

works c ont ain i ng m e r e ly t h e n am es of di se as e s fol low e d by ,

lon g l i st s o f drugs which wil l m or e or l e ss c ertain ly cur e

th em . At t h e r evival of s c i e n c e w e sh all b e abl e t o t rac e a
p roc es s exa c t ly t h e r ev ers e of thi s and shal l fin d t h e ,

m edi aeval r e c e i p t book s gradual ly rep la c ed by th e sho rt

-

c o m p e n dia of t h e S al ernit an ma s t ers whi ch t h e m s e lv e s ,

di sa p p e ar b efor e t h e gr e at Arabic co m p ilations t h e Con ,

l i nens of Rhaz e s and th e Can on of Avi c e nn a

, til l at la s t ,

w e arriv e onc e mor e at original writings At th e sam e .

t i m e t h e s t udy o f t h e n at ur e diagn o s is and ca u s e s of di s e a s e

, ,

r e a s s um es its p ro pe r p osition an d i n o ur mod e rn m e dica l

-
,

handbooks w e can p oint triu m p hantly to p age s of p at hology

fol low e d by a p aragra p h on tr e at m e nt a p ro p ortion wh ich , ,

curiou s a s it m ay s ee m i s as m uch th e sign o f a p ro g r e ssiv e

,

as t h e r ev e rs e i s t h e m ark of a d e cad e nt ag e in m e di cin e .

T h e fir s t and gr e at es t of t h e com p il ers was O riba s iu s o f

P e rga m u s p hy s ician an d fri e n d of t h e E m p e ror J ulian
,

( 3 60 at who s e s ugge stion h e com pos e d th e s ev e nt y

books of hi s M edi cal C ol l ec ti ons O nly about a t hi rd of .

t hi s work s urviv es but it i s o f gr e at hist ori cal val u e for

, ,

O riba siu s invariably m e nt ion s hi s authoriti es a nd quot e s ,

t h e m wit h exactn es s an d it i s to hi m that w e o w e mo s t

,

of our knowl e dg e of such p ractition er s as Antyl lu s and

A rchig e n e s .

O rib a s iu s i s t h e la s t o f th e g r e at p agan p hysi cian s but ,

t h e first im p ortant C hri s t ian writ e r on m e di cin e liv ed n e arly

two c e nt uri es l at er This was Aé ti u s of Am ida who h e l d
.
,

t h e t it l e of C o unt ( comes obseqm z) at t h e Byzantin e C ourt

’ ’

p robab ly und er J u stini an I ( 52 7 . an d com p o s ed th e

s e cond gr eat m edi cal com p il ation th e Tetr a bi bl os i n ,
-
,

sixt een boo ks Am ida on t h e Tigris w as on e of th e m o s t

.

east e rly out p o sts of Gr ee k civil isation and it i s i nt e r es tin g ,

to noti c e that Aé t i u s m ak es t h e e arli est m ention of su ch

e ast e rn drugs a s c lov e s and cam p hor whi c h w e r e a ft e rward s ,

m or e fully introd uc e d into m edicin e by th e Arabs H is . .

work i s e s pe cial ly distinguish e d by it s long l i s t s of com

9
[ 30 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

p li cat ed p r e scri pt ion s , and t h e p assag es whi ch i ndi cat e h i s

r e ligion ar e of a s om ewhat ominou s charact e r Thu s i f a .
,

p ati e nt h a s a bon e in h i s t hroat it m ay b e e xtract e d by ,

fo rc e p s or h e m ay b e giv e n a p i e c e of raw m e at on a string

, ,

t o b e p ull e d up wh en h e h as s w al lo w e d it or t hu s : B id th e ,

p ati ent att e nd t o you an d s ay : ,

B on e ( or what ev e r it i s ) ,

c om e forth li k e as C hri s t bro ught L a z aru s from t h e tomb

,

a n d J on ah from t h e w hal e Th e n ta k e him by t h e throat

’
,

and s ay : B la s iu s martyr and s e rvant of C hrist s aith E ith er

‘

, , ,

c om e u p or go do w n ( ii 4 E l s ewh e r e in d es cribing
.
, ,

an ointm e n t h e d e clar es th at it i s n e c es s ary t o r epeat con

,

“
t i n u al l y durin g i t s p r e p arat ion : T h e God o f Abraham I saac , ,

an d J acob giv e efficacy to thi s s alv e

A bout a c e nt ury a ft er Aeti u s a third m e dical e pitom e ,

w as com p i l e d in s ev e n book s by Paul o f ZE gi n a t h e la s t

, , ,

i m p ortant p rod uct of t h e gr eat school of Al e xandria Aet i us .

and Paul r ese m bl e o n e anoth e r in m any res pects ; both are

l arg e ly ind e bt ed to G al e n and O riba s iu s ; both s eem to hav e
a dd e d s om e original m att e r but as n e ith e r h es itat es t o quot e
,

h i s p r e d e c es s or s ev e n v erbally w ithout m entioning th e ir

, ,

n am es it i s i m p o s s ibl e to d e cid e how far this origin ality is

,

g en uin e Whil e A et i u s d evot es hi m s e l f chi efly to m edicin e

.
,

t h e mo s t brilliant p art of Pa ul s e p itom e i s t h e s ixth or

’

s urgical book wh ich w as much val u e d by t h e Arabs who

, ,

e s t im at e d s till mor e hi gh ly h i s w ork on di s ea s e s of wom en

( n ow lo s t ) and gav e him t h e hon ou rabl e titl e of t h e

,

“
O b s t e trician
Among t h e writ e r s whom Paul fr e qu ent ly quot es but ,

rar e ly m ention s i s Al e xand er o f Tra ll es a young e r con

, ,

t e m porary oi A cti n s an e cl ec ti c o f t h e hi g h es t ty pe w h o
, ,

may b e consid e red t h e l a s t o f th e gr eat Gre e k p hy s ician s as ,

h i s broth e r A n t h em i u s buil d e r of t h e chu rch o f S t S o p hia

, .
,

i s t h e la s t o f t h e gr eat Gr e ek archit e ct s H i s p at hology .

,

ind ee d i s tak e n ent ire ly from G al en whom h e n e v er m en

, ,

”
t ion s witho ut t h e e p ith e t mo s t divin e but in qu e s tion s of ,

t r e atm ent h e o ft en cont radi ct s h i s m a s t er s d ire ction s wh en ’

o pp o s e d to h i s own e x pe ri e nc e Whil e ado ptin g m any of

.
x3 2 M E D I CA L H I S T O RY .

t re ati s es w e re aft erwards p ara p hras e d i n L atin v ers e by a

di stingui s h ed m e mb er of t h e S al e rnit an s c hool un d e r which ,

h e ading th e y wil l be furth e r con s id e r e d .

Th e s tr e am of Greek m e dicin e which w e hav e fol lowed ,

for m or e than a thou san d y e ar s n ow divid es into thre e ,

bran ch es e ach of whi ch m u s t b e tra c ed s eparat e ly Th e

,
.

fir s t an d most dire ct cont in uation flows in a narro w and

sl uggi s h curr ent w hos e be d i s s om etim es n e arly choked by
,

t h e rock s of th eological cont rov e r s y and end s abru p tly amid ,

t h e rui n s of t h e E ast ern e m p ir e T h e s e c ond for a tim e .

,

t h e broad e st an d c l e ar est o f t h e thr ee turn s e a s t w ard through ,

fres h fi e ld s ; u pon it s b an ks grow h e al in g p l ant s un known

b efor e—s e nn a cub ebs orang e an d t amarind —and in i ts
wat e r s —i f w e may cont in u e th e m eta p hor—swim strange
, , ,

fi s h t h e ch e mi s t an d t h e a p oth ecary ti ll fin al ly b ending to

, ,

t h e w es t it e m p ti e s it s e l f alm o s t e ntir e ly int o anoth e r stream

, .

Thi s thi rd or W est ern bran ch ri s ing in th e marsh e s of i gn or ,

an c e and cov er ed by t h e mi sts of s u p erstition gradually

, ,

gro w s w id e r and mor e ra p id and r ec eivin g co p iou s affl uents ,

from t h e oth e r two fin ally d ev el o p s into a mighty riv er

,

“
flo w ing with pom p of wat e rs unwithstood and b earing ,

in i t s bo s om l et us h o p e t h e h e al ing of t h e nation s
, , .

NO TE .

Th e l ti cs w ith t h e ex c ep ti o n of A c ti ns have been fort unat e i n

ec e c , ,

t h ei r e d it o rs ; A r eta ms by W i gan Ox on 1 72 3 and Adam s ( G reek and , .

, ,

E n g li s h ) , S yd en h am S o c i e ty 1 8 56 ; Or i basi us by B us s em a ker an d
,

D a r e m b e r g s i x v o l s Par i s 1 8 51 7 6 ; Adam s e d iti on o f P au l us ( t ran s

’
-
,
.
, ,

l a ti o n a n d n o t es) t h ree v o l s S y d e n h am S oc i e ty 1 84 5 7 i s t h e great est

, .
, ,
-
,

E n g l i s h m ed i c o h i s t o r i c al w o rk o f t h e c en t ury T h e w o rks o f A l e x an d er
-
.

o f T ra ll es h ave be en p ub l i s h e d i n G r ee k an d G e r man w it h a v al uab l e

i n t ro d uc ti o n by P us c h mann V i e n na 1 8 7 8 O n ly abo ut h al f t h e w ork

, , .

of Aé ti u s h as b ee n p r i n t ed i n t h e o r i gi n a l an d t h e ab ove q uo t ati o n s are ,

fr o m t h e L ati n v ers i o n o f Co r n ar i u s i n S t ep h an us M ed i n a A ti s P r i n , r

ee a l s o D are m b e r g P au l d E gi n e et l es M éd ec i ns C o m p il at eurs
“ '
el es S
f .
, ,

i n h i s M édec i ne H i stoi r e cl D oc tr i n s Pa r i s 1 86 5 c , , .
 TH E I CO N OC LA S T CO N T R O V E R SY . I 33

XX V I I .
—
B Y ZA N T I N E MED I CI NE .

L EO I I I t h e gr e at I saurian em p e ror had trium p h antly

.
, ,

d efend e d C on stantin o p l e an d C hrist endom again s t t h e S ara

c e ns b ut h e fai l e d to p r es e rv e h i s own mind from b e in g
,

a ffect e d by t h e doctrin e s of t h e pro p h et whos e st e rn m on o ,

th e i s m and horror o f i mage s m ay h av e s ee m e d a h igh e r

form of faith t han s om e as pe ct s of t h e dominant C hrist ian ity .

At any rat e in 7 2 6 L eo p ubl i s h e d an e d i ct com m andin g al l

,

p ict ur e s an d i mag es to b e r e mov e d fro m th e church e s and ,

th er eby in augurat e d t h e i con o cla s t controv e rsy lasting mor e ,

th an a c e ntury an d e nd in g in t h e tri um p h of th e orthod ox

,

p arty wh i ch w as vigoro u s ly s u pp ort e d by m on k s by wom en

, , ,

an d by t h e Rom an p ont i ffs T h e hi s tory of t h e s truggl e h as

.

b ee n writt e n by t h e vi ct ors who d e cl ar e t hat t h e iconocl ast

,

e m p eror s d e l ight e d in d e stroyin g m ona s t e ri e s and bu rnin g

librari e s s om e tim e s in cl udin g t h e libra rians an d that th e y

, ,

“ ”
e ntir e ly su pp r e ss ed all
p io us ed u cat ion H ad t h e r e su lt .

b ee n di ffe r ent L eo and C on stant in e might h av e b ee n h and e d

,

dow n to us as cham p ion s o f Prot es tanti s m and p rogr e ss but ,

t h e st ud e n t of m e dical hi s tory n ee d on ly r e m e mb er that t h e

controv e rsy t end e d to com p l et e t h e s ep aration o f E ast an d
W es t t h at m any G r ee ks fl ed to I taly som e of whom s e ttl ed
, ,

“
at S al e rno and th at e ith er from t h e abs e n c e of p io u s
,

”
e d ucation or from s om e oth e r cau s e t h e hi s tory o f B yz an
, ,

t in e m e dicin e durin g th e whol e p e riod i s a co m p l e t e bl an k .

T h e Byzantin e s th rou ghout t h e ir e ntir e hi s tory a pp e ar

t o h av e d e vot ed what int ell e ct ual en ergy t h ey p oss e ss e d
“ ”
m ain ly to t h e ological controv er sy Thi s c ity s ays S t
.
, .

“
Gr egory of N yssa i s ful l of slav es and m e chani cs w h o
, ,

ar e all o f th e m p ro foun d t h e ologian s I f you want c han g e .

for a p i e c e o f silver yo u ar e in form e d wh e r e in t h e S o n d i ffe rs

,

from t h e Fat h er ; i f yo u a sk t h e p ric e of a loa f you ar e tol d ,

i n r ep ly that t h e S o n i s in ferior to t h e Fath er ; and if yo u

in quir e wh et h e r th e bath i s re ady t h e an sw e r i s t hat t h e ,

S o n was m ad e out of n ot hin g I n t h e scanty m e dica l

.

wri t i ngs of t h e e arli er p eriod th er e is a chara ct eristi c

1 34 M ED I CA L H I S T O RY .

t end e n cy to as c rib e th e origin of m edici n es to biblical

charact e rs an d saints from E zra t h e pri e st down t o S t , , , .

Gre gory t h e th eologian H e r e for in stan c e i s a m e dical

,
.
, ,

salt inv e nt ed by t h e evange li s t S t L u k e whi c h should be .

,

us e d by all piou s p e rsons for it p r es erv e s sight p r eve nt s lo s s

, ,

of hair r e mov e s p hl e gm from t h e ch e st

,
favours diges tion , ,

fa s t e ns loos e t eeth et c Take C r etic hysso p pe nnyroyal

, .
, ,

thym e dodd er ging er salt am mon ia c u m ami um w hit e

, , , , , , ,

bl ack and l on g p epper rub th em toge th er i nto a p owd e r

, ,

and u s e li k e ordinary salt M y rep s us in t h e thirt e enth .

c e ntury r ep eat s th e p r escri ption wit h slight variat ion s and ,

d e clares that t h e E gy ptian h erm it s con sum ed gr eat quantiti e s ,

and w e re t hu s en abl ed to s t udy re ligious books up to ex

t r e m e ol d age .

Th e t e nt h c ent ury i s marke d only by t h e c om p i lation

of Th e o p h an e s N on u s which may be fairly c haract e ri se d
,

as t h e wor s t s pe cim e n of i t s cl a s s and c on sist s of car el ess ly ,

mad e e xtract s from t h e work s of old er c om pil e r s alr e ady

m e ntion e d I t wa s writt e n by com mand of t h e E m pe ror
.

C on s tantin e V I I som e of who s e su cc essors m ad e laudabl e

.
,

effort s to e ncourag e sci e nc e an d lit e rat ur e Among t h e .

more not i c e abl e i s Al exiu s I whos e gr e at ho s p ital i s d e .

,

s crib e d by hi s l e arn e d d aught e r Anna as o n e of t h e wond e rs ,

,

of t h e world B ut t h e filial e nthusia s m of th e p rinc es s p r e

.

v ent s h er givin g u s any v e ry d e tai l ed in formation Who .

s h all s ay s h e a sks how m any furlongs it is in circum fe r e nc e !

, ,

Who s hal l n umb er t h e thou s ands of t h e si ck and th e ir

att endants it contain s ! I f a s t ran ger visits it in t h e e arly
morning it will t ak e him th e whol e day to go through t h e
,

ward s T h e sights s een th e re r es embl e thos e in S ol omon s

.
’

p orch and t h e di nn e r hour r e mind s h er of t h e fee ding of

,

t h e 40 0 0 or t h e 50 0 0 M anu e l L grandson of Al exiu s.

, ,

w a s ( i f w e may b e li ev e h i s courti ers ) not only t h e

st ron ge st and handsom e s t man but also th e m ost s kil ful ,

p hy s ici an in hi s em pir e H e inve nt e d m any m ixt ur es whi c h

.
,

w e r e lon g u s ed in t h e ho s p i tal s and som eti m es adm in ist e r ed ,

th e m with his own im perial hands H e c ould pe rform th e .

 1 36 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

ne arly 3 0 0 0 r e ci p es from e v ery sourc e G ree k Arabic and

—
, , ,

al
S e rn itan I t .in cl ud e s many univ e rsal m e dicin es p ana
c e a s or c at h o l i c a—a s w e ll as p r e scri p tion s a scrib ed to t h e

a p o s tl e s S t P et er and S t P aul and t h e oi ntm e nt with

. .
,

w hich S t M ary anoint ed t h e fe et o f C hrist which had sinc e

. ,

t hat t im e b een e ndow e d with marv e l lou s curativ e p ro p e rti e s .

B ut p erhap s t h e mo s t int e r es tin g i s t h e antidot e cal l ed D es

“ ” “
m o ter i on or , th e p ri s on for w e giv e criminal s d e adly
,

p oi son and th en thi s m e di ci n e and th ey su ffe r no hurt

,
It ,
.

i s al s o efficaciou s in r e moving t h e p ain and st i ffn e s s aft er

t ort ure an d in m any di s e as es
,
.

B efor e saying a final far e we ll to Gr ee k m e dicin e in its

n arrow e r s en s e it i s p l e asant to m eet with two p hy s icians
, ,

D e m e triu s P ep ago m en u s an d J ohn Ac t u ar i u s whos e works ,

ar e not u nworthy o f a b ett e r age Th e form e r wrot e a .

m onogra p h on gout an d m ad e a p rai s eworthy att em pt to

,

inv es tigat e t h e n at ure o f t hat dis e a s e w hich h e d e clares ,

should b e tr e at e d by d i et rath er than by drugs wi s ely ,

adding th at it i s e a s y to giv e dire ction s on thi s m att e r but ,

h ard to carry th e m out D urin g th e attack em e ti cs and .

,

p urgativ es should b e giv e n e g alo e s o n e p art h er m o d ac , . .

, ,

tylu s ( colchicu m hal f a p art cinn amon su ffici e nt to correct ,

t h e h er m o d ac ty l u s s cam mony o ne sixth p art a litt l e to be

, ,

t ak en oc ca sionally L ocally s trychn o s ( b ell adonna

.
p ur s
lain e ndiv e hou s e l ee k h en ban e and p o p py l eav es may b e
, , ,

“
a pp li ed with a br e ad p oulti c e or cold wat er I hav e found , .

l eav e s o f v erbascu m ( m ull ein ) rubb ed up in an e arth en v es s el ,

a n d t h e n a p p l i e d in a rag a s hot as t h e
p ati e nt can b ear it
, ,

v ery effe ctiv e ; also a fom e ntation of oil of ros es t w o parts ,

whit e vin egar on e p art I f t h e p ain i s so gr e at t hat h e cannot

.

e ndur e this us e t h e , followin g ointm e nt : Wax o ne oz .

,

s a ffron o n e sixth o z -
o p ium two third s o z oil of ros e s a
.
,
-
.
,

s u ffici e n cy M ac erat e th e s a ffron and o p i um in milk and

.
,

th en rub th e m u p to an oint m e nt with t h e wax and oil .

T hi s la s t p res c ri ption i s al so giv e n by Aet i us who att rib ut es ,

i t to A s c l ep iad es .

A c t u ar i u s wrot e many m edica l works t h e m o s t im p ort ant ,

 JOH N A C T U A RI U S . 137

b e ing t h e D e M eth od o M edendi i n whi ch h e advi s es that ,

t h e o ld dra sti c p urgativ e s e u p horbi u m s cammony colocynth , , ,

et c . wh i ch h ad b e e n l arge ly r ep l ac e d by t h e mild e r laxativ e s

,

o f t h e Arabs sh o uld b e a p p li e d in oint m e nt s to t h e sol e s o f

, ,

t h e fee t or ro un d t h e u mbi li c u s a p lan whi ch h e had him s e lf ,

e m p loy e d wit h gr e at s uc c e s s S til l mor e int er e sting i s t h e .

t r eati s e o n t h e r e l ati ons of min d and body addres se d t o h i s

t utor Rak en d y t es
,
That p hilo s o p h e r had ask ed amon g
.

o th e r thi n gs wh eth e r it i s b ett e r fo r on e s int e l l e ct to e at

’

o n c e or twi c e a day J o hn r ep l i e s by advi s in g h im to tak e

.

t w o t hird s of h i s food at noon and o n e third in t h e e v e ning

-
,
-
,

“
but i f yo u are unwi lling to s p e n d ti m e in doin g t h e s am e
”
t hin g twi c e o r ar e in t h e h abit o f e ati n g on l y o n c e dai ly
, ,

h e m ay cont in u e t o do so fo r it w il l ma k e t h e m ind i f not , ,

stron ge r at l east c l e ar e r Wh il e in m any r es p e ct s su perior

, .

t o his p r e d e c e ssors A c t u ar i u s has t h e sam e faith in com p li

,

“ ”
c at e d
p r e scri p t ions and giv e s o n e call e d H y gi a
, who s e ,

virt u es s ur p ass tho s e o f all oth e r p an ac e a s for i f a m an ,

t ak e s a p ortion o f it t h e si ze o f a b e an dai ly it wi l l not on ly

p r es erve h im fro m al l di s eas e but al s o d efe n d him again s t ,

d em on s gho s t s and witch cra ft

,
L i k e mo st of t h e un iv e r
,

s al m e dicin e s it contain e d o p i um but t h e oth e r ingre di e nt s ,

a re too nu m e rou s to b e giv e n h e r e .

Ac t u ar i u s al s o wrot e t h e b es t o f t h e n um erous m edi aeva l

tr e atis es on urosco py in which h e d es crib es a form of bla ck ,
”
w at e r ( h ae moglobin u ria d u e t o e x p osure t o cold .

NO TE .

Th e q u ot ati o n from St G rego ry i s give n by Jo r t i n E ccl esi asti cal H i s

.
,

tory i v 7 1
, . Th e s ub s t an c e o f t h e re s t o f t h e c h a p t er m ay b e fo u n d i n
.

I d e l e r P hy si ci et M ed i ci Gr eeci M i nor es A n n a C o m n e n a A l exi as x

, 7 , , ,
v .

( t h e t e xt s p e a k s o f t h e fe e d i n g o f t h e 50 0 0 o r t h e 7 0 0 0 bu t I h ave ,

v en t u r e d t o c o rre c t t h e p r i n c es s ) D e m e t r i u s P e p ago m e n us L i ber d c

, ,

P odag a Ar n h e i m 1 7 53 A c tu a r i u s Oper a Om ni a P ar i s 1 556 T h e w o r k

f
r , , , , ,
.

o f M y re p s us h as b e e n pr i n t e d i n L ati n t ra n s l a ti o n o n ly b y S t e ph a n u s ,

M edi cee A ti s P r i nci pes z Th e q u es ti o n s d i s c us s e d by Ps e l l u s i n h i s

.

c yc l o pa e d i a D e Omnif ar i a D oc tr i nd p r o b ab ly fo r m e d fav o u r it e s ubj e c t s

, ,

o f d e b a t e i n t h e B y an ti n e ac ad e m i e s z H ere ar e s o me e x am p l es A re . .
1 38 I AL
M ED C H I S T O RY .

t h ere more an ge l s o r m en ! M o r e m e n fo r al l n um bers d ec re a se a s

,

t h ey appro ac h o ne t h ere fore s o d o c r ate d b e i n gs a s t h e y a ppro ac h t h e

,
e

O n e a l s o m e n m arry e t c , W h y d oes oi l m a k e t h e s e a c a l m
. A m ong
o t h er r ea o n s b ec a us e it fl o a t s o n t h e s u rfac e for m i n g a c ov e ri n g t h r o ugh
s

w h i c h t h e w aves c ann o t b o il u p . I s t h e u n i ver s e a li ve ! S o m e p agans

t h o ugh t s o but w e C h i s ti an s d o n o t ad m it s uc h a d o c t r i n e eve n to th e
,
r

ti ps o f ou r ears I s t h e s u n h o t ! W h at c aus es ex c es i e h unger

. s v

( b uli m i a) ! W h y i s t h e s e a s a lt ! W h y ar e t e ars o f s t ags s w eet an d

t h o s e o f b oars s alt ! W h y d o es m ea t b ec o m e t e n d er w h e n h u n g i n a
fi g t ree

XX V I I I — A RA B I C M E D I C I N E
. .
(1 ) THE
T RA N S L AT O RS .

I N th e y e ar 6 3 2 t h er e i s s u e d from t h e d es e rt s o f Arabia a
p e o p l e not e ntir e ly un civili s e d tho ugh c la s se d by th e ir mor e
,

c ult ur ed n ei ghbour s a s barbarian s arm e d w ith t h e t r em en

,

dou s forc es o f r e li gio u s e nt hu s iasm Within a c ent ury th ey.

had annihi lat ed on e of t h e gr e at e xistin g e m p ir e s and i h ,

fli c t e d a d e adly blow u p on t h e ot h e r ; and a ft er conqu ering

P ersia and stri pp in g E a s t ern Rom e of h er fair es t p rovinc e s
, ,

h ad thr e at e n e d t h e v e ry exi s t e n c e of t h e youn ge r nation s of

t h e W es t ti ll t h e ir car e e r of conq u e s t w as ch e ck e d at last
,

by Fran ki s h valour at t h e gat e s o f Tours

Thi s di s p l ay of p hy s ical vi go ur w as follow ed by an i n
t e l l ec t u al activity h ardly l e s s w ond e r ful A Byzantin e .

e m p e ror w as aston i s h e d to find that t h e right of coll e cting

and p urchasi ng Gree k manu s cri p t s w as amon g t h e t erm s .

di ct at ed by a vi ctoriou s barbarian and that an ill ustrat ed ,

co py of D ioscorid es wa s t h e mo s t acc ept abl e p r ese nt h e

could o ffe r to a fri e ndly C hi eftain T h e p hilo s o p h e rs of
.

C on s tantino p l e w e r e amaz e d by t h e a pp earan c e of M osl em

writ er s w hom th ey s tyl ed with re l u ct ant ad m iration “ l e ar n ed
”
savage s whil e t h e l es s cultur e d C hri s tian s of t h e W est
,

soon cam e to look u p on t h e wi s dom of th e S arac e ns as

s om e thing mor e t han h uman I t was thi s p eo p l e w h o now
.

t oo k from t h e h and s of unworthy succ e ssors of Gal e n an d

140 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

t o t h e gr e at H arun al Rashid an d s u cc ee ding C a li phs who

-
, ,

aft e r many C hanges o f fort un e could e st im at e in his O l d ,

age that t h e total valu e o f t h e fee s and p r e s e nts h e had

r e c eiv ed exc eed e d H is son B ac h t i s h u a b en ,

Gabri e l wa s p erha p s th e most famo u s of t h e family and

, ,

O ri e ntal hi s torian s hav e m uch to t e ll of hi s favour with th e

C ali p h M o taw akk e l ( 847
,
of t h e wond e r fu l e bony
chariot in which h e drov e through t h e s tr eet s of B agdad ,

o f h i s l uxury and libe rality and of his t e rribl e down fall , .

O n c e w hi l e s e at ed with t h e C ali p h on his thron e t h e latt er

, ,

ob s e rv e d a hol e in t h e p hy s i cian s dre s s an d p roc ee d ed to en ’

larg e i t as far as t h e girdl e Whil e thus e m p loy e d h e asked

.
,

H ow do you doctor s know wh en a m an i s m ad e nough

“
to b e p u t und e r r es traint ! Wh en h e h as torn our
dr es s es as far a s t h e girdl e w as t h e r ep ly Th e n M ota ,
.

w a kk el laugh e d till h e fe l l on hi s back and on r e cov e ring , , ,

ord e r e d t h e p hysician to b e cl ad in a rob e of honour .

For s om e tim e B ocht j es u l iv e d in a mann e r worthy of

-

h i s n am e ( Bocht s e rvant ) but at last l ed a s tray by M o sl em

, ,

as s ociat es h e fe ll into s i n and marri e d two of h i s s l av e girl s

, ,

on t h e sam e day Fro mthat tim e n othing w ent well with

.

h im H e s pe nt h i s nights in orgi es of wi ck e dn es s and his

.
,

m orning s in p ray e r r e p e ntanc e and r e ading t h e Gos p el ;

, ,

h e lo s t t h e favour o f t h e C ali p h w as d ep riv e d o f hi s w e alth , ,

and bani s h e d to S outh Arabia w h er e h e wand er ed in p enury ,

and lon elin ess t ill h e di e d .

T h e family of M es n e w as clos e ly conn e ct e d with that of

B ac h t i s h u a i t s found e r an a p oth e cary and di s p e n s er at
, ,

G o n d i s apor h aving b een a pr otégé o f G e orge who noti cing

, , ,

that h e admi re d a fe mal e s lav e b elonging to D avid b en

S e ra p ion ( anot h e r G o n d i s ap or p hysici an and tran s lator ) ,

bought h er for £ 2 0 or £2 1 os according t o anoth er

, .
,

a uthority and gav e h er to M es ué as h i s wi fe H e w as an

, .

’
i l lit e rat e m an but h avin g aft er thirty y e ar s e x p e ri en c e of
, ,

di s p en s ing g ain ed an intimat e acq uaintan c e with drug s h e

, ,

a s p ir ed to high e r thing s qu arr e ll ed with t h e B ac h t i s h uas

, ,

w e nt o ff t o Bagdad an d s et u p a s a p hy s ician H e was so

, .
 M ES U E . I4I
fort un at e t o cur e t h e Gran d V izi e r s favourit e o f an
as
’

O p hth al mia and t h e C al i h al Ra s hid b e ing soon a ft e rward s -

, p
at t ack e d by t h e sa m e co m p l ai nt t h e V izi er r e comm end ed ,

M es u e . You a p hysi ci an s aid G abri e l s urv e yin g t h e, ,

form e r a p oth e cary with cont e m p t b ut h e cur ed t h e C ali p h

i n t wo d ays an d was r e ward e d with a p ension of £ 1 a w ee k
, .

S oon a ft e rwards H ar un s s i s t e r was t ak e n s eriou s ly ill t h e

’

fri e nd ly V izi e r again r e com m en d ed th e m an who h ad b e e n

/
thirty y e ars at G on d i s ap or and M es u e and G abri e l on c e ,

mor e m et in con s ultat ion T h e form er d e clar e d t h e p at i e nt

.

”
wo uld d i e .H e li e s said Gabri e l an d t h e p ro ph e t o f e vil
, ,

was cast int o p ri s on to await th e ev e nt b ut on t h e d e ath of ,

t h e p rin c e s s M e s u é w a s r el e a s e d an d rai s e d t o an e qua l ity

with B ac h t i sh u a and t h e two p hy s ician s a pp e ar to hav e
,
’
b e com e m or e h armoniou s for Gabri e l s daught e r marri e d ,

M i ch a e l s o n of M es u e
, .

B ut M es u é s most famou s s o n was J ohn known to t h e

’

C hri s ti an s as M es u e t h e E ld er w h o w as a p p oint e d by th at ,

gr e at p at ron of sci e n c e t h e C al i p h al M am un p res id e nt of

,
-
,

a col l ege of tran s l ator s and who hi m s e l f foun d e d a s ort of

,

acad e my for s ci e ntific di s p ut ation s H e w as p robably mor e .

fe ar e d than lov e d by his subordinat es fo r h i s man n ers w e r e ,

abru p t an d h i s t e m p e ram ent cynical O n c e wh e n s eriou s ly

,
.
,

ill t h e N es torian C l e rgy ca m e as w as t h e ir wont t o p ray

, , ,

“ ”
fo r him . What ar e th e s e rascals doin g h er e ! ask e d
M e s ué . W e are p raying t hat G od wil l r e store yo u t o
“
h ealth . A few p ill s was t h e an s w er , will do mor e ,

good t han al l your p ray e rs t ho ugh t h e y go on t il l th e Resur,

r e ction ; an d h e drov e th e m out .

T h e B a c h t i s h uas and M e s u é s w er e S yrian s and t h eir ,

knowl e dge both of Gr ee k an d Arab i c was p rob ably im p e rfe ct

th eir work th e r efor e was soon su p e rs e d ed by th at o f th e
, ,

gr eat e st of t h e tran s l ator s on e of th e gr e at e s t m e n of t h e

,

n inth c e ntu ry t h e E ras m us of th e Arabic Ren aissan c e

, ,

H o n ai n b en I s aa c About th e y e ar 82 0 th e r e cam e to Bagdad

.

a C hri stian Arab from H ira who r e q u e st ed J ohn M es u é t o ,

r ec eiv e hi m as p u p il B ut th e p eo p l e of H ira w e re notorio u s

.
 14 2 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

for stu p idity so a ft e r a s hort trial J oh n r ej ec t ed h i m and

, , , ,

advi s e d h i m to ado pt an occu p at ion r equirin g l e ss int e llige n c e .

H o main not to b e d i s courag e d w ent t o Gree c e wh e re h e s pent

, , ,

two y e ars st udying th e language and coll e cting t h e works of

hysicians an d hiloso h e r s Wit h th e s e h e r et urn e d to
p p p .

Bagdad and b egan to t ran s lat e and com m e nt u p on th e

,

writing s of G al e n and H i ppocrat es i n a w ay un kn own b efor e .

E v en t h e ag ed Gabri el att e nd e d hi s l e ct ur e s and p ro fess ed

him s el f ed i fi ed H e n ev er r e c e iv e d l e s s th an it s w e ight in
.

gold fo r any of h i s manuscri p ts and h i s fam e attract ed at ,

l ength t h e notic e o f t h e C ali p h who a pp oi nt e d hi m a m emb er ,

o f h i s m e di c al sta ff B ut h i s ability and su cc e ss s oon pr o

.

d uc ed e nviou s rival s who sugge st ed th at H on ai n kn ew too

,

m uch G reek that h e was in t h e pay of t h e Byzan t in e Court

, ,

and p robably woul d not h es itat e on favourabl e o pp ort unity , ,

to p oison t h e C ali p h s gen eral s or t h e C a li p h him s el f To

’
.

t e s t t h e charact e r o f his p hy s ician M o t a w a k k e l p r e t e nd ed h e

wi sh ed to get rid o f an en emy and ord e re d H o main to p r epare ,

a d eadly p oison O n his r efu s al h e wa s ca s t i nt o p ri s on but

.
,

contin uin g obstinat e was again brought b efore t h e C ali ph ,

who p oint e d to a h e ap of ri ch d re ss es gold and j ew e l s and , , ,

t o t h e in s trum ent s o f tortur e T h e form er h e d ec lar e d w er e

.
, ,

t h e r ew ard of ob e di e nc e but a s e cond r efu sal shoul d b e p un

,

i s h ed by an i m m e diat e and agonisin g d e ath T h e intr epid .

H o n ai n was unmov e d ; two things h e s aid p r ev ent e d his , ,

c om pl ian c e—his r e l igion wh ich forbad e h im to inj ur e ev en

,

h is en e mi e s and h i s p rofession which w as instit ut ed for th e

, ,

salvation of m an kind and w hi ch boun d him by an oath to

,

“ ”
admini s t er n o noxiou s drug E xc e l l ent re a s on s said C ali ph
.
, ,

who l oad e d him w ith p r es ent s and r e stor ed him to h i s form er

honour s B ut t h e malic e of h i s e n emi es a mong w hom we
.
,

r egret to find B ac h ti s h ua b e n G abri e l wa s un s ati s fi ed , .

Whil e in Gr ee c e H on ai n s ee m s to hav e t ak en p art in t h e gr eat

c ontrove rs y on image worshi p and to hav e b e co m e a z e alou s ,

i c onoclast . H i s e n e mi es now pro c ur ed an i mag e or p ictur e

of t h e Virgin and C hild and showed it to t h e C ali p h w h o
, ,

“
a sk e d wh e th e r al l C hristi ans r e v e r en c e d s uch t h in gs All .
,
1 44 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

m at e d at illi ngs an d t h e s il ver d i rh em at s ix p e n c e w h i c h i s about

ten sh ,

t h e ave rage m e t a lli c val u e o f t h e c o i n s w h i c h h ave c o m e d o w n t o u s .

Th e fo l l o w i n g m ay h e l p t o d ec i d e t h e m o r e d i ffi c u lt q u es ti o n o f t h e i r
ac t ua l w o rt h at t h e ti m e H o m i c i d e m i g h t b e at o n e d for u n d er t h e
.

C ali p h s b y a fi n e o f 1 0 0 0 d i n ars o r 1 0 0 c am e l s o r 2 0 0 c o w s 2 0 0 0 s h eep , , , ,

o r 2 0 0 r i c h d re s s e A b d all ah b en Agl ab Vi c e r oy o f A fr i c a un d er Al
s .
,

Ras h i d gave h i s c av a l ry 4 an d h i s i n fan t r y 2 d i rh e m s a d ay w h i c h

, ,

w a s c o n s i d e re d v er y go o d p a y Al M am u n p a i d h i s c a a l r y 1 0 0 d i r
.
- v

h e m s an d h i s i n fan t r y 4 0 p er m o n t h ( K re m er ) .

H o nai n Ac c o r d i n g t o B ar h e b r aau s M e s n e l os t h i s t e m p er at
.
,

H o n ai n s p r p et ual q ues ti o n i n g an d e x c l a i m e d :
’
e W h at h ave y o u t o d o
,

w it h m e d i c i n e I P eo p l e lik e y ou o ugh t t o b u y rags i n t h e s t re et T h en .

H o nai n w en t o u t w ee p i n g a n d d e p art e d i n t o t h e l an d o f t h e Roman s

, ,

an d s t a y e d t h er e til l h e h ad l e a rn t G r ee k H a m m er gi ves t h e fo ll ow i ng .

ac c o u n t o f t h e i r r e c o n c ili a ti o n o n t h e au t h or ity o f t h e C a li p h s as
’

tr o l og er . H o n ai n b r o u gh t m e o n e d ay a t ra n s l ati on of t h e Aphor i sms

o f H i p p o c r at es a n d as k e d m e t o s h o w it t o J o h n M e s u e w it h o u t m e n

t i o n i n g h i s n am e W h e n M es n r e ad it h e w as fi l l e d w it h as t o n i s h m ent
. e ,

an d d ec l are d t h at it m u s t h ave b ee n w r itt en b y i n s p i r a ti o n o f t h e H o ly

Gh os t N o t at a l l s a i d I it i s by th e p up il wh o m y o u d r ove aw ay
’ ‘
.
, ,

s o m e ti m e s i n c e T h e n h e b egge d m e t o r ec o n c il e h i m t o H omai n
’
.
,

w h i c h I d i d a n d t h ey li ved i n gr eat h ar m o n y t o ge t h er s o l o n g as I
,
/

s t ay e d at B a gd ad .

B ar h e b r ae u s g ive s a s o m ew h a t d i ffe re n t ver s i o n o f t h e i m age s t ory ;

t h at l n t h e t ext i s f o m L e C l erc w h o att r i b u t e s it t o H o n ai n h i m s e l f
-
r , .

XXI X —A RA B I C M E D I C I N E ( 2 )
. . T H E E A S T E RN
C A L I P H AT E .

S I N AN T S A B E T ( d i ed
B EN whos e biogra p hy h as b een
writt en by h i s s o n Tsab e t b en S inan form s a conve ni ent , ,

link b et w een t h e C hristian and M o s l e m r ep r es entativ e s of

Arabic m edicin e H e w as born a C hri s tian but h i s fath e r
.
, ,

having b een twic e excomm un icat e d for h er e sy w as p erha p s ,

im pe rfectly ground ed in t h e faith and h e yi e ld e d a ft e r s om e , ,

res i s t anc e to t h e thr eat s or argum e nts of t h e C ali p h Kah er

, .

H i s fam e as a p hysician w as so gr e at that on t h e occasion ,

of an e pid e mi c t h e Vizi e r Ali b en I s s a a

,
pp oint e d hi m chi ef , ,

o f a com mission for p roviding m edical aid i n t h e towns and

 S I NAN . [4 5

vi l lag e s ro un d B agdad W e s til l p os s es s t h e l e tt e r of i n

.

stru ction in whi ch that l ib e ral mind ed s t at e sm an d e clar es -

.

t h at n ot e v en J e w s ar e to b e r efus e d admi ssio n to t h e hos

p i t al s
. N ay t h e p hy s ician should al s o t en d sick animals
, ,

“
al ways obs e rvin g t h e ord e r fir s t b eli ev ers th en i n fi d el s ;
, ,

first m e n an d t h en an im al s
, B ut S in an s chi ef claim t o ’

r e m e m bran c e li es i n th e fact t hat h e cond u c t e d t h e e arli e st

known m e di cal exa mi n ation for a l ic enc e to p r act is e I n .

t h e y e ar 9 3 1 a p at i e nt di ed t hr o u gh t h e fa ult of h i s p hy s i cian ,

and al l t h e p ractition e rs in a nd around B agdad e xc ep t thos e ,

attach ed to th e p alac e or c e l ebrat e d for th e ir s kil l w e r e ,

ord er e d t o p r es ent t h e m s e lv es to B e n Tsab et for e xa min a

tion Among t h e 860 who a p p e ar ed was an old m an w e ll
.
,

dr e s s e d and of an in t e l l ectu al co un t e nan c e U nwi l ling to

, .

qu e st ion so v en e rabl e a candidat e S in an s ugges t e d t hat h e ,

should favo u r him w ith a bri ef m edical di s co ur s e Th e n t h e .

O l d m an p u l l e d a p ur s e o f gol d from h i s s l ee v e and l aid it

b efor e t h e a s to ni s h ed e xam in er H e kn e w nothing h e s aid .

, ,

of m e di cal th e ori e s b ut had lo ng s u pp ort e d hi s fam ily by

,

t h e p ract ic e o f t h e art and ho p e d to b e al lo w e d to contin u e

,

doing s o S inan smi l ed and p romi s e d him hi s li c e nc e on

.
,

con dit ion t hat h e on ly u nd ertook c as e s h e p e rfe ctly und e r

stood and n ev e r e m p loy e d bl ee d ing or p urgativ e s unl e ss
, ,

obvio usly c al l ed for Th e can didat e r ep li ed t hat such had

'

b e en h i s invariabl e p ra ctic e and that h e n eve r gav e oth er

,

m e dicin e s t han oxym e l and j ul ep s .

A mong t ho s e ex e m p t ed fro m this examin ation m ay h av e

b ee n a b lin d p hy s ician w h o di e d ful l of y e ar s and honou r
,
-

shortly aft erwards Thi s was Ab u B e kr M oham m e d b en

.

Z e chariah call e d Rhaz es from hi s birth p lac e Rai t h e fir s t

,
-
, ,

an d mo st origi n al of t h e gr eat M osl e m p hy s icians ( 8 50

I n hi s yo ut h h e had d evot e d hi ms el f to m usi c b ut wi s hin g ,

for som e m or e u s efu l o cc u p ation e mbrac e d t h e p ro fes s ion of,

m e di cin e and p ractis e d it wit h a lib eral ity to hi s p oorer

,

ati e nt s whi ch in s p it e of hi s fa m e k e p t hi m in com p arativ e

p , ,

p
ov e rty and wit h a boldn e ss and origina lity which gain e d
,

“
h im t h e t itl e of t h e E x pe rim entator
Io
1 46 M E D I C A L H I S TO R Y .

H e i s p robably b es t known as t h e author of t h e old est

e xi s ting tre ati s e on s mall p o x and m e asl e s b ut th is work is
-
,

r e adily a cc essibl e in D r G re enhil l s t ran slation and our

.
’
,

s p a c e may b e b ett er occu p i ed w it h ot h er subj ec t s Rhaz es .

i s t h e most ind ep end ent and th er efor e th e most int er esting

of t h e Arabi c writ e rs on m e dicin e H er e are a few c a s e s .

from t h e third book o f h i s Aph or i sms wh i c h t end to

“
j u s ti fy t h e titl e abov e m e nt ion e d A yo ung fe llow who.

was with m e at J erusal e m com p l ain e d of p al p itat ion m elan ,

c h o l y and c aus e l e ss fe ar s
,
A ft e r trying many things I told
.
,

h im to eat h awk s fl e sh flavo ur e d with marj oram and c lov es

’

t o drink whit e win e inst e ad o f wat e r and to in hal e arom atic ,

o dou rs . Th er eby h e acquir e d fortit ud e and auda c ity and so ,

”
I c ur ed him . A m an trave lli ng on a hot d ay fel l into an
a cut e fev er ; hi s fa c e w a s r e d h i s b r e ath hot l ik e fi r e and
, ,

h i s h eart b eat viol ently I wait ed an hour or t wo ex pecting

.

t o s ee som e flow of b lood but nothing h a ppe n ed so I ord ered

,

h i s nos e to b e rubb e d vigoro usly S til l th er e was no bl eeding

.
,

and th e fev e r and p ain in cr e a se d Th en I gav e him ten .

p ound s of cold wat e r to drink and this was soon follow ed by,

co p io us di ure si s an d d e cr e a s e o f t h e fev e r B ut his s ervant .

,

who got no wat e r b ecau se al l w ere busy with his mast er ,

d i ed b efore ev en ing Th e s e and oth er cas e s giv en by Rhaz es

.
,

a n d Aven zoar form t h e n e ar es t a p p roa c h to c linical hi stori es

,

to be foun d from th e tim e of Gal e n to t h e consilia of th e

fourt eenth c entury .

Rhaz es gr eat es t work i s t h e H awi or Conti nens which

’
,

e x c ee ds in bul k t h e Canon of A vic enna and is writt en ,

in th e ty pi c al Arab s tyl e e ach s ection b eginning with a

,

“ ” “ ” “ ”
long list of authoriti es A s aid
, B said C found
, , ,

“
t
e c e m
and som ti s nding with a mod e st I say or I
e e ,

h av e foun d
Th e following are quotation s from this work whi c h in 1 3 9 5 ,

form ed th e m ost val uabl e o f t h e n in e volu me s co m p o s ing t h e

whol e library of t h e m e di cal faculty of Pari s B en M es u é
'

said : Let p erson s t roubl e d with asthm a or shortn e ss of

‘

b r e ath t ak e two drachm s of dri e d and p owd e r ed fox l ung

14 8 M ED C I AL H I ST O RY .

Also ex pos e th e e ar from tim e to ti m e to s t e am o f hot wat er

contain ing marj oram lav e nd er ab s inth mint and origan um
, , , .

Giv e t h e p ati e nt p urgat iv e draught s forbid wi n e and reduc e

, ,

h i s di e t
. Rhaz es e xp er i m en tat ed on an im al s as w e l l as
on h i s p ati e nt s I n boo k viii c ap xli i h e s av s that th e
. . . .

p oi s onous natur e o f m e rcur y h as p robably b ee n e xagge rat ed .

I do not s u pp os e t hat any gr e at harm w ou ld h app en to a

man who s hould drink m et al li c m e rcury e xc ept s ev er e p ain s
in t h e stomach and int estin e s I gav e s om e to an ape which
.

I had n or did I see any e vil b efa l l him b eyond t hat above
,

m e ntion ed whi ch I conclud ed from t h e fact that h e twist ed

,

about and k ept bitin g at h i s s tom ach and p awing it with

, ,

h i s hand s .

To Rhazes b e long s t h e hono ur of introd ucing t h e more

ext e n s iv e u se o f C h e mic al r e m e di es such as m e rc urial oint
,

m ents ; of fir s t C l early d es cribing s p ina v entosa as we ll as ,

t h e two dis e a s e s alr e ad y m e nt ion ed ; and o f many novel

s ugg es tion s as to tr eatm e nt o f which pe rha p s t h e most
,

e xtraordinary i s t h e r e com m endation of t h e gam e of ch ess

as a cur e fo r m e lan chol ia .

C ont e m p orary with Rhaz es th e r e liv ed in E gy pt a

p hy s ic ian not ab l e both on his own acco unt and a s th e ,

r e p r es entativ e o f hi s n ation T h e J ew s wh eth e r und er

.
,

Arab or C hri s ti an rul e b e cam e during t h e nint h and fol low

,

i n g c e nturi e s v e ry p romin e nt in m e di cin e t h e only high er ,

p ro fes s ion n ot ent ire ly clo se d to th e m and th ei r abl es t r e

,

p r es e nt ativ e was I saac b en S olomon cal l ed I s aac Ju d aeu s or

,

I s ra e li ( 8 50 H i s fam e as a p ractition e r s p re ad through

N orth A frica insom uch th at t h e E mir Zi gad e t Al lah s ent
,
-

him { 2 50 and an invit ation to h i s C ourt S o I cam e unto .

h im ( say s I s aa c ) and s alut ed hi m h umbl y abasing my s el f ,

as p rin c es lov e ; b ut I found nothi n g s e riou s at his C ourt ,

”
but only j oking and lau ght e r Th er e w a s a c e rtain Greek
.

th er e who d e light e d in catching B e n S olomon in l ogical

q uibbl es and oblige d him on c e at t h e E mir s tabl e to admit
,
’

“
t hat salt i s s w e et and sw eet s alt
, B ut wh en I s aw h e
”
was l e ading m e int o falla ci es continu es I saa c , I s aid ,
 I S AA C J UD/ EU S . 149

unt o hi m Y ou cal l your s e l f a l ivin g b ein g H e adm itt ed

‘ ’
,
!

it.
‘
And t h e dog i s a liv i ng b e ing ! Y es S o ( I con
’ ‘
.
’ ‘

c lud e d ) yo u ar e t h e dog an d t h e d og i s yo u , Th en Zi gad et .

’

Alla h l a ugh e d aloud w h er e by I saw that h e c ar e d m or e for

,

wit than for wi sdom On t h e fal l o f t h e Ag l ab i t e dyn a s ty

.

I s aac r et urn ed to Kairou an wh e r e hi s w isdom was app r e ,

c i at e d, an d h e b e cam e t uto r and p hysi ci an to s ev era l

E gy p tian p rin c e s Th ou gh h e l i ved fo r a c en t ury h e n ev er
.

”
marri e d d e claring th at s o long as h i s work on F ev ers
,

surviv e d h e n ee d ed n o oth e r o ffs p ring T h e book s ti l l e xi s t s .

,

and i s con sid e r e d t h e b e st A rabi c tr e ati s e on t h e s ubj e ct .

“ ”
Amon g his oth e r writin gs t h e c hi ef i s th at on D i e t a subj e ct ,

which h e tr e at s at gre at e r l e ngt h t han any of his p r ed e

c esso r s e v e n disc ussin g t h e corr e ct h e at o f ov e ns for b r e ad
,

baking . B ut th e r e ad e r m ay b e mor e int e r es t e d in t h e

’ “
J e wi s h p hysi ci an s e st im at e of p ork Th e fl e s h o f p igs is
.

mo s t n utritiou s ; it form s a good chym e and by i t s h umidity ,

and vi sco sity p res e rv es t h e moi s t ur e of t h e stom ach I t i s .

diur et ic and n ot s uit e d t o th o s e who e at l itt l e It i s u s efu l .

fo r t ho s e o f hot and d ry t e m p e ram e nt s fo r t h ey r e adi ly ,

diges t and th riv e u p on it b ut for t hos e o f an o pp osit e com

p l exion and of w e ak di g es t ion it is n oxio us g e n e rating evi l , ,

h umo ur s and a vi s cid p hl e gm whi ch m ay pm d u c e gout , ,

lumbago s ciati ca r e n al st on e and p araly s is Th e fl es h of

, , ,
.

old an d d e cr ep it p igs is mo s t unwh ol e som e ; it is hard ,

woody an d in s i p id ; t ho s e who h abit ual ly eat it fall into

,

”
m e lan choly and h e cti c fev e r s T h e abov e works w e r e writt e n
.

in A rabi c b ut B en S olom on has al s o hand ed down his w i s

,

dom in The P hy si ci an s Gui de a H e br ew book of p rov e rbs or

’

a p horism s of whi ch t h e fol lowing are exam p l es

,
Wh e n a
p ati e n t can b e c ur e d by di e t u se no drug and wh en sim p l e ,

m e dicin e s su ffic e avoid com p li cat e d on e s Thi s is al s o

giv e n by Rh az e s and may hav e b ee n co p i e d from him
,
.

Tr e at in g t h e s i ck i s li k e borin g h ol e s in p earl s and t h e ,

hysi c ian m ust a ct with caution l e s t h e d e stroy t h e j ew e l

p
” “
co m m itt ed to h i s charge M ak e your fee s as high as
.

”
p o s sibl e fo r se rvi c e s which co st l ittl e are litt l e valu e d
,
.
 1 50 M ED I CA L H I S T O RY .

Among th e works as c rib ed to I saa c b en S olom on is o n e

c al l ed P an tegni or P antechnuni w hi c h is p ra c ti c al ly id entical
, ,

with t h e famou s M al eki or Roy al B ook of H aly Abbas This

- .

re s e mblanc e can on ly b e ex p lain e d by Arabic sch olars and ,

th eir authority i s unfort unat e ly divid e d b etw een two hy po

'
th e ses ( I ) that H aly Abba s s im p ly co p i e d I saa c s book sub
, ,

s t i t u t i n g his own n am e for that o f th e author and ( 2 ) that ,

t h e w ork o f t h e M osl e m p hy s ician has b ee n attribut ed by

som e s trang e m istak e to h i s J ewi s h p r e d e c essor I t is hard .

to b e li e v e that a gr eat work by s o famous a writ er as I saa c

Ju d mu s could h ave b ee n r epubli s h e d as ori gin al a ge n e ration
l at e r w ithout t h e fraud b e ing at o nCe dis c ov er ed and t h e ,

s e cond and mor e usual ex p lan ation wi ll be h ere ado p t e d .

Al i b e n al Abbas -
whos e P e rsian origin i s indicat e d
“
by h i s tit l e Al M adj o ussy T h e M agu s is th e s e cond of th e
-
, ,

gr e at M o s l e m p hysician s and h e int end ed h is Roy al B ook

,

to form a com p l et e c yclo p aedia o f m e dicin e al l p revious ,

work s of th at natu r e b eing mor e or l ess im perfe ct as h e ,

p oints out at l en gth i n t h e int rodu c tion Th e M al eki com .

p ri s es tw enty books t en t h e or eti c and t en practical and

, ,

though found ed on Gal e n i s by n o m eans d estit ut e o f origin

,

al ity H aly giv e s cl u e w e ight to personal e x pe ri en c e and

.
,

urges th e st ud ent to b e dilige nt in att e nding hos p itals and ,

t h e p ra cti c e of good p hysi ci an s I n c ontrast to M icha el.

M e s n e wh o n ev e r e m p loy e d any d rug which had b een in

,

u s e fo r l e ss than two c e nturi e s H aly Abbas in s ist s on t h e,

im p ortan c e of s earching for n e w r em edi es b ut h e p oint s out ,

at t h e s am e ti m e th e n e c es s ity for c aution in su ch exp er i

m e nt s and advi s es am ong oth e r things t h at t h ey s hould be
, , ,

firs t giv e n t o animal s A s a s pec im en of t h e M al eki w e

.
,

m ay take t h e twenty fift h ch ap t e r of th e fifth p ractical book

-

“
O n t h e Tr eat m ent of Lov e whi ch H aly consid er s a form of
,

m e l an cholia S uch p ati e nt s s hould und ergo a moist e ning

.

r egi m e n ( bla c k bil e a s w e hav e s een c orr es p ond e d to th e

qu ality dryn es s ‘
Th ey shoul d take bat h s m od e rat e ,

hors e ex ercis e and anoint th e m s e lv es wit h oi l of viol ets

, .

Th ey s houl d loo k u pon gard e n s fi el ds m eadows and flow ers , , , ,

1 52 M ED C I AL H S O I T RY .

w h en w eak or s l e epy I s tr ength e n e d mys e l f with a gl ass of

,

”
win e . Thi s latt er habit un fortun at e ly grew u p on h im and ,

B ar h ebr aeu s s om ewhat ra s hly a s s e rts that Avi c en na was th e

fi rst p hiloso p h e r addi ct e d to s tron g drink At sixt een h e .

h ad ma s t ere d ev erythin g e xc ep t t h e M etaphy si cs of Aristotl e .

Forty ti m es did h e r e ad that ab s trus e work t ill h e kn e w t h e

w ord s by h eart but w as n o n e ar e r to th ei r m e aning
,
But .

o n e day b e in g o ffe r ed t h e comm e ntary o f Abu N a s r al Farab -

a t t h e ridi culou s ly ch e a p p ri c e o f thr ee dirh e m s ( e ight een

p enc e) h e bought it and foun d th e r e t h e k ey o f t h e myst ery

, ,
.

Th en h aving giv e n than k s to God and alm s to t h e p oor h e

, ,

start e d on h i s trav e l s Pa s sing ov e r forty y ears of an .

ad ve nt urou s li fe w e find t h e gr e at p hy s i cian worn out by

, ,

e xc e ss e s p hy s i ca l and m e ntal dyin g at H amadan Wh en , .

h e s aw that m edicin es had no m or e effe ct h e r e sign ed him ,

s e l f to t h e in e vitabl e s old h i s good s and gav e to t h e p oor

, ,

and b e taking hi m s e l f to h i s b ed r ead t h e Koran onc e through

, ,

e v e ry thr ee days ti ll h e di ed in t h e holy month

, Ramadan
Jun e I O 3 7
, .

Avi c e nn a was n ot on ly a p hysician but al s o an ast rono ,

m er p o et p hiloso p h e r and s tat es man

, , Of t h e 1 0 0 works
, .

ascrib ed to hi m only about tw elv e are m e dical but as few ,

b es id es th es e hav e b ee n t ran sl at e d into E uro pe an l anguages ,

it i s as a p hy s ician that h e i s u sually es tim at ed H i s chi ef .

m edical book t h e Canon not on ly su pe r s ed e d t h e similar

, ,

work s of Rhaz es and H aly Abba s but wh en t ran s lat ed into , ,

L atin ov e r s hadow e d fo r a ti m e ev e n t h e writings o f Gal en

, ,

an d fo r four c enturi e s form ed t h e chi e f t e xt boo k of E u r o p ean -

m e dicin e Y et t h e C an on i s admitt e d ev e n by t h e Arab s

.

t h e m s e lv e s to b e in fe rior in p ra ctical val u e and originality to

t h e M al eki and t h e C on ti nens and i t s L at in tran s lation i s ,

s o dry and t ed iou s th at ev e n t h e ind efatigabl e H all er who ,

r ead t h e C on ti n ens with p l e a s ure admit s h i s i n abi lity to get ,

t hrough t h e C an on which h e C h aract e ris e s as a , m et h od i c a

i n an i t as Th e r e ad e r m ay be cont e nt with t h e s hort e st
an d o n e of th e mo s t g e n e rally u s eful o f i t s in n um erabl e
c h a p t e rs Book iii F en vi tract iii c ap xx
. .
,O n drivin g
. .
, .
, . .
,
 AV I C E N N A . 1 53

a w ay moth s Wor m wood prot e ct s cloth es from moth s l i k e ,

”
wis c al a mi nt li k e wi s e l e mon p ee l
e , B ut l e t u s not -
,

t h er efor e d e s p i s e t h e work stil l l es s it s author ; b ut rath e r

, ,

l ook for t h e r e ason s for it s wond e rful su c c es s Avi c enn a was .

gre at e r as a p hi lo s o p h e r th an as a p hysi cian and h i s obj e ct ,

in t h e C anon was to r e con cil e t h e doctrin e s of Aristotl e with

thos e of G al e n j u st a s S t T hom as A quin a s two c ent uri e s
, .
,

l at e r r e con cil e d t h e m wit h thos e o f t h e C atholi c C hurch

, .

Thu s in s pe a kin g of th e ca u s ation of di s e a s e s h e di s cuss e s

, ,

n ot only t h e p rim it iv e ( e xcitin g) ant e c e d e nt ( p r e di s p o s ing) , ,

and conj oint (p roxi mat e ) ca us e s of G al e n b ut a lso t h e ,

m at e ri al form al e ffe ctu al and fin al cau s e s of Ari s totl e a

, , , ,

combin ation whi ch co uld not fail to im p r e ss t h e m e di ae val

p hysician who h e l d t h at wh e r e G al e n and Aristotl e di ffer e d
,

non e cou ld d e ci d e an d th at w h er e th e y agr ee d non e co u ld

,

d i s s ent .

A vic e n na s sci e nti fic works are p erh a ps mor e worthy of

’
, ,

h i s fam e an d t h e t r e atis e On th e Usel essness of A str ol ogy

, ,

h ad it b ee n t ransl at ed m ight h av e b en e fit e d m edicin e ,

mor e t han t h e Can on I f t h e work On P etr ifac ti ons is

.

r e ally by him Avi c enn a m ay cl ai m t h e titl e of Fath e r o f

,

G e ology and t h e following e xt ract m i ght h av e b ee n p u b

,

l i s h e d as so m ething n ew mor e than eight c e nturi e s lat er

O n t h e O ri gin of M o unt ain s — M ount ain s ar e p roduc ed in
’
t w o way s e ith e r by e l e vation s of t h e earth s crust as in
, ,

e arthqu ak e s or by t h e a ction o f wat e r which has hollow e d

, ,

o ut t h e val l eys at t h e sam e ti m e ; fo r th e r e are hard er an d

s o ft e r tracts an d win d and wat er r emov e t h e l att e r whil e

,

l e avin g t h e form e r M any ag es ( mul ta tempor a) hav e b een

.

r e qu ir e d to p rod u c e this and p e rha p s th e m ount ain s ar e ,

n o w g e ttin g sm all e r That wat er has b ee n th e ch i ef age nt

.

i s shown by t h e m arks o f aquatic and oth e r anim als found

”
o n m any roc k s .

N OTE .

S i n a n fur t h er d i s ti n gu i s h e d h i m s e l f b y h i s z ea l fo r t h e i m pr ovem ent

o f p r i s o n s an d t h e c are o f s i c k c r i m i n a l s , an d i s c a ll e d b y V o
n H am m e r
1 54 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

th e l am
H o ward L ik e t h e M es n e s an d B ac h t i s h u a s h e b e
of Is
l onged to a m ed i c al fam ily t h o ugh h i s fat h er T s ab e t b e n Corra i s , , ,

b e tt e r kn o w n as a p h il os o ph er an d h i s s on T s ab et b en S i n a n a s a , , ,

hi s t o ri an Of anot h er s o n Ab u l H a s s an t h e fo ll ow i ng s t o ry i s t o l d
.
, ,

W h en A d a d ad an l a t h e B u i d e c am e t o B agd ad 9 7 6 t h e t w o po l es of
-
, , , ,

m ed i c i n e i n t h at c ity w ere Abu l H as s an b e n S i nan and Ab u l H a s s an al

H art an i T h ey present ed t h e m e l ves b e fore h i m
. W h o ar e t h e s e ! s .

a ked t h e E m i r Tw o c e l e b ra t e d p h y s i c i ans I am w e ll a n d d o n t
“ " '
s . . ,

w an t t h e m a n d t h e y l e ft t h e a u d i e n c e c h a mb er i n c o n fu s i o n
”
,
B ut i n .

a fe w m i n ut es t h ey aga i n c rave d ad m i ss i on an d B e n S i n a n s ai d : ,

All ah pr o l ong t h e E mi r s l i te l I t i t h e obj ec t of our ar t n o t o n ly t o

’
s

c u r e d i s as e b ut al s o to m a i n t a i n h e a lt h Wh i c h rul ers n eed ab ov e al l

e , ,

m en “
.Yo u ar e r i gh t s a i d A d ad a n d b i dd i ng t h em s i t d o w n h e
,
"
,

s e ttl e d l ar e sa l ar i es u o n t h e m and w as ever aft e rw ard s a l i b eral

g p ,

p a t r o n o f t h e pro fess i o n H a ly Abb as d ed i c at ed t h e Roy al B ook to

.

him .

R h az e s , Conti nens, Ven i c e , 54 2 ; Oper a P ar va, L

1 yo ns 1 51 0 ; On the
,

S m al l pox
-
a nd M easles , y
S d e n h a m S oc e , 1 8 58 h i ty . T i s l as t c o n t a i n s an
e x c e l l en t b i ograph y I s aac Jud ae us Oper a Lyo ns 1 51 5 ; t h e Aphor i sms
.
, , ,

h ave b ee n t ra ns l at e d i n t o I t al i a n b y S o ave fr om w h o m t h ey ar q u ot e d ,
e

by H ae s er i 564 H aly Abb as L i ber Toti as M ed i ci ne Ly o n s 1 52 3 ;

, . .
, , ,

T h i r fel d e r ( i n H en sc h el s j an us
e ol i ) propo ses a t h i rd h yp o t h es i s
’
,
v . .
,

vi z .t h at t h e genu i n e Roy al B ook h a s d i s appeared and a t r e ati s e by

, ,

I s aac Ju d mu s b ee n s ub s tit ut e d fo r it b ut m os t aut h or iti es ad o p t t h e ,

v i ew t ake n i n t h e t ext Avi c e n n a Canon M ed i ci ne Ly ons 1 52 2 T h e

.
, , ,
.

ful l e t b i o grap h y i s t h at gi ven by Vo n H ammer ( L i ter aturgesch i ch te)

s .

X XX .
—
A RA B I C ME DI CI N E .
( 3 ) T H E W ES T E RN
C A L I PH AT E .

UN D E R t h e p ros p erou s rul e o f Abdur rah m an I I I Al H ak e m -

.
,
-

I I and Al M ansu r t h e Re ge nt ( 9 1 2
.
,
-
C ordova ca p ital ,

of t h e W e st e rn C ali p hat e w as worthy of it s anci e nt ,

Ph oenician nam e C a rta Tuba th e great city I t s ,

-
, .

hous es may hav e c ont ain e d 1 ooo ooo inh abit ant s whos e , , ,

want s bodily s p irit u al and m ental w er e not un fai rly pr o

, , , ,

v i d ed for by 60 0 inn s
goo bath s 6 0 0 m osqu es e ach wit h , , ,

it s fr ee school atta c h ed and in cl ud in g t h e whol e p rovinc e , ,

1 7 u n iv e r s iti es and 7 0 p ublic librari e s Th e library of Al

, .

H a ke m might h av e vi ed with that of Al exand ria for ac , ,

1 56 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

m or e fr e qu e nt ly than th ey car ed to con fe s s and G uy of ,

C hauliac t h e gre at es t of m ed i mval surg eon s quot e s it mor e

, ,

t han 2 0 0 ti m e s Albucasi s b egin s by saying that Arabi c

.

s urg ery i s in a bad way owin g t o t h e ignoran c e o f anatomy .

“
I have s een a surg e on inci s e a scro fulou s sw e lling in a
woman s n e c k ; h e s t uck h i s kni fe into t h e c e rvi cal art ery
’

and t h e p ati e nt fel l d e ad in his arm s I hav e s e e n anoth er .

e xtract a larg e s ton e ; h e got out t h e ston e but brought ,

p art o f t h e bladd er with it ; t h e p ati ent di e d on t h e t hird

“ “
day . S urgical O p e rat ion s h e cont in u es ar e of two
, ,

kind s tho s e which b e n efit t h e p ati e nt an d thos e which

, ,

”
u s ual ly kill h im and h e int e nd s that a d es cri p tion of t h e
,

dang er s to b e fe ar ed in variou s p roc edur es s hal l form a

s p e cial fe atur e o f h i s work T h e fi rs t o f t h e thr e e cha p t e rs
.

i s e ntir e ly occu p i ed with t h e mani fold u s es of t h e caut e ry ,

t h e favourit e in s trum ent o f t h e Arab s urg e on an d t h e book ,

e nd s a s it b e gan w ith his favourit e wat chword

, C aution l ,

Avoid p e ri lou s p ractic es as I hav e a lr e ady warn e d you s o

, ,

s hal l you hav e t h e mor e

p rai s e and p rofit i f God wil l ,

Thi s i s t h e e n d o f t h e book call e d A l Tasr if w ritt e n for tho s e

-
,

w h o hav e not t h e e ntir e work s of A b u l k as e m Khala f b e n Abbas

t h e Zah r ai t e on w hom m ay G od hav e m er c v i f h e fini s h e s
,

h i s li fe i n t h e good way .

Th e oth er books of t h e Tasr if contain m uch int e r e st

ing matt e r Th u s t h e followin g r emind s u s of a w el l known
. -

“
’
ca quot d in S cott s D emonol ogy : I s aw a boy a p ati ent
s e e
,

o f m in e for e il e s y who s aid that wh en h e w as about to

p p , ,

have a fit a black w oman s ee m ed t o com e up to him dre ss ed

,

in th e s kin call ed p arua an d as s oon as s h e r e ach ed him

,
’

”
h e fe ll down ( i 2 .Albucasi s s ee m s to h av e giv en t h e
,

fir s t account o f h aemo p hilia : I found m en in a c e rtain

vil la g e who tol d m e tha t wh en e v e r th ey s u ffe r ed a s e v er e
woun d it bl ed ti ll th e y w e r e d e ad and th ey add e d that
, ,

wh e n a child rubb ed h i s gum s th ey b eg an to bl eed and ,

w ent on bl eedin g till h e di e d An oth er al so h aving had a .

v e in o p en e d by a p hl e botomi st bl e d to d e at h and th ey said

t hat i n g e n eral m ost of t h em di ed thu s I hav e n ev er
, , .
 A V E N ZOA R . 1 57

s ee n su ch a th in g sav e in this vil l age ; n or do I fin d it

n otic ed in an ci e nt w rit er s I know n ot t h e c au s e o f it but
.
,

as for t h e c ur e I s u pp os e a caut e ry sho uld b e a pp li e d at

,

on c e ; but I h av e n ev e r tri e d it an d t h e who l e thin g i s ,

m arv e ll o u s t o m e ( xxxi 2 .
,

C hri s ti an writ e r s s p lit u p A b u l k a s e m i nt o at l e ast th r ee

individ ua l s w h om th ey ca ll e d Alb ucasi s A l s ah r av i us an d
, , ,

B en ab as ar em r e s p e ct iv e ly w hi l e on t h e oth e r hand th ey, , ,

j oin e d s ev era l m e m b e r s of t h e gr e at m e d ical family o f E b n

Zohr into on e wh en c e aro s e t h e l ege n d of a p hysi ci an of
,

t hat n am e who l iv e d 1 3 7 y e ar s T h e on ly o n e who can b e .

h er e con s id e r e d i s Ab u M e r w an Abd al m al ek eb n Zoh r t h e ,

gr e at e st p hysi c i an of t h e tw e l ft h c e ntu ry and n e xt to , ,

Rhaz e s t h e m ost ori gin al of t h e Arab s

, H i s c hi ef work .
,

t h e Th ei si r or A ssi stance cont ain s m u ch whi ch is n ot

t o b e foun d i n e arli e r writ e rs for b es id e s d e scribing peri , ,

carditi s and m e diastin al absc e s s Av en z o ar may p e rha ps ,

clai m t h e di s t in ct ion o f di scov e ring t h e Ac aru s s cabi e i or ,

it ch mit e I n boo k ii tra ct iii c ap xix h e say s : S om e

. .
, . .
,
. .
,

t im es t h e r e ari s e o n t h e body un d e r t h e ext ern al skin l itt l e , ,

s w e l ling s whi ch t h e vu lgar ca ll soab an d i f t h e s kin b e ‘

,
’

r e mov e d th e r e is su e s from va riou s p art s a v ery s ma l l b e a st ,

“
so sm al l t h at h e is h ardly visibl e B ut t hrough t h e ,

goodn e ss of God t h e r e ar e m any thin gs which will cu r e

,

thi s dis e as e an d t hough Av en z o ar do e s not m e nt ion s ul p h ur

,
.
,

h e s p e cial ly r e co m m e nd s an a pp licat ion containing oil o f

bitt e r al mond s .

Av enz o ar l i k e h i s fat h e r su ffer e d m any t h in gs fro m t h e

, ,

“
bigot e d Al m oravid e Ali b e n J u s s u f ( 1 1 0 6
, Wh e n
A li b en J u s su f i m p ri s on e d my fat h e r h e s o torm e nt e d
hi m t hat h e got an absc e ss in h i s l eft s id e Th e p hy s i cia n .

t r e at e d it by in ci s ion wh er e by h e fe lt not hing but it p e n e

, ,

t r at ed t o hi s h e art an d h e di e d ; God hav e m e rcy on h i s

,
”
so ul .
I w as a s t ud e nt at t h e tim e ( iii 3 S oon a ft er .
,

ward s A v e n z o ar w as i m p ri s on e d al s o b e i ng brou g ht out ,

riodi cally t o att e n d p at i e nt s O n e o f A l i s co urti e r s ha d

’

p e .

l on g had an ob s c ur e dis e a s e with ind igestion lo s s o f fl e sh ,

-
, ,
 1 58 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

an d occa s ional fe v e r I found him m uch p rostrat e d w ith a

.

s low irr egul ar s errat e p uls e I n th e ep igastric r egion I

, ,
.

felt a round hard ma s s l ik e an a pp l e p ainful on d eep ,

p r es s ur e S o Av en z oa r diagn o s ed can c e r o f t h e stomach

.

( ver r uc a s tomachi ) and s a w h e wou l d d i e b ut feare d to t el l ,

him . O n e night t h e p ati e nt was sudd e nly t ak e n with

h mm or r h age from t h e bow e l and Av en z o ar found him
coll a p s e d but w ith e nough s tr en gth to s ugge s t that th e
,

p hy s ician w a s not tr e ating him p ro p erly out o f s p it e u p on ,

w hich anoth e r courti e r advi s ed t h e imm edi at e a p p l icat ion of

“
t h e tort ur e I t urn ed t o h im and s aid God s wi ll b e ‘ ’
.
,

d on e for thou gh I had b e en dragge d from my hom e and

,
’

my b elongin gs I w as not guilty in that m att er ; God

,

kno w eth And wh e n I w as t ak en bac k to t h e d ung eon I

.

s aid to him that l e d m e : Th at lord would h av e inj ure d m e

‘

u nj u s tly for I kn ew h e m u s t d i e but fear e d t o say s o

, , but
n ow l et him know h e w ill b e d e ad in tw e lv e d ay s I was ’

s o angry and e xcit ed that I s aid thi s alou d s o that h e h e ard

“
it
. H e di d on e ninth day ( i 1 5
e t h Ali had a con .
,

c ubin e who s u ffe re d from dys e nt e ry and I labo ur ed long to ,

c ure h er in s omu ch that I got tir ed o f h er fo r h er di s e a se

,
,

c ontinu e d s ixty day s without C hang e Th e n s h e p a s s e d two .

l arg e p i e c es of t h e inn e r m e mbran e of t h e bow e l s o I s aw ,

t hat t h e a ffe ction cou ld not b e d u e to any morbid h um our ,

b u t that s om e o n e w as givin g h er p oison and th at th ere was ,

n o ho p e And so it w as for s h e d i e d of that d i s ea s e accord

.
,

ing to th e will o f God ( ii 1 I n s light g a s tri c di s ord e rs

.
,

A v en z o ar h as gr eat fait h in a s maragd us s ton e

p robably ,

t h e gr ee n j a s p e r o f Gal e n and N ec h e p s u s ( p Wh e n I .

e sca p e d from t h e hand s o f Al i and h i s m e n and was r e t urn

i ng to S evil l e I s aw by t h e way s id e a h e rb whi ch I t hought

,

w a s t h e wood add i o n and at e th e r eo f ; wh enc e I got a

g ri evo us s tomachach e with diarrhoea B ut on r e aching .

ho m e I pl ac ed a s maragdu s ov er my stom ach and anot h er

i n my mouth and soon r e cov er e d Poi s onous p lant s ar e
i nn um e rabl e Wh er efor e it i s w el l n ot to eat or ev en tast e
.

s trang e h e rb s unl e ss on e ha s a s maragdu s or th eriac or , ,

1 60 M ED I C A L H I ST O R Y .

e s c a pe th e attack s of h i s en e mi es Though th is charge .

w ere sign ed by al l my s ubj e ct s I would not b eli ev e it ; I

,

kn ow wh at a r eligiou s man h e i s .

Th e son of th e gr e at A v e n z o a r wa s famous for his p hysi c a l

str ength and skil l in ch es s p l aying b ut s eem s t o have b een ,

l ess suc c e ssful a s a p hy s i cian i f w e may j udg e fro m a c on

,

t em porary ep igram
0 y ou t h e p l ague an d A ve n o a r l
,
z

W h y rage t oge t h e r aga i n t m an ki nd !

s

O n e en e m y w m i gh t e n d u re
e

B ut w h y s h o u l d w e uffer y o u t w o c o m b i ned
s

— Vo n H am me r , L i teraturgeschi ch tc .

Th e Th ei si r of u sual ly boun d up with th e

Av e nz o ar i s
Col l i get of his fri e nd and p u p il Av err oes Th e Arabi c .

titl e of this work K i tab ol K ol ly at or Book of U niv ersals

, , ,

suffici ently indicat es it s p h ilo s o p hic charact er and Av e rroes

’

d eclar ed h e d e sir ed no high er t it l e than th at of c omm entator

on th e writings of Ari s totl e .

As t h e author r emarks t h e Col l i get can only be und er

,

stood by p erson s w el l ve r sed in dia l e ct ic s and ev en in d escr i b

‘

ing t h e m an ufact ure of barl ey w at e r h e i s as p hiloso phi c ,

“
as possibl e : Barl ey br e ad i s in fe rior to W h eat en but i s ,

c ooling and r eadily di ges t ibl e and i ts col dn ess i s of t h e first

,

d egr ee Barl ey wat e r i s mor e m e dicina l t han t h e br ead ;

.

it i s exc ell e nt in hot and d ry dis e a s es s in c e it c ools moi st e ns, , ,

t em pe rs and won d erfully ge n e rat e s a laudabl e humou r N or

, .

do es it infl at e or r e main on th e stoma ch all which we h ave

l e arnt from ex peri e n c e I t s hould b e m ad e th us : Tak e
.

o ne p art unground barl ey grain s an d add th em to tw enty

,

p art s of c old wat er ; l et th e m s oa k fo r four hours ; th en boil

til l t h e wat e r t urns r eddi s h li k e win e Thu s m ad e th ey do .

not inflat e ; but h e who br e aks or g rinds th e m do es wrong ,

for t h eir i nfl at i ve faculty i s on ly r e mov ed by t h e infu sion ,

an d t h ey on ly attract wat e r an d r e c eiv e infusion by th e

attra c tiv e virtu e th ey po s s e ss whi ch att ra c tiv e virt u e is a
,

s pecifi c pro perty of t h e whol e s eed in it s totality A s for .

,

ex amp l e is t h e c as e with t h e colours o f

, p r ec iou s ston es ,
 A V E RR OE S .
—M AI M O N I D E S . 16 1

whi ch ar e p ro p erti e s of t h e ir combi n e d p art s fo r wh e n ,

p owd e r ed th e y l os e th e ir colo u r H e ad ds that h e l earnt

.

thi s way of m a king b arl e y wat e r from “ t h e i l l u striou s Av e n

zoar t h e gr e at e st
, p hysi cian s inc e Gal e n (v .

A v e rr oe s i s t h e l a st of t h e gr eat Arab p hy s i cian s an d t h e ,

d e cl in e of s c i e n c e was d u e to two c lo s e ly conn e ct e d cau s es ,

p ol it i cal d e cad e n c e an d t h e r evival o f orthodoxy I t was .

b ec aus e th ey h ad forgott e n G od s aid th e M o s l em th e o ,

l o gi an s th at t h e warriors of I sl am t urn e d t h eir bac ks in t h e

,

day of batt l e ; and t h e y r e m e mb e r e d Av e rroe s That fr ee . .

thin king p hi loso p h e r wa s d e grad e d from h i s high o ffi c e of

Vic eroy of C ordova and b anish e d t o a t own inhab it e d on l y
by J e w s whi l e i f w e m ay t ru s t t h e doubt ful evid en c e of L eo
, ,

A frican u s h e was al s o co m p ell ed to stan d at t h e door of a

,

mosqu e wh e re ev e ry p as s e r b y s p at in h i s fac e A s til l

,
-
.

mor e l e g e ndary story r e lat es t h at wh e n told that bot h

C hri s tian s an d M o s l e m had d evot e d h i s book s to t e m p ora l
and hi s s ou l to et e rn al fl am e s h e m ad e t h e famo u s an s w e r
, ,

S i t ani m a m ea cu m ph i l osoph i s or it s Arabi c e q uival e nt

,
.

T h e orthodox r e act ion a ffe ct e d anoth e r p hy s ician almo st ,

as fam ou s as Av err oes M os e s b en M aimon ( 1 1 3 5

.

n ow known as t h e Rabbi M ai mon id es was s t udyin g m e di cin e ,

at C ordova wh en t h e d e cr e e w e nt forth t hat al l J e w s and

,

C hri s ti an s m u st ac c ep t I s l am or l eav e t h e country He .

con form ed o utwardly u nt il h e had arrang ed his affairs a nd ,

th e n w e nt t o E gyp t wh er e h e b e cam e a m emb e r of t h e

,

m e dical sta ff of t h e S u ltan S al adin which com p ri s e d C hri s ,

ti ans J ews an d M osl e m ind iscri m inat e ly H e was soon

, ,
.

ac cu s e d o f a po s ta s y from t h e faith a crim e which t h e Koran

p unish e s wit h d e ath ; b ut S al adin s j udg e s with a lib e rality ,

worthy of th e ir ma st e r a cquitt ed him d e cl arin g that a

, ,

for c ed conv e rsion i s n o conv e rsion .

T h e m e di cal works o f M aim onid es whi ch alon e con c e rn ,

u s h e r e ar e writt e n in t h e t ediou s s e m i p hi lo s o p hic styl e o f

-

Avic e nn a and Av e rro e s with t h e exc ep tion o f t h e B ook of

,

C ounsel addr e s s e d to t h e S ult an M al e k al Afdh al b en

-

S al adin whi ch i s o f gr e at int e r e st and forms t h e e arli es t,

,

II
 162 M E D I C AI . H I S T O RY .

xam p l e of a form of m edi cal lit e ratur e of which w e shall

e
“
hav e m uch to say H e r e is t h e p r efac e
. Th er e h aving '

com e to t h e hand s of t h e l e a s t of hi s slav es M o s es t h e ,

I sra e lit e of C ordova a command from t h e high and mighty

,

Prin c e M al e k whom m ay God in cr e as e in honour th at I

, ,

s hould w rit e in s tructions a s to r egi m e n by which h e may

s a fely and s ur e ly b e fr eed from t h e car e s and sickn e ss that

h av e com e u p on him I p ray that God wi ll d eign to r e mov e

,

t h es e and all oth er disord e r s and that p erfe ct h e alth may

,

a tt end him all t h e day s o f h i s li fe I t h a s b ee n signifi ed to

.

m e that my r ev e r ed lord com p lain s o f t h e h ardn e ss and

d ryn es s o f h i s natur e wh e r e by h e cannot get nat ural r e li ef
,

w ithout mu ch straining and di fficu lty ; th at h e is o pp r es sed

by m elancholy thought s ; that h e s ee ks to b e alon e and ,

i s in fe ar o f d e ath ; and that t h e w e akn e s s of h i s s tom ach

p r ev e nts t h e p ro p e r dig e stion of food Wh e r efor e I hav e .

writt e n t h e four fol lowin g tractat e s T h e first i s a bri ef .

e x p l anation o f t h e g e n e ral ru l e s o f h ealth ; t h e s e cond is for

t hos e s ick p e r s ons who cannot find a p hy s ician or at l e ast , , ,

n ot o n e whom th e y can tru s t ; t h e thi rd contain s t h e r egi

m en p ro p er for my lord s cas e as it h a s b e e n d e scrib ed to

’
,

m e ; t h e fourth tr e at s o f m att e r s us eful to s i ck and w e ll in

al l tim es and p lac e s And l et non e bl am e m e i f I r ep eat
.

h e re what I hav e s aid e l s ewh e re for e ach work m ust b e ,

ada pt e d to t h e n eeds o f thos e who r e quir e it and to th e ,

obj e ct s o f t h e writ e r And for th e s e t hin g s I n ow im p lore

.

t h e aid and in s p iration o f God t h e gl orious t h e gre at , , .

I n t h e third tractat e t h e writ e r giv e s som e exc e l l e nt rul es

o f di e t p r e scrib e s a rh ubarb and t am arind
, p ill a s yru p of ,

“
raisins and vin e gar much u se d by t h e gr e at Av enzoar ,

with s o me ot h er r em e di es of m u ch com p l exity and fin ally ,

urg es t h e S u lt an to forti fy h i s mind by th e doctrin e s of

p hiloso p hy and r e ligion .

NOTE .

T h e S urgery of A l b uc as i s w as pub li s h e d i n A rab i c an d La ti n b y

C h ann
‘
i ng , x
O fo r d, 1 77 8 ; t h ere i s a l s o a F re n c h t r ans l ati o n b
y L e C l erc .
 1 64 M ED I CA L H I S T O RY .

first known p harm aco poei a whi c h wa s ado p t ed throughout,

t h e E a s t e rn C a li p hat e .

Wh e n t h e J ewish tourist B enj amin of Tud e l a vi sit ed

Bagdad about 1 1 60 h e fo und th er e sixty m e di cal in s titution s
,

Al l w e ll p rovid ed from t h e kin g s s tor e s with s p ic e s and.

’

oth e r n e c e s s ari es and e v e ry p ati e nt who cl ai m s a s s i s tanc e

,

i s fed at t h e king s ex p e n s e until his c ur e i s com p l et ed

’
.

Th e r e is furth e r t h e l arge b ui lding cal l ed D ar al M ar ap h tan -

in which ar e lock ed u p all tho s e in s an e p er s on s who ar e m et

wit h durin g t h e hot s eason e v ery on e o f whom i s s e cured,

by iron chain s until h i s r e ason r et urns w h en h e i s al low ed ,

to r et urn to his hom e For t hi s p ur p os e th ey ar e r e gularly

.

’
e xamin e d on c e a mont h by t h e king s o ffic er s a pp oint ed for

t h at p ur p o s e and wh e n th ey ar e found to b e p o s s ess e d of

,

r e a s on th ey ar e im m e diat ely l ib erat ed Al l this i s don e by .

t h e king in p ur e charity to w ard s al l who com e to B agdad

e ith e r ill or in san e fo r t h e kin g is a p iou s man and his
,

”
i nt ent ion i s e xc e ll e nt in this r es p ect ( Ash er s t rans vol i ’
.
, . .

P 99)
B ut t h e mo s t famou s and int ere s t ing of M osl e m hos p ital s
w er e thos e o f D amascus and C airo About t h e y e ar 1 1 60 .
,

t h e E mir N ur e ddin t h e L ight and D efen d e r o f t h e Faith

, ,

h av i n g r ec o n qu ere d E d es s a an d driv e n back t h e cru s ading

host s o f L oui s V I I and C onrad I I I found e d as an a pp ro
.
,

p r i at e thank o ffe ring to t h e God of bat tl e s a gre at hos p ital

-
,

“
at D ama s cus I t h as n ev e r had its li k e in t h e world
.
,

say s Khal i l D ah eri and it contain e d b e si d es d ep artm e nt s fo r

, ,

di s eas e s of t h e ey e etc a m edical l ibrary and l e ct ur e room

, .
,
-
,

wh er e t h e tal l e maci at e d figur e of N ur e ddin him s el f might

s om etim e s b e s e e n among t h e h e ar e rs .

A cont e m p orary chronicl er I bn al At h i r re l at e s that on ,

-
,

r eturning from a visit to J e rusal e m about 1 1 84 h e was i n

dis p os ed and cal l e d in a doctor a nat iv e of t h e M aghr e b
, ,

( M orocco ) who tr eat e d him v ery rud e ly S o b e di s miss ed

, .

“
him and tri e d to c ur e hims e l f b ut got wor s e Th en I rod e
,
.

into t h e city ( D am a s cus) an d a s kin g t h e addr e ss of a p h y

,

s i c i an w as dir e ct e d t o t h e gr e at hos p ital

, On m y ent ran c e .
,
 R EGA R D LE SS OF E X PE N SE . 16 5

th e su peri nt en d e nt c am e to m e an d in q uired m ost affab ly

into my c as e Th en h e wrot e a p re s c ri ption sayin g : Y our
.
,

att en d a nt wi ll bring yo u wh at i s writt en on t his p ap e r ’

B ut sir s aid I th an ks b e to God I am ri c h enough

, ,
’
,
‘
,

t o pay for m y drugs w ithout t r es p assing on th e p ro pe rty o f

t h e p oor H e r ep li e d : S i r I do ubt not that yo u c an do
’ ‘
.
,

wit hout our m edi c in e s but h er e no o ne d es p is es N ur ed d i n s ,

’

b e n efit s I n th e nam e of God I ass ur e yo u t h at S ultan

.
,
’
S al adi n s son s and t h eir whol e fam ili es s e nd h er e for m e di
c in e s an d n ev er pay
, I an s w e r e d that I c ould not a pp rov e
.
’

of that .I t wa s N ur edd i n s d e sire h e c ontin u ed to b e u s e

‘ ’

.
’
,
‘

ful t o al l b e l i ev ers ri ch or p oor M y m ind b eing t h us set at

’
, .

e a s e I to ld h i m my adv e nt ur e with t h e oth e r doctor Si r ‘ ’

, .
,

s aid h e an Afric an who ha s live d at D a m as c us do e s not

,
‘

know how to b e hav e ot h e rwis e ( Th e D am a s c en es w er e an d .

ar e n otorio us for rud e n e s s ) I f I am c ourt eou s to al l I o w e .

,

it to you r c o u ntrym en for I h av e s oj o urn ed for som e ti m e ,

in M osul and I rak Th e n I thank ed h i m and d epart e d

.
’
, .

Th e ho s p it al was c ondu ct e d in a m ann er equally r egard

l es s of e x pen s e n e arly thr ee c e nt u ri es l at er T h e abov e .

“
m ent ion e d Kha lil ob s erv e s : Wh il e m akin g t h e p ilgri mage to
M e cc a in 8 51 ( 1 42 7 ) I stay ed at D am a s c u s an d h ad wit h m e a ,

c e rt ain P e rsi an a man of wit and int e l ligen c e who follow e d

, ,

t h e rit e s of t h e four orthodox s e ct s p e rform ing th e m al l at t h e ,

s am e t im e Wh en h e w e nt ov e r t h e hos p ital and saw t h e

.

p ati e nt s di e t an d all th e i r com fort s and advantage s whi ch

’

, ,

ar e wit hout n u mb e r h e p r e t e n d e d to b e ill and st ay ed thr ee

,

days t h er e T h e p hysi c ian h avin g fe lt h i s p ul s e r ec ognis e d

.

his c as e an d p r es c rib ed any di et h e lik ed so h e wa s fed u pon ,

yo ung c h i c k e ns c ak e s and s h e rb e t and all mann er of fruits

, , ,
.

B ut a ft er two days th e doctor wrot e a p r es c ri ption i mp lyin g

t hat a gu est shou l d n ot stay b eyond t h e third day Th ey .

say th e fi re h as n ev er b ee n p ut o ut at thi s hos p it al sin c e it

”
was b uilt .

Ah m ed ben Toul un th e first ind e p end ent rul e r of E gy pt , ,

found e d w e are t o ld a ho s p ita l th e re in 874 at a c ost of

, , ,

about I t c ont ain e d two b aths for m en and wom e n ,

1 66 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

r es p e ctiv ely and a d ep artm ent fo r t h e in s an e and B en Toulun

, ,

vi s it ed it e v e ry Friday —t h e M o s l e m S abbath —til l a l unati c

thr ew an app l e at him a ft e r which h e cam e no mor e t hough
, ,

h e s till took an int er e st in t h e p l ac e .

B e hin d t h e gre at mosqu e which s til l p r es e r ves h i s n am e

, ,

A hm ed establ ish ed a dis p e nsary wh e r e p hysi cian s att end ed ,

ev e ry Friday and di s p e n s e d advic e drugs and sh erb et ( l)

, , ,

grati s . H i s e x p endit ur e in charity e q uall ed £ 50 0 ( 1 0 0 0

dinar s ) p er month .

All w rit er s agr e e in ascribing t h e first p lac e among M os

l e m in s tit ution s fo r t h e s ick to t h e gr e at M an suri ho s p ital
at C airo Al M al e k al M an s ur Gilavan b efor e h e b e cam e
.
- -
,

S ultan w as cam p aigning in S yri a against t h e G r ee ks 1 2 7 6

, , ,

wh en h e w as s e iz e d with an attac k of col ic B e ing rel i ev ed .

“
by m edicin es from th e hos p ital found e d by t h e D efe nd e r
”
o f t h e Fait h at D am a s c us h e vow ed in h i s gratit ud e that
,

h e would o n e day bu il d a y et n obl er in s t it ution S oon a ft e r .

h e a s c end ed t h e t hron e this vow was fulfil l ed and s u ch was ,

th e z e al of t h e S ultan and hi s o fficial s t hat t h e ho s p it al ,

whi ch was b egun in J un e 1 2 83 w as com p l e t e d i n M ay

, , ,

1 2 84 . M ason s and car p e nt e r s w e r e bro ught from a ll p arts

of E g y p t ; l oit e r e r s in t h e s tr eet and p a s se r s b y what e ve r -
,

t h e ir rank w e r e oblig ed to assi s t in t h e holy work insom uch

, ,

that m o s t p eo p l e avoid ed going t hat way and t h e favour

of h eav e n was strikingly mani fes t e d by t h e di s cov e ry o f two

co p p e r ca s k et s fill ed wit h g em s and gol d r es p e ctiv ely of

s u ffici e nt val u e to d efray al l th e ex p e ns e s of t h e b uil d in g .

Th e ho s p ital wa s e ndow ed with an incom e of abo ut

and contain ed four gr e at co urts e a ch with a fo untain in t h e ,

c e ntre ward s for e ach s ep arat e di s eas e a l e ct ur e roo m and

, ,
-
,

a d ep artm ent for att en din g p at i ents at t h e ir own h om e s I t .

also in clu d ed an acad emy an or p hanage and a cha p e l wh er e

, , ,

fi fty cha p lain s r e cit ed t h e Koran day an d night w it hout int er

mi s s ion fo r al l who cho se to h e ar M u si cia ns and story .

t e l l e rs w e re p rovid ed for t h e b e n e fit of tho se t roubl ed with

sl ee p l es s n e s s and t h e conval es c ent p ati ent re c e iv ed at hi s
,

d e p arture fi ve pi e c es of gold —about fi fty shil li ngs —that h e

might not b e oblig ed to r et urn to work im m ediat ely .
1 68 M ED I C A L H I ST O RY .

l east aggravat ed by im p ro p er food Wh en I was s uperi n

,
.

t end e nt of t h e hos p ital I fou nd t h e r e a m an wit h t h is ,

d is e as e v ery w e ak and e maciat ed

,
U nd er my tr eatm ent .

h e r ec ov er ed st r e ngth and b e gan to p u t on fl e sh ; but h e

”
a ft e rwards took to e at ing bad food and sank ra pidly
(L I S ,

As an exam p l e of t h e ac ad e mi es which e xist e d in al l t h e

gr eat M osl e m citi es w e m ay ta k e t h e H ou s e of Wisdo m or
”
H all of S c i e n c e at C airo found e d by t h e C ali p h H akem ,

B i m r i l l ah and o p e n e d S at urday 2 4 th M ay 1 0 0 5 ( l oth

, , ,

D sc h em ad i A H I t w as w e l l furni s h ed and d ec orat ed

. . ,

w ith c ar pets and curtains books on al l s ubj e ct s w er e taken

t o it from t h e royal librari es and lawy ers ast ronom ers , , ,

gramm arians an d phy s i cian s gav e l e ct ure s p e riodi c al ly

,
.

E v e ry o n e was admitt ed without di stinction S om e c a m e .

t o r e ad oth ers to co py t h e books oth ers to att end t h e

, ,

l e ct ure s of th e di ffer e nt p ro fes s ors Th ey fo und th ere all .

”
t h e p en s ink and p a p e r th ey could r equir e
, , S o su cc ess .

ful w er e t h e l ec tu r e rs t hat in 1 0 1 2 H ak em invit ed th em to , ,

his p ala c e c onv ers ed with e ach s ep arat e ly an d di smiss ed

, ,

t h em load ed with p r e s e nt s and rob e s of honour W e ev en .

p oss ess th e ann ua l a c count s of t h e instit ution Co pyist .

,

f orty fiv e p ound s ( n in ety gol d dinar s ) ; l ibrarian forty po unds ;

-
,

p en s ink and p a p e r s i x p ound s ; r ep air of books six p ounds ;

, , , ,

a tt endant ( c ar p e t s p r e ad e r) s e v e n p ound s t e n shil lings with

, ,

fiv e dinars extra for c loth es U nha pp ily t wo vi sitors to th e

.
,

r e adin g room B ere k at an d H am id b en M ekky b egan in

, , ,

1 1 2 2 to giv e unauthori se d and highly h e r et i c al l e c t ure s on

,

t h e ol ogy and t h e S ult an Afd a h l ord e re d th e p la c e to be

,

c los ed at onc e I t w as r e o p e n e d und e r hi s su c c essor on

.

c ondit ion th at ev e rything s hould be st rictly orthodox B er e .

kat wa s d e ad but H amid r e turn e d a wors e h er etic than

,

b efor e H e gav e him s el f out as a M e ssiah or M ahdi and

.
,

d ec eiv e d m any d e clarin g that h e was invuln erabl e ; so t h ey

o
,

c ut out his tongu e and s hot hi m to d eath with arrows But .

th e l ec tur es at t h e H al l o f Sci e n c e w e r e th e n c efort h confin ed

t o r eadin gs from t h e Koran and a pp rov ed c o m m ent ators .
 SC E I N TI FI C I N S TIT U TI O N S . 169

T h e r e w e r e al so a s sociation s for t h e furth e ran c e of s p e cial

s ci en c e s as fo r in s tan c e t h e ch e m ical soci e ty at F ez
, t hu s ,

d es crib e d by L e o A frican us : Th er e is th e r e a mo s t s t u p id
s et of m e n ( stu i di ssi m i h omi n es) who contamin at e th em
p
s e lv e s wit h sul h u r and oth e r horrib l e stin ks Th ey ar e
p .

w ont to m eet in t h e e v e ning at t h e p rin ci p al mo s qu e and

”
t h e r e di s p ut e ov e r th eir vain imagination s .

I f it b e t ru e t hat th e A rab s b urnt t h e Al exandrin e L ibrary ,

th ey c ert ain ly did t h e ir b est to aton e fo r th at cri m e E v e n .

p rivat e in d ividual s p os s es s e d librari e s containin g ov e r

Volum e s : th at of t h e M an suri H o s p it al was so e xt e n s iv e that
it r e quir e d six librarian s and i m m e ns e col l e ct ion s w e r e
,

ac cum ul at e d at B agd ad Bokhara C airo and C ordova B ut

, , .

th ey h av e all vani sh e d b efor e t h e com bin ed d e structiv e

e n e rgi e s o f s avag e s and th e o logian s W h e n t h e B erb e rs
.

invad e d E gy p t th ey carri e d off t h e ri ch bind ings of th e

b ooks and t hr ew t h e ir cont e nt s in two h ea p s which w e r e
, ,

c ov er e d with sa n d an d form ed con s p ic uous m ounds long

, ,

”
known as t h e H i l l s of t h e Books Wh e n th e M ongo ls
.

d e stroy ed B agdad w e ar e tol d t hat th ey u s e d t h e r e m ains

,

o f t h e l ibrari e s t o buil d a bridg e ov e r t h e Tigri s t h e wat e rs ,

o f which gr e at riv e r ran bla ck with in k fo r m any days In .

S p ain th e Re g e nt al M an s ur acting on th e adv i c e of th e o

,
-
,
.

“ ”
l ogi an s and oth e r au st e r e pe rson s bu rnt t h e whol e of
,

H ak em s gr e at library exc ep t thos e book s whi ch t r e at e d of

’
,

u s efu l art s or orthodox r e l igion T h e holy o ffi c e i s s aid t o

.

h av e d e stroy e d at l ea s t a m ill i on Arabic vol um es an d C ar ,

d in al Xi m e n e s ca s t 50 0 0 co p i e s o f t h e Koran into t h e flam es

with hi s own hand s M any m edical work s doubt l es s
. , ,

e ri sh e d at thi s p e riod and w e m u s t e s p e ci al ly r e gr et t h e

p ,

B ook of H i stor i es of th e B agd ad H ospi tal and t h e A utobi o

h bot h att ribut e d t o t h e gr e at Rhaz e s
g py
r a .
,

Th e d e c lin e o f t h e A rabic p ow er w as n e arly as ra p id as

it s ri s e I n 1 2 3 6 S t F erdin an d o f C a s til e took C ordova
.
,
. ,

a n d tw e nty two y e ar s l at e r a mor e t e rribl e d es truction

- fe l l

u p on B agd ad at t h e h and s of t h e M ongol s That city

.
,

i nd eed ro s e again fro m it s ash e s but t h e town w hich had

,
,
I 70 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

form e d t h e cradl e of Arabi c m e dicin e w as s w ept from th e

fac e of t h e earth and futur e trav e ll e r s s ought in vain ev en
,

fo r t h e ruin s of G o n di s ap o r .

N OT E .

Th e fu l le t
s ac c o un t of M o s l e m h o s p it a l s i s t h at by M ac r i z i , t rans
l at e d W ii s t en fe l d i N ur e dd i n h os
’

by i n H en s c h el
’
s j anus , v o l . . For s

p it a l s ee h is l i fe b y Vo n H am m e r in h i s Gemald esaal . Th e q uot ati o ns

fro m Kh a lil ar e fr o m S t r an s l a ti o n of A bd al l atif Re
il ves t re d e S ac y
’
s

l ati on d e l E gvpte P ar i s 1 8 1 0 ; I b n al At h i r s c h ro n i c l e i s p r i n t e d ( F r enc h

’ ’
-
, ,

a n d A r ab i c ) i n t h e Recuei l d es H i s tor i ens d es Cr oi sad es P ar i s 1 87 7 Th e , ,

.

h i s t o ry o f t h e “ H o u s e o f W i s d o m m ay b e fo u n d i n Quat r e m er e M émoi r es ,

i n H a m m er Gemaldesaal
’ ‘

l E gy pte d es M an uscr ipts A r abes ,

’
s ur etc .
, an d s

( L ife of H a/eem) .

XXX I I . G E N E RA L S U RV E Y O F A RA B I C
M ED I CI NE .

THE xt ent to w hich our hi s tor y has d e gen erat e d into anec
e

dot e indicat es how litt l e t h e r e i s to t e l l of a ct ual p rogres s

in m edicin e during thi s p e riod ; but t h e su pe r s tit iou s awe
w it h which m e di aeval E uro p e r e gard e d Arabic s ci en c e h as .

p e rha p s b een r ep l ac e d by a s om ew hat e xagg erat e d d ep recia

tion W e ar e told t hat t h e Arab s did not hi n g but co py and
.

tran s lat e from t h e Gr ee ks and th at t hos e who did th is b es t ,

w e r e not g enuin e Arab s but S yrian s J ew s an d P e rsians , , ,

.

I n t h e p r e c eding cha p t e r s I hav e att e m p t ed t o s how that

t h ey ar e not without high e r claim s and s hall now bri efly ,

r e ca p it ulat e s om e of th eir chi e f s e rvi c es t o th e h e aling art .

I n an age wh e n no C hri s tian mon arch with t h e rare ,

e xc e p tions of C harl e magn e and Al fr e d th e Gr eat troubl ed ,

him s e l f in t h e s light es t about th e educat ion of h i s s ubj ect s

or t h e p rogr e s s of s ci e nc e an d lit erat ur e w e find C ali ph ,

aft e r C ali p h and Vizi e r a ft e r Vizi e r es t abl ishing school s

,

and librari e s for t h e p ubl ic b e n efit and fil lin g th e ir court s ,

172 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

m ath e m atician s and con fin e ours elv e s to t h e s tri ct ly m edi

,

cal s ci e nc e s T h e fol low ers of t h e p ro p h et look e d u p on th e

.

dis s e ct ion of hu man bodi e s with stil l gr eat e r horro r than did
t h e m edi aeval C h ristians and t h e ir r e ligious guid e s h e ld that
,

ev e n t h e qu es tion as to i t s l e gality was it s e l f un law ful Y et .

it was an Arabic writ er who first p oint ed o ut t h e i m p erfec

tion s of t h e G al eni c an atomy Wh e n th e p hysician Abdal .

lati f w as in E gy p t t h e conv er s ation tu rn e d on e day u pon th e

,

su p e riority o f ob s e rvation to m er e re ading ; and som e on e

r e mark e d t hat th e r e wa s a gr eat h e a p of ske l eton s and d ead
bodi es at M ak s S o A b d al l ati f w ent th e r e and found a hill
.
,

con s i s ting rath e r o f corp s e s than of ear t h and with mor e ,

than ske l e ton s ex p o s ed on t h e sur fac e T h e d e light ed .

p hy s ician p roc ee d e d to exam in e th es e and at on c e notic ed ,

that t h e lo w er j aw con s i s t s of on e bon e and not of tw o as ,

d escrib e d by Gal en H e t e l ls us that h e e xam in e d 2 0 0 lower

.

j a w s in e v ery p o ss ibl e way and g ot oth ers to examin e th em

,

al s o both in h i s p r es e nc e and ab s en c e and th ey al l cam e

, ,

to t h e s am e con cl u s ion S imilarly h e obs erv e d that th e

.

s acrum is com o s ed o f a s ingl e bon e and h e e x r e ss e s his

p p ,

“ ”
int e ntion , i f Provid e nc e p e rmit s o f writing a book of ,

r evis ed an atomy com p aring Gal e n with n at ur e .

T h e Arab s inv ent ed t h e a p oth e cary whom th ey cal l ed ,

S an d al an i , s andal wood form ing a

-
com mon ingr edi ent
bo t h o f int ernal m e dicin e s and O utward a pp li cation s though ,

t h e p e c uliar virt u e s of t h e oil do not s ee m to hav e b een

r e cogni se d An ambitiou s or fortunat e a p oth e cary s om e

.

tim e s d ev e lo p e d into a p hy s ician as i s s hown by th e fol lowing

,

an e cdot e whi ch al so e x em p lifi e s t h e e xaggerat e d im p ortanc e

,

which t h e Arab s and t h e m edi aeval p hy s i cian s aft e r th em

, ,

p aid to u ro s co p y I s s a al S andalin i w as s tand ing o ne day

.
-

at hi s sho p door in Ba gdad wh en a har e m att e ndant w ent ,

by carrying a urin e g la s s to a n e ighbouring p hysician

” “
Whos is that
e ! a s k e d I ssa S om e old woman s .
’
.

S ay rath er t h e moth er of a mighty p rinc e r ep li ed th e ,

j oking a p oth e cary T h e C ali p h al M ah di h eard t h e story

.
-
,

and wh en hi s favourit e wi fe p r es ent ed hi m with a son ,

 THE A PO T H E C A RY . 173

th e fortun at e I ssa was a stoni sh e d to r e c eiv e £ 1 50 two ,

rob es o f honour a n d an a p p oint m e nt at t h e p al ac e H e

, .

was eq ual ly p ro s p e ro u s und e r al M ah d i s s on H arun al -

’

Rashid That i mm ortal C al i p h di sgu st e d with t h e cor p n

.

l enc e of h is cou sin I s s a b e n G i afar b en al M an s u r d e c lar e d

,
-
,

h e wo u ld giv e £ 50 0 0 t o any o n e w h o would mak e him t hin ,

an d t hat t h e p ati e nt shou l d p ay an e qual s u m I ssa t h e .

,

a poth e cary got t h e mon e y b ut h i s mod e of t r eat m e nt has

, ,

un fort un at e ly not b ee n p r e s e rv ed Arabi c p hy s i cian s s ee m .

to hav e b een s p e cially s kil ful in t h e t r eat m ent of cor p ul en c e .

H er e i s anot h er in stanc e : King S an cho of L e on w as s o fat , ,

that h e could no longe r mount a hor s e or ev e n wal k wit hout ,

su pp ort Wh er efor e h i s s ubj e ct s ridi cu l e d him and finally

.
,

d epos ed an d drov e him out of t h e kingdom in t h e s p ring of t h e

y ear 9 58 H e fl ed or rat h er was carri e d to h i s grandmoth e r
.
, , ,

Tota Q u e en of N avarr e who swor e to r e s tor e him at any

, ,

co s t e v e n t hat o f al lian c e wit h t h e S arac en s ; so s h e s ent an

,

e mba s s y to t h e gr e at C al i p h of C ordova Abdurrahman I I I , .

,

r e qu e sting an arm y and a p hy s ician Bot h w e r e s e nt and .

,

bot h w e r e su cc es s ful T h e S arac en armi es w e r e a ecom

.

pan i e d by a p ot h e cari e s fo r w e h e ar t hat on o n e occa s ion t h e

,

G en e ral A fc h i n ( ab out A D 83 0 ) wrot e an imaginary p r es c r i p

. .

tion an d s e nt it to al l t h e a p oth e cari e s in t h e cam p in ord e r

,

to t es t t h e ir hon es ty S om e d e clar e d t hat t h ey had no such

.

drugs b ut ot h er s m ad e u p t h e p r es cri ption in variou s ways

, ,

and t h e s e h e di smi s s e d as i gnorant p r e t e nd e r s .

Arabia F e lix was t h e l an d o f myrrh and fran kinc e ns e an d ,

w e o w e to t h e Arab s t h e introduct ion o f s ev eral n ew r e

m e di e s of wh i ch s e nn a w as t h e C hi ef ; b ut it would b e d i f
,

fi c u l t t o n am e h al f a doz en drugs t h e u s e o f whi ch c ertainly

origin at e d wit h t h em S om e t h ey borrow ed from t h e
.

H ind u s as for in stanc e aconit e and m erc ury which

, , , ,

w e r e e m p l oy e d ext ern al ly in c e rtain skin dis eas es an d th e y ,

w er e i nd e bt e d t o t h at p e o p l e in ot h er sci e n c e s as w el l as
m e di cin e W e hav e s een that t h e chi ef H ind u m edica l
.

works w e r e e arly t ranslat ed i nto Arabi c and H ind u ph y ,

s i c i an s
w e r e t o b e fo und in t h e n inth c e nt ury both at Bag ,
1 74 MED C I AL H I S T O RY .

d ad and G o nd i s apo r H arun al Ra s hid s un cl e I brahim

’
-
. , ,

’
w as onc e so ill t hat t h e cali p h s p hy s i cian Gabri e l Bach ,

t i s h u a gav e hi m u p s o G i afar
,
t h e vizi e r r e com m end ed
, , ,

t h e H indu S ahl eh s o n of Bah l e h

,
S ahl e h d ecl ar ed con
,
.

fi d en t l y t hat h e woul d cur e t h e p ati e nt and t h e cali p h ,

c e l ebrat e d thi s favourabl e p rognosis by a gran d banqu et .

H ardly had h e fini sh ed wh en t h e n ew s cam e th at t h e princ e

was d ead and H arun th er e u p on c u r s e d t h e grand vizi er
, ,

t h e H indu p hysi cian an d H ind us g e n e rally fo r that h e , ,

had fe a s t e d whil e h i s un cl e w as dying Th e n havi ng drank .

,

warm win e mix ed with s alt and w at e r till h e got rid of all
, ,

h e had e at en h e w e nt to I brahim s hou s e and s at on t h e

’

, ,

floor mo urning S ahl e h how ev er d ecl ar ed t h e p rin c e w as

.
, ,

s till aliv e and to p rov e it ran a p i n und e r h i s th umb nail

, ,

and p ut s om ething in h i s n ostril s whi ch mad e him sn eez e , .

I n d u e tim e h e com p l et e ly r e cov er ed and H arun con fes sed ,

t hat t h e H ind u s w e r e e ver b ett e r p hysi cian s than th e

Gr ee ks .

T h e fir s t p harmaco p oe ia was i s su e d as w e h av e seen , ,

from t h e H o s p ital at G on d i s apo r but o f mor e im p ortanc e ,

ar e t h e works on m at e ria m edica ascri b e d to M es ue t h e

Y ounge r ( r o f whom w e know litt l e mor e t han t h e

‘

n am e Th es e form ed t h e fo undat ion of t h e W est ern p harma

.

c o p oei as w er e p ub li s h ed in more t han t hirty e dition s and

, ,

w e r e con s ult e d up to t h e b e ginning of t h e la s t c ent ury In .

t h e m w e find m ost of t h e drugs whi ch w e r e e ith e r introduc ed

or brought into mor e ge n eral u s e by t h e Arabs s u ch as ,

s e nna rhu barb ,

cam p hor clo v es cas s ia manna m usk nut
, , , , , ,

m eg t am ari nd c ub ebs orange l emon g old p e arl s amb er

, , , , , , ,

gri s b ezoar s ton e s yru ps j ul ep s and t h e p rodu ct s of di s til

, , , ,

lat ion s uch as ro s e wat e r an d al cohol

,
-
.

T h e fol lowin g is an e xtract from t h e G o n d i s ap o r p h arma

“
c o p oe i a p r es e rv e d by th e young e r M es u ef: A confe ction of
p o pp i es p rofitabl e ( with God s h el p ) to o n e who s p it s blood
’

in inflam m at ion o f t h e ch es t and in p l e urisy Tak e c onfec , .

t ion of ro s e s and gum arabic of e ach t hree d rachm s ; starch -

, ,

t ragacanth p o pp i es o f e ach two drachm s ; liquoric e j uic e

, , ,
1 76 M ED I C A L H I S T O R Y .

’
s eve nth c ent ury d e cr ee d that no one sho uld r ec eiv e p ri est s
ord ers in fut ure unl e ss h e could at l e ast read th e psal m s and
t h e ba p t ismal s e rvic e I n Italy about t h e sam e ti me a
.
, ,

atrioti c historian can find on ly thr ee school s an d h e doubts

p ,

wh eth er mu ch m or e than bad r e adin g was taught at any of

th em Franc e was st ill mor e un fort unat e for w e ar e told
.
,

that und er C harl es M art e l what s chool s r em ain e d w e re pr e

sid ed ov e r by di scharged soldi e rs who c ould n e ith er read ,

nor writ e E ngland was a bril liant e x c ept ion Ar c hbisho p

. .

Th eodore had brought with him from Tarsu s a Gr eek l ibrary ,

and t h e school of C ant erbury p rodu c e d men who could read

H om er and what is mor e to our p urp os e could translat e
, , ,

D ioscorid es B ut with thi s e xc ep t ion G r ee k was un known

.

in W e st ern E uro p e and Gree k w as stil l t h e key to al l high er

,

knowl edg e e s pe cial ly in m e dicin e L atin version s of som e

, .

G al eni c tr eatis e s ind ee d exist e d but th ey w ere so littl e

, , ,

known that Con stantin e t h e A frican c ou ld boast in th e

el e v e nth c entury t hat h e w as t h e first to tran slat e that

author C el sus who s e work might h av e for m ed an ex c ell ent

.
,

t ext book was almost e ntir ely forgott e n an d though C assio

-
, ,

doru s urged his mon ks to r e ad t h e M ethodi c Compendi um of

C a lius Aurel ian u s t h e extr e m e rarity of t h e manuscri pts
,

indi c at es that hi s advic e w as s e ldom followe d .

Th e E m p iri c school reign e d without a rival but t h at ,

gre at m edi cal s ect h ad s ad ly d e ge n e rat ed sin c e t h e days of

H er ac li des Two l e gs of it s famou s “ t ri p od had given
.

way altogeth er for t h e lat e r E m p iric s w e re inca pabl e of

,

“
sci entifi c ob s ervation and would not h av e und erstood ,

”
t h e me an ing of analogy H istory still re m ain ed but ,

was chi efly c om pri s e d in t h e N atur al H i story of Pliny th e

E ld e r from whi c h su ch m e dical writ er s as Th eodor e Pris c ian
, ,

Pliny Val erian u s Q uintu s S eren us and S ext us Pl ac i tus

, ,

l argely borrow ed p r efe rri ng alway s th e mor e m arv ellous

,

stat em ents of that cr edulou s com p il er and addin g a few ,

absurd or disgu st in g p res c ri ption s of th e ir own Th e follow .

ing exa mp l es m ay su ffic e

’
As se s dung dri ed and us ed as a
”
d entifri c e says Pris c ian wi ll i m m ediat ely c ur e t oot h a c h e
, , ,
 A P U LE I US .
—M A R C E LLUS . 177

a n d it i s e qua l ly effe ct ual wh en mix e d wit h vin e gar and

l ” “
e f
h d o s om e ti m e in t h e mouth
r I f a child ki s s e s a .

’ ” “
hors e s no s e , d e clar e s S e xt u s Pl ac i t us h e wi l l n ev e r ,

h av e t ooth ach e but ta k e gr e at car e t h e h ors e do es not

,

”
b it e t h e ch ild .Two m e mb er s of t h e s chool A p ul e i us an d ,

M arc e l l u s E m p i r i c us d es erv e mor e s pe ci al con sid e ration

-
, ,

and t h eir works re p r e s e nt th e two ty p e s on which a l l th e

m edica l books of t hi s p e ri od ar e writt e n A p ul eius giv es .

t h e n a m e s of variou s h e rbs fol low e d by l i s t s of t h e dis e as e s

,

th ey wil l c ure ; w hi l e M arc ell u s e nu m e rat es d is e a s e s in ord e r

from h e ad to foot addi n g t h eir variou s r e m e di es magi ca l or
, ,

ration al b ut n eit h er p ay s t h e l e a s t att ent ion to diagno s is

, ,

p rognosi s or any oth e r d ivision o f m edic al sci e n c e

, Th e .

form er writ er i s al s o int e r e sting as s howin g t h e t ran sition

from h e at h e n to C hri s tian m e di cin e A p ul e i u s was a p agan .
,

and in t h e old e s t m an usc ri p t s t h e n am es of variou s h e rb s

are foll ow e d by p ray e r s and in cantation s to b e r e cit e d on

gath e ring th e m h an d ed down p e rh a p s from t h e ol d G reek

, , ,

or Tu s can h e rbal i s t s ; b ut t h e mon kish tran s crib e rs hav e

conv e rt e d hi m i nto a C h ri stian by t h e si m p l e p roc e s s o f
s lightly alt e ring th e s e p ray e rs ; whil e in lat e r e dition s th e y ,

—as in t h e Anglo S axon v er

,

are eit h e r o m itt e d altog eth e r -

sion —o r r ep l ac e d by th e C r ee d and Pat e r N o s t e r w hich t h e ,

canon s o f th e C h urch d e clar e d m ight alon e b e r e p e at ed on

s u ch o c ca s ion s .

B ut t h e inc antat ion s of A p ul e ius ar e s en s e an d sob ern e s s

com p ar ed with t hos e Of h i s C hri s tian s ucc e s s or M arc ell u s ,

(A D
. . If a m an s nos e bl e e ds wh i s p e r in hi s ear on
’
,

t h e sam e s i d e s oc s o c a m s y ky m a
,
‘
thri c e nin e tim e s — and
,
’

you m ay s t ill go on s aying it Toot hach e i f it oc cur s on a

.
,

Tu esd ay or Thursday and i f t h e moon is waning may b e

, ,

c ur e d by r ep e atin g s ev en t im es ar gi d um m ar gi d u m s t argi
d um E v en h is p ray er s com p ar e un favourably with tho s e
“
o f A p ul e i u s : I n o p hth almia look out for t h e fir s t swal low ,

t h e n run sil ently t o t h e n ear es t s p ring wa s h your ey es and , ,

r ay God t hat you m ay b e free from it fo r that y e ar and

p ,

” “
t h at al l t h e p ain m ay p a s s into t h e s wallo w A v ery long .

12
1 78 M ED C I AL H I ST O RY .

l egged wh it e S p id e r rubb e d up with oi l r e mov es whit e spot s

from t h e ey e if as s iduou s ly u se d th er efore mind and rub up
,

a good m any with su ffi ci e nt oi l l e st t h e m e di c in e b e exhau st e d

b efor e t h e c ur e is com p l et e . M arc el lus i s said to hav e b een

a man of gr eat s e riou s n es s and p i e ty or w e might b e t em pt ed ,

t o t hin k that h e was am u sing hims e l f at t h e e x pen s e of hi s

r ead e rs .

Th e whol e book i s ful l o f s imilar absurdit i e s which h e ,

d efend s by t h e invariabl e E m p iric argum e nt that p ati ents

h av e got wel l a ft e r p racti s in g th e m .

W e m ust not how ev er s u pp o s e that this su pe rstition

, ,

w as in any way favoure d by C hri s tianity I t was ind eed .

a C hristian bisho p who introduc e d t h e di sastro us doctrin e

that t h e sign s of t h e zodiac p r esid e over th e va ri o us organ s

of t h e h uman body but th e C hurch disa pp rov ed both of th e
sci en c e and t h e th eol ogy of Pri s cil lian an d h e was ex ec ut ed ,

as a magician and h e r etic ( A D . B es id es c ond emning

.

m agi c t h e C hurch furth er att e m p t e d to dir ec t th e ex c e ssive

,

faith in t h e su pernatural int o hi g h er chann el s I nst ead of .

i nvokin g J uno L ucina and oth e r h e ath e n d emon s t h e young

, ,

mot h er was en courage d to re pe at t h e 1 8t h Psal m and ,

to think of t h e wond e rfu l d e liv eranc e of S t M argar et wh en .

,

swallow ed by S atan i n t h e form of a d ragon D i d a man .

su ffer from toothach e or colic or p ain s in th e bac k

, , Let
him in st ead of d e c king him s e l f with p agan amul et s c on sid er
, ,

how m uch gr eat e r p ain of tho se variou s kind s was endu red
by S t A pollonia wh e n all h er t eeth w e re kno c k ed out ; by
.

S t E ras m u s wh en his bowe l s we re torn from his living body ;

.

or by St Lawr enc e wh e n h e w as roa s ting on t h e gridiron

.
.

And in his p ray e rs for h ealth h e would n atural ly introdu c e

t h e nam e s of thos e holy martyr s or o f oth er saint s who ,

w er e similarly c onn e ct ed wit h oth e r di s eas es with a firm ,

faith in th eir effec tual int erc es s ion .

N ew su p erstition s ho w ev e r s oon a pp ear ed r emarkably

, ,

r es embling t hos e t h ey r ep lac ed J ust as p lagu es and epi

.

d em i c s w ere univ ersally ascrib ed to t h e wrat h of God so ,

p art i c ular dis e as es cam e to b e a ttribut ed to th e ang er of

1 80 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

At a mu c h l at er p eriod w e find S t B e rnard of C lairvaux , .

stri ct ly forbidding his sic k m onk s to hav e anyt hing t o do

wit h p hy s i c or physicians L et th e m thin k of t h e words o f .

t h e a p o s t l e ( 2 C or xii and h es itat e to u se e arthly r em e

. .

di es at t h e risk of th eir et e rnal s alvat ion T h e occasional .

u s e o f h e rbs from t h e mona s t e ry gard en m ay ind eed b e , ,

tol e rat e d ; but t o b uy d rugs to con s ult physician s to tak e , ,

m e dicin e s b efit s not r eligion (r el i gi oni i ndecens es t) and is

, ,

contrary to p urity, and es pe cially is it contrary to t h e p urity .

and honour of our ord er for aft e r all th es e things do t h e ,

G entil es s eek but w e know t hat th ey who l iv e in t h e fl es h

,

”
cannot p l eas e God Yet e v e n C i s t e r c ians som et im es took
.

m e dicin es as w e l earn by t h e fol lowing l ett er from t h e saint

,

t o o n e of h i s abbot s Know that B roth e r G

°
s in c e

h e cam e from C hrista wh e r e h e took m ed icin e s has had , ,

no indulgenc e in di et n eith e r has h e b een excu s ed t h e u s ual

,

vigil s S hould h e t h er efor e att e m pt to obtain th ese p ri v i

.
, ,

l e ges with you con s ent not for you may b e c ertain that it
, ,

"
i s not h i s body but hi s s p irit that i s a ffect ed Fare w e ll . .

H ad Broth er G avoid e d m e dicin es h e m ight p erha p s , , ,

hav e b ee n tr eat ed with l es s s u s p icion i f not with more ,

in dulge n c e .

T h e e arli e st Fren ch writ e r on surg ery H e n ry of M ond e ,

vil l e s ays that i n hi s tim e many p ati e nt s thought al l di se as e s

,

e xc e p t w ounds an d fra ctur e s cam e from God and t h e refor e ,

r efu s e d to be tr eat e d by ordinary p ra c tition e rs or by e arthly

“
m e an s . Th es e fall into t h e hands of fra udul ent mon ks
( r el i gi osi ficti ) h erm it s r e cl u s es and t h e li k e who p r et end to
, , ,

cure th e m in a su pern atural m ann er by holy wat e r p ray e rs , ,

and incantation s N o s uch p owe rs how ev er w e re claim ed

.
, ,

by a c e rtai n surgeon known to m e who w hil e h e was pound , ,

ing up a m edicin e for t h e c ure of fi st ula vulgarly call ed t h e ,

dis e as e of St El i gi u s ac cid entally broke hi s m ort ar Th er e

.
, .

u pon aros e a great s c andal again s t h i m and it was said that ,

thi s was a m ira c ulous j udgm ent u pon him b e c au se h e pre ,

s um ed to tr eat di s eas es b e longing to saint s whi ch ought to

”
b e r es erv e d for divin e surg eon s .
 M ED I C A L M O N K S . 181

Th e id ea that t h e hi gh es t p i ety is in com p ati bl e wit h t h e

u s e of m e di cin e com e s out al so in t h e l e g end s of t h e saint s ,

and w e m ay fin d a st ri kin g in s tanc e of it in t h e s tory of S t .

Agatha A ccording t o h er biograp h e r S im e on M et ap h r as t e s

.
, ,

S t P et er a pp eare d to h er in p ri s on und e r t h e gui s e of an

.

aged l ee ch an d offer e d to h e al h er woun d s B ut t h e s aint

, .

r ep ul s e d him wit h horror N ev e r in h er li fe s h e d ec lare d .

, ,

had s h e u s e d ot h e r m e an s than p ray e r fo r t h e cur e o f

di s e a s e s ; was sh e l ik ely to fail now ! And t h e a p o s t l e wa s
final ly obli ge d not only to r ev eal h i s n am e and m ission ,

but to ac com p l i s h t h e c ur e w it hout t h e u se of p hysical

r e m edi e s .

B ut mo s t w e re l es s scru p ulou s and o n e of t h e p l easant e s t ,

p i ct ur es in an age p r e s e nt in g littl e o f that charact e r i s t h e

p eac eful mon k gat h ering his h e rbal sim p l e s and b r ewin g
,

t h e r efrom d e coct ion s which w e re doubtl es s com forting to , ,

t h e mind s and s om et im es al s o t o t h e bodi es o f h i s n e igh

,

bours A s p e cial ly att ractiv e figur e i s that of W al afr i d wit h

.

t h e S q uint ( S t r ab u s ) mon k of S t Gal l en and Abbot o f

,
.

Rei ch e nau A D 8 50 who has l eft u s tw e nty thr ee litt l e

, . .
,
-

p o e ms in e xc el l e nt L atin on t h e favourit e h e rb s in h i s
, ,

monast e ry gard en For o utward gri efs h e con sid e r s not hing
.

e qual to oil of ro ses t h e virtu es of which are inn um e rabl e

,

Qu o d q uam se
e pe fi at m o r t al i b u s u til e c ur i s ,

N ec m e m i n i s s e p o te s t h om I nu m n ec d i c er e q u i s q u am

B ut in int e rnal a ffection s h e giv es t h e p alm to a d eco ct ion

o f hor e hound whi c h i s e qual ly val uabl e in r es p iratory an d
,

diges t iv e di s ord e rs an d wil l ev en count e ract th e p oi son s of

,

m ali ciou s s t ep moth e r s 1

To th e lon g l i s t of Arab pat rons of s c i e n c e durin g thi s
pe riod w e can only o pp o s e two nam e s thos e o f Al fr ed t h e ,

G r eat and C harl e m agn e Th e form er had p erha p s som e .

, ,

th ing to do with t h e origin of t h e c uriou s A ngl o S axon L eech -

d oms whi ch t h e r ead e r wil l find t ranslat ed in t h e M ast e r of

,

t h e Ro l ls s e ri e s Th ey com p ri s e im perfe ct tran slat ion s

’
.

from t h e work s of D io s corid e s A p ul e iu s and S e xt u s Pl ac i t u s , ,

 1 82 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

togeth e r with a few original p roduction s which how e v e r , , ,

dis p lay t h e wit rath e r than t h e wisdom of ou r anc estors .

’
H e r e are t w o e xam p l es : A gain s t a wom an s chatt er : tak e
at night fa s ting a root of radi sh ; that day t h e chatt e r can
, ,

“
not harm th e e I n cas e a man b e a l unatic : tak e ski n
o f a m e e r swin e or p or p oi se ; work it into a whi p ; s w in g e
-

”
th e m an th e r e with s oon h e will b e w e l l Am en C harl e
‘ '

magn e s eem s to have don e l es s for m e dicin e t han for oth e r

“
sci enc es for as h i s biograp h e r E in hard t e l l s u s h e e s p e cial ly
, , ,

hat ed p hy s icians b e cau s e th ey t ri ed to m ake h im tak e his

m e at boil e d in s t e ad of roa s t ; wh er efor e h e s e ldom con s ult ed
th e m but t reat ed him se l f w h e n il l which rar e ly ha pp e n e d
, ,

til l t h e last four y e ar s of h i s li fe I n 80 6 how ev er h e , ,

ordain ed that childr en ( i nfan tes) shou ld b e se nt to l e arn

m e dicin e and it i s p e rha p s t h e p ract ical r es u lt s of th i s e di ct
,

which ar e q uaintly and p ro p h etical ly d e scrib ed in t h e follo w

”
ing lin es by h i s E ngl ish M ini s t er of E ducat ion Al cuin ,

A c c u rr u n t m e d i c i m o x H i pp o c r at i c a t ec t a ,

Hi c ve n a s fu n d i t , h er b as h i c m i s c e t i n 0 115
1

I ll e pu lt es
lt er s e d p o c u l a pr ae fer t
c o qu i t , a .
"

S o o n h as t e n t o h all s H i pp o c r a ti c i n c r ow d s t h e m e d i c a l s t u d en t s ;
O n e i s p e n i n g a v e i n a n o t h e r i s s ti r r i n g a m ixt u re
o , ,

H e re o n e i s c oo ki ng t h e grue l t h ere o n e i s cl o s i ng a p ati e n t

"
, .

B ut t h e p assage i t s e l f i s so ob s c ure and t h e gre at ,

e m p er or s in s tit ution s s o e ntir e ly vani s h e d in t h e di s ord e r s

’

wh ich fol low e d his d e ath that it i s im p ossibl e to d e cid e ,

wh e th e r h e int end e d to es tabli s h m e dical s chool s or by ,

m aking som e knowl e dg e of t h e s ci e n c e univ er s al t o entir ely ,

abolish a p ro fes s ion whi ch h e ld s uch stran ge vi ew s on th e

r e lativ e exc e l l e nc e o f roast and boil e d m e at s H e se em s .
,

how ev er to h av e don e s om e th in g for t h e furth e ran c e of

,

S tat e m edicin e ; fo r acc ordin g to H aeser h e ad mitt ed t h e

, ,

e ccl e sia s tical ordinanc e t hat e ach p arish s hould car e for i t s

p oor into h i s cod e of law s d eclar ed t h e ho s p ital s to b e S tat e

,

in s titution s and had t h em in sp ect e d p eriodi cal ly by s p e cial

,

o ffic e rs ( mi ssi domi ni ci ) Finally C harl e magn e b en e fit e d t h e

.
,
 1 84 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

and fo r t h e r e l ati o n of s a i n t s t o d i s e a ses Re us s I ntr od ad Oper a S

‘
. .
, ,

H i l degar d i s i n M i gu e s P a tr ol ogi a ; Ca l m e i Ch ar acter i s ti ques d es S a i nts

,
’
, ,

an d t h e A c ta S anc tor um g en era lly S t G r ego ry of T o u rs H i st F r an . .

,
.

c
.
or um v 6 ; D e M i r ac ul i s S M a r ti n i
, . ii 60 ; D e Gl or i a Conf essor um c ap .
, .
, .

xc c o n t ai n s a c u r i o u s ac c o un t o f h o w S t M e d ar d us c u r e d t o ot h a c h e
v , . . .

St B ern a r d El) 3 4 5 an d 40 5 ( M i gu e s e d iti o n i pp 550 a n d

.
, . Th e ’
,
.
, .

w o rk s o f A b b o t W a l afr i d a r e p ub li s h e d i n M i gn e s P atr ol og i a Al c ui n ’
.
,

C a mi na 2 2 8 F o r C h ar l e m agn e s l aw s s ee P er t M onumenta Ger mani a ’

r , . z,

H i stor i ou o l ii ; Capi tul ar i a K ar ol i M ag n i A m o ng t h e p l a nt s h e o r d er ed

, v . . .

t o b e s pec i a lly c u lti a t e d w e re p o pp y an i s e d ill feverfew w il d c u c um b er

v , , , ,

( l at e i u m
e r c o r i a n d er m i n t ro s e m ar y s age r ue t ans y s q u ill h em p
, , , , , , , ,

l i n s ee d .

T h e s k e t c h w h i c h a pp e ars i n t h e e ar ly p o r ti o n o f t h e w o rk s h o w s t h e
n o r t h e as t p a r t o f t h e m o n as t er y o f St G all a s it a p p e ar e d b e t w ee n
-
D .
,
A . .

83 0 93 7 an d re pre s e n t s w h a t i s p ro b ab ly t h e m o s t an c i e n t e xi s ti n g p l an
-
,

o f an i nfir mar
y I n t h e c e n t r e i s t h e C h a p e l w it h i t s a lt a at t h e w e s t
.
,
r

e n d t o c o nn ec t it w it h t h a t o f t h e abb ey c h urc h
, N o r t h o f t h i s a re th e .

i n fi r m ar y b u il d i n gs i n c l ud i n g a s p ec i al d ep ar t m e n t fo r t h o s e w h o h ad
,

b ee n b l e d o r h a d t a k en pu rgati ves p ro c es s es w h i c h t h e m o n k s ee m t o
, , s

h ave go n e t h ro ugh p er i o d i c a lly v e n es e c ti o n b e i n g p er fo rm ed i n t h e ,

i n fi r m ary kit c h e n Th e r ea d er w il l ad m i re t h e e x c e ll e n t ar ran ge m en t

.

of t h e n ec es s a r i a T o t h e e as t i s t h e d oc t o r s h o us e of w h i c h W a l a
- ’
,

fr i d S t r ab o w as p erh ap s o n e o f t h e ea r l i es t o c c up an t s an d n e xt t o it t h e ,

p h y s i c g ard e n Th e o r i g i n a l p l a n s til l p r es erved at t h e m o n as t ery i s

.
, ,

s ai d t o
g ive t h e n a m s o f t h e p l a n t s t o b e gro w n i n e ac h p l o t ; b ut t h ese
e

ar e un fo r t u n at e ly o m itt e d i n t h e c o y fro m w h i c h o ur s k e t c h i s t ak en
p .

w ere t h e w ar m ro o m s of t h e m o n as t ry w h ere t h e
“
Th e p y r al i a
”
e ,

m o n ks s at i n e ry c o l d w eat h e r w h er e c l o t h es w e re d ri ed a n d i n o n e
v , ,

o f w h i c h t h e r o d s w e re k e t T h i s l as t fac t c a us e d t h e d es truc ti on of
p .

t h e b u il d i n g i n 93 7 O n t h e feas t o f S t M ark ( 2 5t h A p r il ) i n t h at ye ar
. .

s o m e s c h o l ar s b e h ave d i n a m a n n er w o rt h y o f s t r i es a s t h e y us ua lly
p ,

d i d o n fe as t d ay s s ay s t h e c h ro n i c l er E kk eh ar d
-
, T h y w er e or d er ed to . e

s t r i p a n d o n e o f t h em w a s en t t o t h e y l ”
, p r a e fo r t h e ro d s s I n th e .

h o p e o f s av i n g h i ms e l f an d h i s c o m r ad es h e t o o k a b ran d fro m t h e ,

h ea r t h a n d t h rus t it i n t o t h e d ry w oo d un d e r t h e r o o f T h e fl a m es .

s p r e ad t o t h e c h u r c h a n d t h e a b b e y w as a l m o s t e n ti re ly c o n s u m e d
, .

XXX I V — T H E . S C H O O L O F S A LE RN O .

S A LE RN O ,
or S al er n um a town b eauti fully situat e d on t h e ,

I talian coa s t about thirty mil e s s outh ea s t of N a p l es was

,
-
, ,
 S A LE R N O . 1 85

e ev n in t h e ti m e of H orac e a favourit e h ealth r e sort of t h e

,

Rom an s it s ai r b ein g c o n s i d er ed m or e bra c ing t ha n t h at of

,
'
’
- :

B ai ae I n Ch ristia n days it b e cam e y et more attractiv e to

.

t h e sic k for its c ath e dral contain e d wh at w er e b e l i e v ed to

,

b e t h e won d er workin g r e li c s of S t M att h ew ; and if t h r ee

- .

o th e r shrin e s c lai m e d t h e h e ad an d s e v e n t h e body of t h e,

e vange list t h e bon e s of t h e holy virgin s T h ec kl a S usannah

, , , ,

a n d A r c h el ai s w e r e uniqu e and hardly l e ss effec t iv e

, .

Wh e re p ati e nt s c ongre gat ed doctors wou ld nat ural ly fol

low I n t h e nint h c e nt u ry w e alre ady h e ar of distinguish ed
.

S al ernit an p hysi c ian s ; in t h e t e nth w e fin d on e of t h em at

t h e Fren c h c ou rt whil e bisho p s and nobl e s t rav e l fro m gre at
,

distan c e s t o S al e rno for m e di cal aid ; an d d urin g t h e n ext

,

t wo c ent uri es t h e fam e of the H i ppocr ati c ci ty s p read t hrough

o ut E uro p e B ut it s d e clin e was e qually ra p id ; and wh en
.
,

in 1 8 1 1 an edi c t of N ap ol eon p u t an en d t o t h e most an c i ent

,

o f un iv e rsit i es e ve n p ro fe s s e d hi s torian s kn ew littl e mor e

,

than t hat it had b een a gr eat m edi cal school fo und ed by

C harl em agn e or t h e S arac en s or C on st antin e t h e Afri c an
, , ,

o r at any rat e by t h e B e n e dictin e mon ks

, ,
Th e accid ental .

dis c ov ery at B r e sl au in 1 83 7 of thirty five m an usc r i pt s by

, ,
-
.

d ist ingui sh ed S al ernit an m ast e r s e ncourag ed and assist e d ,

f urth e r inv est igation and t h e fol lowing i s a bri ef o utlin e of

,

o u r p r e s ent kn owl e dge .

O nly t h e l ast of t h e abov e th e ori es as to t h e origin of t h e

s c hoo l d e s erv e s c on s id e ration and among many argum e nt s ,

whi c h c on cl usiv e ly p rov e that it was not a monasti c but a

s ec u l ar in stit ution w e n ee d only m e ntion that J ews and
,

wom en w er e conn e ct e d wit h it from early t im es and that ,

m any of it s p rofessors w e re m arri ed and som e rich and c ou ld , ,

t h erefor e b e boun d n e ith e r by vows of chastity nor p ov e rty .

L aw and p hiloso p hy w e r e s oon add ed to m edi c in e ; but t h eo

‘

logy if e v er taught at all w as t h e las t of t h e fac ult i es t o

, ,

c o m p l et e th e S t ud ium g e n eral e o r U niv ersity of S al erno ,

.

Th e an ci ent c hroni cl es of t h e city d e c lar e t hat t h e school

was fo und e d by four ma s t er s Abd allah ( Adal a ) t h e Arab E li, ,

ew Pont u s t h e G r e e k and S al er n us t h e L at in
( E l i nu s ) t h e J , , ,
1 86 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

who l ect ur ed to th eir p u pil s each in his own tongu e I t .

would b e p l easant to b eli e v e that r ep r es entat iv e s of t h e fou r

divisions o f civili s ed m en th e n p ers ec uting and warring u pon
,

e ach oth e r in th e nam e o f r el igion had m e t tog et h er in thi s

‘ ‘

b e auti ful s pot for t h e p e ac eful s t udy of our sacred art B ut .

t h e s tory i s cl e arly mythical Abdallah had but l at e ly

.

i s s u ed from h i s d es e rt s wh en th e school o r i gi n at ed an d h e
’

w oul d hav e found S al erno an un p l easant abod e at any tim e ,

for it w a s fir s t an out p o s t o f C hri s tian ity again st t h e S arac en s ,

and aft e rw ard s a favourit e halting p l ac e for crusad er s T h e .

oth e rs how ev er may b e acc ep t e d at l ea s t all egorically Th e

, , , .

e arli es t k nown S al e rnitan do ctor s b e ar t h e J ewish nam es

Jo seph and J o s hua : num erou s G r eek s as w e hav e already ,

s ee n cam e to S al erno during t h e iconocla st p e rs ecution and

, ,

t h e formation o f t h e school may not unr e a s onably b e att r i

b ut e d to t h e combination of th ese e l e m e nt s with t h e r emain s .

o f an an ci e nt L atin coll egium m ed i c or u m

Th e gold e n age of S al e rno la s t e d from A D 1 0 0 0 to 1 2 0 0 . .
,

and th es e two c e nt u ri es form t w o ep ochs roughly divi d ed by

t h e int e r es ting ep isod e of C on s tantin e t h e A frican T h e fir s t .

p e riod i s di s tingui s h e d by t h e nam es o f G ar i o p o n t u s t h e ,

e ld e r and young e r P l at e ar i u s and t h e e ld e r and younger

,

C Op h o . G ar i op o n t u s who s ee m s to h av e b ee n a Gr eek
, ,

wrot e t h e P assi onar i us a m edical com p endium in which

'

, ,

t h e doctrin es o f t h e M e thodi s t s are combin e d with p r esc r i p

tion s tak en from G al en Al exand e r Pau lus and th e E m p iri c
, , ,

writ e rs alr e ady m ention e d T h e youn ge r Pl at e ar i u s w as th e

.

author of t h e P r acti ca a coll e ction of not e s on tr eatm ent

,
.

in which h e o ft e n quot es h i s fath er s o p inion s and p ractic e ’

whil e to o n e of t h e C op h os i s d ue t h e fir s t mod ern anatomica l

t r e at is e t h e D e A natome P orci a work d es cribing t h e s hape
, ,

and po s ition of t h e visc e ra of t h e p i g whi ch animal s ays , ,

t h e author r e s e mbl es m an int e rnally j u s t as t h e monk ey

,

r e s embl e s him ext ern ally At t h e C lo s e of th e c ent ury

.

a pp e ared t h e mo s t famous p roduct of t h e s chool t h e ,

Regi men S ani tati s S ch ol a S al er n i tana or F l os M edi ci ne

, , ,

as it i s variou sly cal l e d a m edical po e m

-
, which w ent ,
1 88 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

ages and in t h e Ci r ca I nstans of t h e latt e r w e find t h e first

,

L atin d es cri p tion s o f t wo int er es ting though v ery di ffer ent ,

“
drugs m ercury and mumia
,
M e rcury ( h e d eclar es) i s .

hot and moi s t in t h e fourth d egree b ut s om e s ay it is ,

cold in t h e fo urth d egr ee I t is u s ed in ointm ent s fo r

.

s cabi es p e diculi ca p iti s and e ru p t ion s on t h e fac e ; i t s

, ,

fum es are highly inj uriou s and may cau s e p araly s i s and ,

e ve n d e at h M umia according to C on s t antin e i s hot and

. , ,

d ry in t h e fourth d egr ee I t i s found in tomb s fo r t h e anci ent s

.
,

p r ese rv e d t h eir d ead with bal sam and myrrh as i s s till don e ,

by t h e h e ath e n s o f B abylon M umia act s as an astringent .

in h aemorrhage an d dys e nt e ry and as s ist s t h e h ealing of ,

”
ul c e r s .

I n h i s A nti dotar i um N ic hola s Pr aep osit us quot es w hat h e

,

call s an an ci e nt p o em on w ei g ht s and m e a s ur es which w as “

p robably t h e fir s t thing t h e S al e rnitan m e dical s tud ent had

to get up and which i s so int e res ting from i t s p artial
,

corr es p ond e nc y with our mod ern w e ight s as w e ll as such a ,

brilliant exam p l e of L eonin e v er s e that I v enture to giv e ,

t h e original .

l li ge tr i t i c e i s m e d i c i n aa po n d era gran i s
Co .

G r a n a q u a t e r q ui n q ue s c r up u li p r o p o n d er e p o n e .

I n d r ac h m am s c r up u l us ter s ur git m u l t i p l i c at u s .

S i s o l i d u m q u mr i s t r es d r ac h m as di m i d i a b i s
, .

H exagi um s o li d o d i ffert i n n o m i n e s o l o .

A ur e us h e xagi o s o li d o q u o q ue par i fi c atur .

C o n s t at s ex o l i di s e l t er t r i b us un c i a d r a c h m i s
s v .

U n c i a p ars li b rae d u o d e n a q u i s a m b i gi t i n d e !
,

S i q uaar i p o n d u s q uo d h a b e t s e xt ar i u s u n u s
s
,

Li br ar u m q u i n q ue p o n d us d e b es m e d i ar e .

C o tyl a s ext ar i o d i ffe rt i n n o m i n e s o l o .

Co n t i ne t h e m i n as s ext ar i us ut p ut o b i n as .

O b o l u s ut fer t ur se m i s c r up u l us e s s e p r o b at u r .

C e t er a m e n s u r ae n o n s u n t ti b i n o m i n a c urar
N am q u i a s un t fi c t a s o r d es c un t s u n t q ue re l i c t a .

N o n eri s i l l u s us s i t en es q uo d t e n e t us u s
’
.

Or , in short e r and mor e p ro s aic E ngl i s h 2 0 grains 1 ,

scru pl e , 3 s cru p l es I drachm I é drachm s 1 so l i d u s ]1 exagi u s

, , ,
 BE R N A R D —[EG I D I US 1 89

or au r e u s 9 d r ac h m s 1 o un c e 1 2 oun c e s 1 po und 2 3 p ound s

, , ,

1 s e xt ari u s or cotyl a half a cotyla 1 h e m in a h alf a s cru l e

,
p ,

1 obol .

C om m e nt ari es on t h e S al e rnit an p har m a c o oeias w e r e

p
writt en by two F ren c h m e mb e rs of t h e s c h ool B e rnard of ,

Prov e n c e and Gil l e s (ZE gi di us) of C orb e il aft erward s ph y

, ,

s i c i an to P h ili
p A u gust u s who bot h st udi ed t h e r e toward s
,

t h e clos e o f t h e tw elft h c ent u ry Th e form er giv es u s many

.

c urio us gli m p s e s of th e b el i efs and p ra c t i c es of t h e age .

“
Antimony wit h raw egg i s good for cough Th e S al er .

nit an l adi e s fumigat e t h em s e lv es with ant imony C oral

—
. .

I f any o n e has p al pit at ion at night w h i c h oft en o ccurs ,

aft er hot food l et h i m p ut a coral in hi s m outh an d h e wil l

,
“

b e at on c e cu re d Thi s i s why t h e H os p it al l e rs an d T e m p l ars

.

”
c arry a p i c of coral in th ei r b e lt s
e e C ub eb s c ure drun k en
.

n ess an d p r ev ent t h e br e ath s m e lling t h e n e xt morning ;

,

”
n ev e r t ak e mor e t han fi v e b erri e s at onc e C yclam en . .

I M agi st e r B ernardu s of Prov en c e g a v e t h e j ui c e of Cyclam e n

, , ,

to a fri e nd wit h a quartan agu e and by God s grac e h e wa s ,

’

”
c ur ed . Warmt h i s t h e p rin ci p l e of life; M y mast er ,

S al e rn u s cu red his squir e ( ar m i ger um) who was n e arly kill e d

, ,

by a fall by bu rying him in a dungh e a p up to hi s n e c k H e

, .

would al so h av e r e cove re d had h e b ee n p ut in t h e b e l ly of a

r ec e nt ly kill ed an im al such as an ox or hors e
-
, I f a man .

is bitt e n by a m ad dog im m e diat ely p ut som e of it s hair on t h e

,

bit e or mak e t h e dog or som e p art of him i nto a p last er

, , ,
.

ZE gi d i u s of C orb e il v er s i fi ed t h e S al ernit an m at eria

'

m edica an d wrot e two oth e r p o e ms on p ul s e s and u rin e s

,

r e s p ectiv e ly bas e d u p on t h e abov e m ention e d tr e ati s e s

,
-

of T h eop h i l us Protospathari us H e t e ll s us that h e ha s.

c ho s e n th e p o eti c form b e cau s e it favours br evity and p re

v e nt s alt e rat ion by co p yist s and t h e two p o em s c e rtainly
,

give a rem arkably c l ear an d cond en s ed a cc ount of t h e G al e ni c

an d m ed i aeval do c trin e on t hos e matt e rs Th e fol lowing i s .

“ ”
a bri ef abst ra c t of hi s work on t h e p uls e which h e says ,

may b e con sid er ed from fi v e p oint s of vi ew and p r e s ent s ,

t e n vari eti e s
190 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

1 s mall or la rge
A Wit h re gard to t h e motion l 2
. .

s t rong or w e ak
.

. .

of t h e art ery .

3 . quick or s low .

hard or s o ft
( 4 . .

B W i th regard to t h e S U b
.
'

ful l or em pty
5 . .

s tan c e o f t h e art ery

(6 .

hot or cold .

C . With regard to t h e int e rval 7 . rar e or fr equ ent .

b etween t h e b e at s .

D . With regard to in cr ea se or 8 . Pul s u s i n c i d en s or d ec i den s .

d ecr eas e .

qual or un e qual
J
E . With r egard to rhythm and 9 . e .

r egularity . 10 . r e gular or irr egular .

M o st th e s e vari eti es occur in h e alth as w el l as di s ea se

of ,

and th ey th e n indicat e t h e p e r s on s t em p e ram e nt : thu s a ’

large p ul s e sho w s a man p rodigal un s tabl e fond of p rais e , , ,

“
ambitiou s o p e n h e art ed and hot s pirit ed A cold p ul se
,
-
,
-
.

“
i s a s ign o f d eath ; wh e refor e ( s ays a comm e ntator) I do
not advi s e t h e p hy s ician to s tay w ith a p ati e nt wh e n h e
find s s u ch a p ul se fo r th en cros s and candl es a s h es and
, ,

s hroud an d holy wat er hav e th e ir p lac e Th e goat lik e or -

dicroti c p ul se may b e nor m al but i s mo s t commo n ly found ,

in cont in u e d fev ers T h e ant and worm lik e p ul se s (p

.
-
.

for mi cans cl ver mi cul osus) are faith ful h e rald s o f d eath
and s m e ll of t h e s ep ulchr e ( mor ti s pr e cones fi di r edol en tque
sepu l ch r um) exc ep t in ca se s of fainting wh en th ey ar e com
, ,

m o n l y without danger .

Wh en h i s s ubj e ct p e rmit s it ZE gi d i u s can writ e v e ry fair ,

v e r s es as for in s tanc e h i s lam e nt ov er t h e sac k of S al erno

, , ,
.

I n t h e y ear 1 1 9 4 a t e rribl e blow fe ll u p on t h e H i ppocratic

city Th e E m pe ror H enry V I us ed t h e mon e y obtain ed
. .

for t h e ran s om o f Richard L ion h e art to conqu e r S out h I taly -

,

whi ch h e claim ed in right o f h i s wi fe H e bor e a s p ecial .

grudge again s t S al erno which was taken by s torm and ,

d eliv e red ov e r to t h e unt end er m e rci es of a m ed i mv al s oldi ery .

T h e wiv es and daught er s of t h e p rofessors are s aid to hav e

19 2 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

mal s h earts ei t h er b e cau s e t h e y cau s e forget fuln e ss or b ec aus e

’
, ,

“
t h ey ar e indigestibl e T h e mu l i er es S al er n i tane mix t h e
.

root of s pat ula foetida (fetid iri s ) w it h hon ey and anoint th eir ,

“
fac e s th er ewith to r emov e wrinkl es Th ey use alo es and .

ros ewat er fo r sw ellings on t h e fac e but ab s inth is b ett er than ,

” “
al o es . M agis t er M auru s ob s e rves : T h e S al e rnitan l adi es
tr eat dro p sy as follow s : t h ey go to th e woods an d coll ect
p l ants indiscriminat e ly diuretic and oth e rs m aid enhair
, , ,

h ep atica et c et c Th es e t h ey boil in salt wat e r and t h e

,
.
, .
,

p ati ent first inhal e s t h e s t e am th e n drinks and finally bath es , ,

in it Whil e bathing t h e y giv e him an e l e ct uary su c h as

.
,

— o r al l th es e mix e d togeth er
( h e r e follows a long li s t ) ,

and t h e j uic e o f chick p ea ( ci cer ) Th ey r epeat t his five

-
.

t im e s an d t h ey hav e cu r e d m any
, Among oth er noti c es .

“
w e may m ention t h e fol lowing T h e S al ernitan ladi es st eep
bryony root s in hon ey and anoint th eir fac es with it which ,

giv es th em a m arve l lou s bl ush T h e l adi es of S al erno

.

giv e c hildr en po ppy s eeds in milk Th ey m ak e c ak es of .

pell itory ( par i etar i a) flour and wat e r whi ch ar e good for
, , ,

“
indige stion . A c ertain lady o f S al e rno has p rov ed that
“
c y c lam en j uic e i s good o h aem orrhoid s
f r For dryn ess .

and roughn ess of t h e hair mix bol e ar m en i ac with hot wat er,

an d aft e r washing t h e h e ad p our thi s on it t h e n wash again ,

wit h warm wat er ; si c oper an t mul i eres S al er ni tane ” Th e .

oth er r efer en c e s d e al chi e fly with di s e a s e s of wo m en and ,

al l are m edical b ut in lat e r tim es t h e s a l e rnitan ladi e s s eem

,

to hav e ado pt e d more ge n e ral p ractic e and w e find Bruno ,

o f C al abria c lo sing h i s l am e nt on t h e sad stat e of surge ry

in hi s days ( thirt eenth c ent ury ) with t h e ex c lamation : N ot

on ly amat e urs ( i di ote ) an d laym e n but what i s y et more ,

horribl e and ind ec ent vil e and p r es um p tuou s fem al es have

,

now usurped an d abu s e our art

Wh en Rudol p h t h e monk w e nt to S al e rno in 1 0 59 h e ,

found w e are told no o n e who co uld m ee t h i m in argu m ent

, ,

“ ”
sav e a c ertain l earn ed mat ron who i s b e li ev ed to hav e ,

b een Trota or Trot ul a t h e most famou s of all t h e S al e rn itan

, ,

ladi es and t h e su ppo s ed authore s s of a stil l exi sting t r eatis e ,

 T RO T U LA . 19 3

On D i seases f Women o T h e a uth ent i c ity of t his work i s

.

s o m e what do ubtful b ut T r o t u l a is fr equ e nt ly quot e d by

;
o th e r S al e rnit an s and th e fol lowin g extra c t s show t hat sh e
,

did not confin e h ers e lf t o gyn ae colo gy : F or to oth ach e r ub

u p r u e an d p e
p p e r and pu t it in t h e tooth for on e night b ut
, ,

if t hi s i s n o good c a ut e ris e t h e t ooth wit h a thin i ron wir e

“
t hro ugh a funn l or put a littl e s ugar in it
e , For col i c
d u e t o ch il l or da mp o r crudity of t h e h u m ours giv e hot
, , ,

wat er int e rn ally and a pp ly a s p on ge or c lot h d i pp e d in hot

,

win e and sligh t ly sq u eez e d out e xt ern al ly T h e tr e ati s e .

,

D e M or bi s M uli er um c ontains two exc e l l e nt cha p t e rs on t h e

,

m anag e m e nt of t h e n ew born baby an d t h e c hoic e o f a n urs e -

,

which ar e howev e r too long to q uot e and e nds wit h an

, , ,

i mp ortant s ec t ion on c o s m e ti cs H e re is a sim p l e re ci pe . .

“
To mak e t h e h air gold e n t ak e of eld er bark flow e rs of , ,

broom yol k of egg and saffron e qual p arts ; boil t h e m in

, , ,

w at e r ; ski m o ff what float s on t h e s urfa c e and u se as

”
p o mad e .

A m arve llo us b alsa m Take t hri c e distill e d t ur p ent in e .

,

lign alo e s amb ergris and m u s k e qu al p art s rub th e m up t o

-
, , , ,

a li qui d ointm ent an d distil nin e ti m e s U s e d on t h e fac e it .

wil l p res e rv e youth h e al al l wound s m arve l lou sly cl e ar t h e

, ,

ey e s, and p re s e rve t h e b ody from al l for m s of p utrefaction .

E t ego fe c i et p r o b av i et es t v er i s s i m u m adds t h e
“ ”
, , ,

c onfid ent author who howev e r c an h ardly b e T r ot ul a for t h e

, , , ,

p r es cri p t ion in di c at e s a d at e m uch l at e r t han 1 0 59 .

T r ot u l a s fa m e in m e di cin e e xt end ed b eyond I taly an d

’
,

l ast e d ti l l t h e t h irt ee nth c e ntu ry T h e Fr ench p o et Rut eb oeuf .

, ,

has p r es e rve d or i m it at ed an oration by a t rav e l ling quac k

of t hat p e riod H e i s h e d e c lare s no ordin ary charlatan
.
, , ,

b ut on e of t h e s p ec ial age nt s s e nt out by t h e fa mous M adam e

Trota o f S al e rno to c at c h st ran ge b e ast s fro m wh ich s h e
m anu fact ur e s h er world re nown e d oint m ent s T r ot u l a is
- .

”
u su al ly e nt it l ed th e M agi st r a or M ae st ra t h e d egr ee
”
of D octor was introd u c e d l at e r a n d was att ain ed by an
ot h e r S al e rn itan lady C on st anza C al enda A D 1 43 0 B e sid e s
, , . . .

t h e s e w e h ear of Ab ella Reb e cca Guarna and M er c u r i ad a , , ,

13
1 94 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

the last of whom wrot e a t re ati s e on s urgery whi c h perhaps ,

e xcit e d t h e wrath of Bruno o f C alabria .

S om e of t h e S al ernitan ladi es hav e b ecom e famous in

g e n e ral history .S i c h el gai t a t h e d uch e s s whos e amazonian
, ,

feats at t h e sid e of h er hu s ban d Rob ert G ui s card ar e known , ,

to r ead e rs of S c ott and Gibbon st udi e d m e di c in e at S al erno

, ,

h er nativ e town and p aid s p e cial att e nt ion to toxicology

,
.

S h e was nat urally anxiou s that h er own son Roge r should , ,

o btain t h e birthright of hi s hal f broth e r B oh em und and -

, ,

h earing that that famou s cru sad e r had gon e to S al erno to

r ec ruit hi s h ealth s h e se nt h i s m e dical att endant one of
, ,

h er old t each ers a box cont aining a slow but effec t ual p oison
,
.

T h e p hysician took t h e hint and admini s t e re d th e drug ; but

D u k e Rob ert som ehow b e cam e s u s p iciou s of what was going
on and cal ling for his Bibl e an d h i s s word h e swore on t h e
, ,
’
form e r that h e would p l ung e t h e latt e r into his wife s h eart
on t h e day h e h eard of h i s s on s d eath S i c h el gai t a was
’
.

e qual to t h e oc c asion ; sh e at on c e se nt a t rusty m ess enger

“
t o S al erno with a n ev e r failing antidot e and by t h e bl ess
-
,

i n g of God who had ordain ed B o h em u n d to be a s c ourg e of

,

”
t h e infid e l, h e r e cov er ed b ut had for ev e r a ft erwards a
,

r em arkably p alli d count en an c e S om e y ears lat er S i c h el gai t a

.

su cc eed ed in p oisoning h er hu s band and in m aking h er son

Roger hi s su cc e ssor For t h e credit of t h e d uch e ss and t h e
.

do c tors it should b e add e d that t his story r est s only on th e

e vid en c e of a mon k O r d er i c u s Vitali s who wrot e fifty y ears
, ,

aft e r t h e Su ppo s ed ev ent s and that it s latt er p art i s contra

,

d ict ed by ot h e r hi s torian s who a s s e rt t hat S i c h el gai t a di ed

.

b efor e h er husband .

Th e fol lowing i s y et mor e tragi c and som ewhat b ett er ,

aut h enti cat ed S t ephania who live d at t h e clo se of th e

.
,

“
t enth c ent ury was v ery s kil fu l in Gal eni c m att e rs and
, ,

though w e ar e not told that s h e s tudi ed at S al erno s h e c an ,

hardly have obt ain e d s u ch kno w l e dge anywh er e el s e Her .

b eauty was equal to h er l e arning and s h e m arri ed in early ,

y outh C res c ent i u s a nobl e Roman who had con c eiv ed th e

, ,

ambition of r eviving t h e an ci e nt glori es of t h e rep ubli c .

19 6 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY

S al e rnitan ladi e s are m ention e d in anot h e r roman c e of t h e

s am e
p e riod M ari e d e Franc e r e lat e s in o n e of h e r L ai s
.

how a love r b efor e h e could obtain his m i s tr es s w as r e quir ed

, ,

t o carry h er in h i s arm s to t h e t o p o f a hil l I n vain do es .

t h e lady s tarv e h e r s e l f to t h e utt e rmo s t ; h er w e ight is s till

such as would re nd e r t h e fe at a dange rous o n e Th en s h e .

b et hink s h er of an aunt who had st udi ed t h e h e aling art for ,

mor e t han thirty y e ars at S al e rno and who th e r efor e has , , ,

no di fficulty in com p osing a s tr engt h ening m e dicin e of mar

v e l l o u s p ot e n cy B ut t h e h e ro un fort unat ely r efu ses to
.
, ,

u s e s u ch aid s and t h e s tory e nd s t ragically,

.

N OTE .

Th e q u o t ati o n s r i
c on c e n ng th e
“
l ad i es of l er n o
Sa a re fro m t h e
w o rk i s a l s o i t
’
Col l ecti o S a l er ni tana . T r ot ul a s s upp os e d p r n e d i n th e
M ed i c i O m nes qui L a ti n i s L i tter i s S c r i pser unt . Rut e b oeu f, OEuvr es , Par s , i
1 83 9 . ro n i c l e of O r d er i c u s V it a li s i s t r an s l at e d i n B o h n s s eri es
The ch
’
.

S t e p h a n i a s w r o n gs a r e re c o r d e d b y A r n u l p h o f M il an ; h er ve ngea n c e
’

b y L an d u l p h L eo o f O s ti a S ax o t h e w rit e r o f t h e l i fe o f B i s h o p M e i n
, , ,

w e r c a n d o t h er c h r o n i c l ers m o s t of w h o m gi ve d i ffere n t vers i o n s

, , Le o .
,
“ H e d i ed
w h o i s p er h a ps t h e m o s t re li a b l s ay s s i m p ly : at Pa t er no
e,

p o i s o n e d ( poti ona tus) a s i s s a i d b y t h e w i fe o f C re sc en t i us t h e s en at or

, , , ,

Th e l e ge n d o f t h e d eer S ki n p er h ap s ar o se
”
qua i mpud i ce a butebatur
fr o m t h e t o ry t h at C res c e n t i us h a d b e en d ragge d t o e x ec u ti o n o n a
s

c ow h i d e M o s t G e r m an w r it ers rej ec t t h e w h o l e s t ory (s ee G r ego ro i us

. v ,

D i e S tad t Rom i m M i ttel a l ter v o l b ut a s M il m an r e m ark s ( L at

, .
, .

Ch r i s t v ,
it s ee m s a s w e ll ev i d e n c e d as ar e m o s t eve n t s o f t h at age
. .

\Var n ke D i e L ai s d er M ar i e d e F r a nce H a ll e 1 88 5 p 1 1 3 “ Les D ous

, , , , .
,

A m an z
‘

XXX V I —T H E A RA B O -
SC H O L A S T I C RE V I VA L .
(1)
M E D I CI NE .

T HE thirt ee nth c ent ury like t h e age of P ericl e s and th e ,

Re nais s an c e is o n e of t h e gre at e poch s of h uman history

, ,

“
and has b een w e ll charact eris ed as t h e t rum p et cal l which
s um mon ed t h e m idd l e ag e s into t h e mod e rn world Abl e
and far s ight ed politicians inaugurat ed i m p ortant d ev e lo p
-
 THE T H I RTE E N T H CE N T U RY . 19 7

m e nt s in C hu rch and St at e whil e t h eology p hilo s o phy and , , ,

sci e n c e w er e furt h er e d by t h e l abour s o f g r eat ” wond e r ,

” ” “
fu l
, subt l e ,univ ersal and irr efragabl e doctors T h e
, .

i m pu l s e to th is n ew activity es p e c ially in sci en c e w as d eriv e d

, ,

l argely fro m t h e Arab s an d abov e al l from t h e st udy of t h e

,

p hysi cal and m eta p hysi cal works of Ari stot l e whi ch w er e ,

tran sl at e d fi rst from t h e A r ab i o and a ft e rward s from t h e -

Gr ee k . Th e ir effe ct was to r evol utioni s e t h e domin ant

C hrist ian vi ew of N at ur e hit h erto look ed u p on a s a ru i n
, ,

b es et wit h p it fall s and haunt e d by d e mon s into w ho s e ,

C l ut ch e s t h e rash e x lor e r of it s myst e ri e s was c e rtain to fal l

p ,

if h e had not al re ady m ad e an un holy com p act with t h eir

m a s t e r t h e p rin c e o f th is world Thi s was now r ep lac ed
, .
,

at l e a s t in p art by t h e G r eek vi e w o f t h e univ ers e as a

,

harmoniou s whol e t h e dia p ason C losing ful l in m an who

, ,

hi m s e l f form s a littl e u niv er s e or mi croco s m .

A n im port ant agent an d exam p l e of t hi s C han ge w as

“ ”
Alb ert us M agn u s who was at on c e d e clare d bl es se d by
,

t h e C hurch and a sorc e r e r by t h e g e n e ral voic e and who s e

—
, ,

“
e xc es s iv e p rai s e s gr e at in m agic gr e at e r in p hilo s o p hy , ,

” “ ”
gr eat est in t h e ology t h e C hristian Aristot l e m aj or
P l aton e ni x i nfer i or S al omon e—w e r e p erha p s p artly d u e t o
, ,

t h e fact that h e r e at l e ngth was a man o f s ci en c e a pp rov e d ,

by th eologians who m ight th e r efor e b e sa fe ly e u logi se d

,
.

B ut w e mu st p as s ov er t h e B l es s e d Alb e rt and ev e n t h e ,

”
wond erfu l doctor Roger B acon w ho s e achi e v e m ent s may
, ,

b e con sid er ed at l e a s t by h i s countrym en more im p ortant

, ,

”
th an tho s e o f t h e D octor M agn us and confin e ou rs elv es ,

t o p hy s ician s in t h e n arrow e r s en s e of t h e word .

Two m e n st and out pre e min ent as ty p e s of t h e Arabo -

scholasti c m edi cin e of t h e t hirt eenth c ent ury an d t h e ir work ,

wil l h e r e b e sk et ch e d as bri efly as p o s sibl e Three nation s .

,

an d n e arly tw e nty town s hav e dis p ut e d t h e honour of p r o

,

d u c i n g Arn al d of V ill anova ( 1 2 3 5 b ut an im p artial

for e ign e r m ay b eli ev e that h e was born in S p ain e du cat ed ,

c hi efly in Fran c e and that o n e of t h e work s att rib ut e d to

,

h i m was p robably writt en by an I talian Arnold of N a p l es ,

19 8 I
M E D C A L H S O RY I T .

or N ov i c o m o He t e ll s u s that h e w as doctor in th e four

fac ulti es —
.

t h e ology l aw p hilo s o p hy and m e di cin e and h e ,

k n ew w hat w e r e th e n t h e th re e l e arn ed languages —Arabic

, , ,

Gr ee k and H ebrew H i s th eological work s hav e p e ri s h ed

,
.

i n t h e flam es but w e k no w that h e att ack e d t h e friars with

,

t h e vigour o f a Wycli ffe and t hat h i s e n e mi e s convict ed

~
,

him of fourt e en d e adly e rror s —t h e most int e res ting b eing

t hat wor k s of m e rcy and m edi cin e are m or e acc ep tabl e to
God than t h e s acrific e o f t h e altar —and call e d u pon t h e
Po p e to d eal with t h e h e r etic according to t h e c u s tom s of
t h e C h urch .C l em e nt V how ev e r though h e took an
.
, ,

active p art in tort uring T e m p l ar s and c o n fi s c at i n g th eir ,

good s w i s ely con s id e r ed that a p hy s ician w h o was al s o an

, ,

al ch e m i s t and p o s s ibl e gold mak e r might b e p u t to b ett er

-
,

u s e s H e p rofit e d by h i s m edical s kill and e ncouraged h i s

.
,

ch e mical inv es tigation s and t h e dat e of Ar n al d s d ec ea se is

,
’

fix e d by an e ncycli cal l ett er in which t h e Po p e in form s t h e

,

bi s ho p s of C hri s t endom o f th e d e ath of that p iou s and

l earn e d p hysician bid s t h e m se arch diligently for a c e rtain
,

m edical work d e dicat ed to h ims e l f and t hr eat ens with hi s ,

a p ostolic anath e ma any o n e who s h all con c eal or d es troy it .

B ut oth e r Po p es s oon aro s e who kn e w not Arnald ; thirt een

o f h i s work s w e r e p ublicly burnt and ev e n h i s comm e ntary ,

on t h e S al e rnit an Regi men S ani tati s w as p lac e d on th e li st

, ,

o f forbidd e n book s .

Arnald w as t h e alch e mi s t of t h e n ew m e dicin e but h i s ,

ai m was not s o m uch t h e tran s m utat ion o f m etal s as th e

d i s cov e ry o f a univ e r s al r e m e dy or e lixir o f li fe H e thought .

”
that som e a pp roach to thi was mad e by t h e alcohol of
s
“ ” “
t h e Arab s t h e , aq ua vini or vit ae who s e virt u es h e , ,

s ay s ,
w e r e alr e ady known to many and to which h e at ,

t ribut ed a s p ecial p ow e r o f r es torin g youth to t h e ag ed He .

furt h er p oint e d out i t s r em arkabl e p ro p e rty of extracting th e

es s e nc es o f h e rb s and root s and thu s laid t h e foundat ion for
,

“
th e tin ct ur e s o f our mod ern p harm aco p oeia B ut whil e .

ado p ting t h e ch e mical innovat ions of th e Arab s h e carri ed ,

on at t h e s am e tim e t h e b es t t radition of t h e S al e rnitan

20 0 M E D I C A L H I ST O RY .

he S hould tak e t hr ee s mal l er m e al s but m u s t n e v er eat until,

h e h as fully diges t ed t h e la s t m eal fo r nothing is w or s e than,

t o add indige s tion t o indiges tion Th en h e discu ss es t h e

t hr ee form s o f drin k—win e wat e r and s yru p s —
.

,
of w hi ch t h e

fi r s t i s a valuabl e m e dicin e and food but s hould al w ays be ,

t ak en with and no t b efor e or aft e r oth e r food and finally

, , ,

e xhort s t h e p ati e nt to occ u p y h i s mind as mu ch as p o s sibl e

w it h p l e a s ant an d C h ee rful t hought s .

T h e mo s t int e res ting m e dical com p endi um o f t h e age th e ,

B r evi ar i um P r acti ce i s doubt fully a s cri b ed to Arnald of

,

Villanova . Th e writ er cal ls him s e l f Arnald ( ii A .

c e rtain p ri es t cur e d m e o f mor e than a hundr e d wart s on my

h and s in thi s way : h e m ad e t h e S ign of t h e C ro s s ov er t h e

w art s and said :
, Go and you w ill s oon b e h e al e d Th en h e
w ent to a p lant o f p e llitory ( par i etar i a ) and kn ee ling down r e

p eat ed t h e L ord s Pray e r ; but w h er e h e S houl d hav e said

’

d e liv e r u s from e vil h e s ubstit ut e d d e liv e r Arnald from t h e

’ “

wart s on h i s hands N ext h e took t hr ee S hoot s of pe llitory

’
.
,

r ep e ating t h er eby thr ee Pat erno s t ers in t h e s am e way and ,

b u ri e d t h e m in a dam p p lac e Wh en th ey b egan to d e cay .

,

t h e wart s b egan to di s a pp e ar so that in t en day s I was com

,

”
p l et el y cu r e d H e al s o m e ntion s M ont p elli e r ( i
. A .
"

m an at M ont p e ll i er bl e d from h i s no se for thr ee day s and

nights I had don e e v e ryt hing I t hought u s efu l w ith no effe ct
.
,

w h e n a c e rtain old woman (que d am vel a l a) di pp e d s om e rags

in vin e gar and p ut th e m roun d h i s n e ck and on h i s for eh ead ,

a n d th e n gav e him mint to s m e ll and t h e bl ee ding c ea se d .

T h e di fficulty i s that h e s p eaks o f N a p l e s as his p lac e of

e d ucat ion whil e t h e S p ani s h Arnald so far as w e know did
, , ,

not vi s it I t aly till middl e ag ed ; and h e i s contin ually bring

-

”
ing in h i s m a s t er J ohn C as am i d a who i s not m e ntion ed
, ,

e ls ewh er e e g ( iv 2 )
, . . M y m a s t e r ord e re d a p i g to b e hanged
.

t o t h e b e d s h ead o f a N e a p olitan s oldi e r who w as l ethargic ;

t h e p e r p e t ual clamour of t h e b e a s t s o t e rrifi ed him that h e

c ould not s l ee p I n anoth e r ca s e h e had t h e p ati e nt s h ead

’
.

s hav e d and anoint ed with hon ey ; t h e fli es so in fe st ed him

t hat h e had to k ee p continually s t riking at th em and s o was

 T HE B R E V IA R I U M . 20 1

c u r e d of h is l et hargy C as e s of a p o p l exy should not be

.

b uri e d for sixty hou rs for i f bu ri e d at on c e as c e rt ain i d i ot ae ,

‘ ’

r e com m e nd t h ey m ay com e to life in th eir c offin s ( h e re h e

,

giv e s s om e horribl e in st an c es ) D oubtfu l c as e s should be .

t reat e d as my m ast er t reat e d a fri en d of min e who Was al

r e ady i n t h e han ds of t h e p ri e st s H e w ent to t h e grav e .
,

bad e t h e p ri e sts be sil ent and pu t a littl e c ard ed s ilk on his

,

fac e an d a full gl ass of wat e r on his h eart t h e sil k mov ed

, ,

and a l ittl e of t h e wat er ov er fl ow ed S o s eeing t hat h e liv e d .

, ,

h e at on c e had his h ead shav e d an d a pp li ed a p last e r of cas

t o r eu m and m ust ard in st ron g vin e gar ord er ed his limbs to ,

b e tightly ligat ur ed at t h e s hould er and h i p j oint s wh e r e

t h e gl ands ar e p u t castor e u m und e r his tongu e and had hi s
, ,

hands and feet rubb ed wit h salt and nitre M e anwhil e h e .

bl e d him from bot h sap h e na v e ins from t h e v ein at t h e sid e ,

o f t h e nos e and fi nally from t h e basili c and l eft salvat e ll a

,

v ein s . Th en h e p ut som ething in his nos e to m ak e h im

s n eez e an d aft er an hou r t h e
, p ati ent b egan to sit u p in a
s t u p id way and was sav e d
, H e p er fec tly r e cov ere d and my
.
,

m ast e r gain ed t h er efro m gr e at p rais e and hono u r and a ,

m u ltit ud e of fri end s and it was said of him that h e had

,
”
r ai s e d t h e d ead (i H e re ar e two m ore ext racts from
.

t h e work whi c h i s not wit hout originality :

,
To driv e away
m i c e from hou s es u se thi s fu migation ,
Tak e r ealgar s alt .
, ,

p om e gran at e bark h el l ebor e root s ul p h ur l itharge an d s h e ll s

, , , ,

o f s e a l ocu s t s ( sh rim p s ! ) e qu al p arts rub togeth er and s p rinkl e ,

o n hot coals t hrou gh t h e hou s e All m ic e wil l fl ee and wil l

.
,

n ev er com e back B ut do you al s o avoid t hat fu m e for it i s

.
,

”
h orribl e exc eed ingly Th e t hird book b e gin s thu s :
. I n this
’
b ook I p ro p os e with God s h el p to con sid e r dis eas e s p e c uliar
, ,

t o wom e n and sin c e wom e n ar e for th e m ost p art p oi s ono us

, , ,

c r e atu r e s I shal l t h e n p roc ee d to tr e at of t h e bit e s o f v e nom

,

o u s b e ast s

A s A rn al d i s t h e first gr eat rep r es entat iv e of th e school of

M ont p ell i e r so P et e r of Abano ( 1 2 50 1 3 1 5) is t h e earli e st or
,
-

n am e nt o f t h e U n iv ersity o f Pad ua aft erwards so fe rtil e in ,

g r eat p hy s i cian s L ik e Arnald h e c am e into c ollision with

.
,
20 2 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

th e t h eologian s and w as only s av e d by an o pp ort un e d eath

, , ,

from b ein g b urnt aliv e For h i s h er e si e s w e re w ors e than

.

tho s e of h i s S panish coll eague ; his a s t rolo gical t h eori es

s ee m ed to l e av e no room fo r t h e a ction of fr e e will or Pro -

v i d en c e ; h e d e ni ed t h e e xi s t e nc e o f t h e d e vil and h e dar ed ,

to s ugges t t hat t h e ca s e o f a p ati ent who lay in a tran c e three

day s might h e l p to e x p lain s om e C hri s tian miracl es in cl uding ,

e v e n t h e rai s in g o f L azaru s B ut h e li e d in his iniquity

.
,

“
say s Thomas ge n eral of t h e Augustinian s
, and r ec eiv ed ,

t h e r e ward o f h i s error fo r I was p r e se nt wh e n his bon es

,

w e r e burnt in t h e C ity of Padua fo r th e s e and h i s oth er

”
h e res i es
. A lat e r writ e r a s s ert s that h i s body w as conc e al ed
by h i s hou se k eep er M ari etta so th ey could only burn h i m
, ,

i n effigy ; but which i s corr e ct matt er s litt l e e ith er to him or

to u s T h e s e nt e nc e o f cond e mnation w as p ublicly r e ad h i s
.
,

m emory w as d e vot ed to et e rnal in famy and h i s w ealth w hich , ,

w as g re at to t h e u se o f t h e C hurch
, .

P et e r o f Abano r ep r ese nt s t h e schola s tic s id e of t h e new

m e dicin e w ith i t s lov e of s ubt l e di s tinction s and w ordy
,

"
dial e ctic s and h e gain ed t h e titl e of C onciliator from hi s
,

gr e at work Conci li ator D ifi eren ti ar um int end e d to r e con

, ,

cil e t h e doctrin es o f p hy s ician s and ph ilo s o p h e r s I n it h e .

di s cu s s e s many curiou s and s om e im p ortant qu es tions

wh e t h e r fi re i s hot ; w h e th e r p ain i s fe lt as p ain ; wh eth er
t h e h e ad w as m eant for t h e brain or t h e e y es ; s hould w e
sl eep on t h e right or l eft s id e ! H ow o ft en s hould w e eat in
t h e day ! A h ealthy m an say s P et e r may th riv e on o ne
, ,

m e al but t w o ar e b ett er or an agree abl e vari ety may b e got

, ,

by e ating thre e ti m es in t w o days Wom en childr en or .

, ,

fee bl e p e r s on s may tak e th re e or ev en four m e al s daily Is .

win e good fo r chil dren ! C e rtainly n ot l T h e di s cu s s ion

“ ”
of t h e q u es tion wh et h er m ercury i s a hot or cold
m edicin e contain s t h e n e ar es t a p p roach to a C linical history
I can find in h i s work s : A n ap o t h e c ary d e liriou s with fev er
p ,

and raging w ith thirs t got out of b ed w e nt down to h i s sho p

, , ,

and drank a j ar full of m e rcu ry in mi stak e for w a t e r Th en .

h e w e nt back and di ed H i s r elation s finding a lot of m e rcury

.
,
20 4 M ED I C A L H I ST O RY .

th e Giv e r o f h e alth will dir ect you to t h e choi c e of t h e p ro per

,

”
r e m edi e s .

I n cas e t h e p hy s i cian should b e s till doubt ful P et er add s ,

“
a p r e scri p t ion of h i s own who s e virtu e and nobl e ex pe ri enc e
i s exc e ll ed by non e and which w il l cur e all gastric a ffe ction s
, ,

si D eus vol uer i t Take m a s tich li gn alo e s myrrh cinnamon

.
,
-
, , ,

o f e ach 5 drachm s ca s s ia clov es s p ik e n ard e ach 3 drachms

, , , , ,

e u p hra s y hal f an oz whit e and r ed coral e ach 1 oz s ugar a

.
,
.
,
”
s u ffici e ncy .

W e mu s t not su pp o s e that t h e re lation s of m e dicin e to

t h e C hurch w e r e s o s t rain e d as m ight a pp e ar from t h e

biogra p hi es o f Arnald and P et e r ; on t h e cont rary t h e two ,

we re intimat ely conn e ct ed and t h e thirt ee nth c entury as , ,

indicat e d abov e i s m ark e d by at l e a s t a p artial t ruc e b etw een

,

t h e ology and s ci e nc e I n t h e n e xt C ha p t e r w e s hall see that

.

a s urg e on b e cam e a bi s ho p and w e may h e r e r elat e how a ,

p hysician as w as m eet attain ed y et hi g h er dign ity t h e

, , ,

hi gh es t ind eed on e arth that of su p r e m e h ead of t h e visibl e

, , ,

C h urch .P et er of L isbon call ed P etru s H i s p an u s was t h e , ,

s on o f a p hy s ician from w hom and p robably from t h e

, ,

n ei ghbouring A rab s h e l e arnt t h e rudim e nt s of t h e m edical

,

art H e com p l et e d his e d ucation at Pari s and M ont p elli er

.
,

wh e re h e b ecam e in t h e c uriou s language of a cont em p orary

, ,
”
a g en eral cl e r k e s p ecially in m e di cin e
, H e t h e n took holy .

ord e r s but continu e d to p ract i s e t h e art of h ealing and

, ,

s ucc ee d e d s o w e ll in both p ro fes s ion s that by about his

fi fti eth y e ar h e had acq uired t h e o ffic e of p hysician to Po pe
G r e gory X and t h e rank of C ardinal B i s ho p of Tu s culum
.
-

1 2 76 . Th at y e ar i s uni qu e in t h e annal s of t h e p apacy .

Thr ee s u p re m e Ponti ffs di e d within se v e n month s causing ,

s o m uch di s ord e r in t h e p a p al hou s e hold and e ccl e sia s tical ,

affair s g en e rally that t h e C hurch loudly d e mand ed th e

,

e l e ction of a r e a s onably young and h e althy h ead I t w as .

kno w n that t h e Bi s ho p o f Tu s cul um w as a s kil ful p hysician ,

and t hat h e had o ft en p ro p h es i e d fo r him s el f a long li fe s o h e ,

w a s cho se n and assum e d t h e t it l e o f J ohn XX ( t h e XXI

, . .

o f l at e r hi s torians ) B ut h e liv ed only s ev en m onths for

.
, ,
 PO PE J O H N xx1 . 20 5

s ays Bi s ho p Ptol e my of L uc ca h e was admirin g him s el f

,

alon e in h i s cha m b er wh e n t h e roo f fell u p on him and

,

crush e d hi m t hat h e di e d a w arn in g to al l who ar e p u ffe d

,

up by t h e i r s t at e an d dignity O th e r historians r el at e t hat

h e was ab using t h e monks whom h e littl e lov e d or d i c tat ,

in g a h e r eti cal book wh e n t hi s j udgm e nt fell u p on him and ,

as h e w as mi s e rably dyin g fo r fi v e day s h e k ep t r ep e ating

What wil l b e com e of my book Who wil l fin ish my book !
”
or words to that effe ct . T h e D o mini can chronicl e of C olmar
m
dis iss s him wit h b ri f
e e s e v e rity : “
J ohn t h e Po p e a ,

m agician skil l ed in all t h e s ci e n c es an en e m y to m en of ,

r eligion a d es p is e r of t h e d e c rees of t h e G en e ral C ouncil di e d

, ,

t his y e ar 1 2 7 7
Po p e J ohn is t h e p robabl e author of t h e mo s t p o p ular of
m edi aeval r e c ei p t book s t h e Thesaur us P auper um or t r e a s ury
, ,

of t h e p oor I n t h e p r efac e h e s ay s that h e has col l e ct e d al l

.

t h e work s o f t h e an ci e nt p hy s ician s h e co uld p ro cur e and ,

has car eful ly e xt ract e d what ev e r s ee m e d val uabl e ; b ut h e

“
wis e ly adds : I exhort an d advi se t h e r e ad e r of this book
not to a p p ly him s el f to t h e cu r e of t h e si c k ti ll h e h as con ,

s i d er ed t h e nat ur e of t h e ir dis eas e s an d th e ir constit ution s

, .

An d l et hi m al s o st u dy dilig e nt ly to l e arn t h e p rop e rti e s of

things t h eir s ubstan c e com p l exion s an d hidd en p ow ers and
,
{
, ,

virt u es ; ot h e rwis e h e wil l b e li k e a blind man t hrustin g t h e

blind p ati e nt into t h e dit ch of d eath Th en follow a gr eat
.

n umb e r of p r es cri p tion s from variou s writ er s down to h i s

cont e m p orary G ilb e rt t h e E ngli shman : For toothach e
dro p j ui c e of ground ivy into t h e e ar on t h e s am e s id e ; it
will caus e s om e p ain b ut wil l s oon cur e t h e dis e as e as s ay
,

Avic e n na an d ot h e rs who hav e t ri e d it Gilb e rt 3 oint

m e nt for gout : Tak e a v e ry fat p u pp y and S kin him t h e n ,

t ak e j ui c e o f wild cu cumb e r r u e p el litory ivy b e rri es

, , , ,

j uni p er b e rri es e u p horbi um castore um fat of vult ur e goo s e

, , , , ,

fo x and b e ar e qual p art s and s tu ff t h e p u pp y th e r ewith

, ,
.

Th e n boil h im : add w ax to t h e gr eas e t hat fl oat S o n t h e '

surfac e and m ak e an oint m ent Or i f yo u lik e tak e a frog

.
, ,

wh e n n e it h e r s u n n or moon is s hining ; c ut off i t s hind l egs -

20 6 M ED C I AL H S O I T RY .

and wra p th em in d ee r skin ; a pp ly t h e right to t h e right

and th e l eft to t h e l eft foot o f t h e gouty p e rson and w it hout ,

”
doubt h e will be h eal ed Thi s i s how t h e aut hor t reat ed .

“
hy s t e rical femal es I can s ay from ex p e ri enc e that i f a
large cu pp ing glas s ( a common j ar will do ) b e a ppli ed to
t h e lo w er p art o f t h e p ati e nt s abdom e n w ith fr ee u se of t h e
’

act ual caut e ry it w il l mo s t thoroughly cur e this di se a se I n

,
.

hy s t e rical fainting blow p ep p er and s alt u p t h e p ati ent s no se ’

.

“
S h e w ill s oon com e round To cur e s cabi es in o n e day .

tak e of liquid p it ch thr ee oz s ul p hur nitr e frankinc en s e .

, , , ,

e ach o n e o z oil a su ffici ency ; rub toget h er and mak e an

.
,

ointm ent .

N OT E .

A rn a l d u s d e V ll anova Op r a Omn i a Ly o n s 1 53 2 M uc h l i gh t h as
i , e , , .

rec en tly b ee n t h ro w n o n A r n al d s b i o grap h y by Pe l ay o L os H eter odoxos ’

,

E spa nol es t h ree vo l s M ad r i d 1 880

, I n A p r il 1 2 8 5 P e d r o I I I o f A rago n
.
, ,
.
, ,
.

ave h i m an e s t a t e n ea r T a rra go n a o n a c c o u n t o f t h e m a n y s er i c e s
“
g , v

w h i c h w e h av e r c ived an d h o pe t o r ec e iv e fro m y o u o ur b e l ov ed
e e ,

p h y s i c i a n M ag i s t e r A d e
,
T h e ki n g d i e d i n t h e fo l l o w i n g N o e m
. v

b er an d A r n a l d w a o n e o f th e w it n e s s es t o h i s w ill
,
s I n 1 3 0 0 w e fi nd .

h i m a t R o m e a p p e ali n g t o P o p e B o n i fac e V I I I for pr o t ec ti o n aga i n st .

e n e m i es i n a l e tt er s i gn e d A r n al d us d e V i ll an ova m agi t er
“
hi s , , s

m e d i c i n a C h r i ti s rvu s i n d i gn us et i n ut i l i
, s e fi d e l i s s i mus i ps i u B o n i s . s

fac i i m e d i c u s T h e P o p e t o l d h i m t o l e ave t h eo l o gy an d s ti c k t o
”
et c , .

m e d i c i n e “ I n t r o m i t t e t e cl e m ed i c i n a et n o n d e t h eo l ogi a et h o n o r a
, , ,

b i m us t e ,
b ut A r n a l d h e ar d a v o i c e fro m h e aven t e lli n g h i m t o S i t
d o w n a n d w r it e q u i c kly h o w t h a t A n ti c h r i t w o u l d s o o n c o m e and s ,

w o ul d r e c ru it h i s fo ll o w er s n o t fr o m t h e S ar ac e n s b u t fr o m t h e h y po
, ,

c r iti c a l fri ar ; so h s h ad t o fl ee fr o m R o m e e H e r e t urn e d h owever .

, ,

u n d e r C l e m e n t V a n d w a s i n h i gh favo u r at t h e p ap a l c o u r t b e i n g d e
.
,

s c r i b e d i n a l e tt e r fr o m a c a r d i n a l a s p r ud e n e t s a p i e n s et S p i r it u s, ,

D i ferve n s m agi s t e r A r n a l d us d e Vill an ova

e ,
i l u m i n i s e t v i rt uti s ,
v r

H i s c on t e m p o rari es b e li ev ed h e c o u l d m ake go l d t h us J ua n A n d r es a ,

j ur i s t wr it es : “ P l us n o s tr i s d i e bus h ab i m u s m agi st r um A d e V i n c ur i a
, . .

Rom an a q ui eti am m agnus Al c h e m i s t a v i rgul as aur i q ua s fac i ebat c on

, ,

se n t i eb at o m n i p r o b a t i o n e s ub m i t t er e

P e t er d e A ba n o Conci l i ator etc V e n i c e 1 52 1 , T h e p as s age o n

, .
, , .

s t o m ac h ac h e i s fro m h i s c o n ti n uati o n
-
o f M e s u e ( t h e Y o u nge r) De ,

M or bi s I nter ni s Ly o n s 1 557 , H i b i o graph y ( fu l l es t by M az z uc h el l i

,
. s
,

N oti z i e i ntor no al l a Vi ta d i P i etr o d A bano V e n i c e 1 7 50 ) i s m o s tly

’

, ,
 20 8 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

C hang e d t h e ord er At t h e s am e tim e M agi s t e r Arnaldus

.
,

of V illanova flouri s h e d in both fac ulti e s and wrot e many ,

”
e xc e ll e nt works H e a ft e r w ard s divid es t h e m into three
se cts according to th e ir mod e o f tr e ating wound s
, ( 1 ) Rog e r .
,

Roland and t h e four ma s t e r s tr eat e d all wound s and i n

,
“

fl am m at i o n s wit h p oult ic es ; ( 2 ) B runo and Th e odoric us ed

w in e only and dry dress in g s ; whil e ( 3 ) William of S alic eto
and L an franc wishing to m e diat e b etw een t h e t w o c ur ed
, ,

all wound s with ointm e nt s and s e dativ e p l a s t e r s To th es e .

h e adds tw o ot h e r s e ct s ( 4 ) G e rman s s oldi e r s and thos e who

, , ,

follo w t h e war s who u s e incantation s p otions oil wool and

, , , , ,

cabbage l eav es ( r efe rring p erhap s to t h e H o s p itall e rs and

, ,

T e utonic kni ght s ) ; ( 5) wom e n and many ignorant p erson s , ,

”
i d i ot m ,
who s e nd p ati e nt s to t h e saint s on ly in all
dis e a ses .

G uy s criticism s are p e rhap s s om etim es too s ev e re

’

, , ,

es p e cially in t h e ca s e of L an franc and his divi s ion s are ,

rat h e r too arbitrary for all t h e abov e m ention e d s urg eon s

,
-

'

u se d ointm ents t hough thos e o f th e S al e rnitan s chool dir ect

,

“
t h e m to b e p u t round not on t h e wound fo r C on s tantin e ,

d e clar es that fatty s ubstan c es ar e not good fo r wound s

T h e fath e rs of Italian and indir ectly of E uro p e an
s urge ry w e r e Ro ge r o f Parma and H ugh of L ucca o f w hom ,

t h e form e r i s known as a w rit e r and t h e latt e r as a p r ac t i

t i o n er only Roge r s tudi e d and taught at S al e rno an d h i s
.
,

work t h e Roger i na
,
which w as e dit e d by his
p u p il Roland and com m ent ed u p on by t h e my s t e rious
, , four
”
mast e r s long form e d t h e S al e rnitan t ext book of s urge ry
,
-
.

Of s p ecial int e r es t i s h i s r e comm endation of t h e a s h es of

"

s p onge and sea w ee d which would of cours e contain

-
, , ,

“
iodid es for goit r e and t h e comm e ntary o f t h e four m a s t e r s
, ,

“
contain s on e of t h e e arli es t e xam p l es o f a p o s t mort e m
S p e aking of t h e di fficulti es in t r e ating h ead inj u ri e s th e y ,

r e lat e : A young man w as s truck on t h e h ead with a ston e

from a s ling ; h e p r e s e nt ed no s ym p toms b ut t h e n e xt day ,

h e was found d e ad and on o p ening t h e s kull a larg e blood

, , ,

”
clot was s een on th e surfac e o f t h e dura mat er
 H U GH O F L U C C A . 20 9

H ugh of L u c ca
b e long e d to t h e nob l e family of B ou rgog
n on e o ne of whom w as p r mto r or pod e sta of B ologna in
,

1 2 1 4 wh e n H ugh was a
, pp oint e d city surg e on Th e agr ee .

m ent st ill e xi s t s in which h e bind s hims e l f for a s ingl e p ay ,

m ent of 6 0 0 l ir e t o r es id e du ring hal f t h e y e ar i n th e city to

, ,
»

att e nd t h e p oor grat is and to ac com p any military ex p edi

,

t ion s b es id es whi ch h e was a ft e rward s r equir ed to giv e

,

evid e n c e in m e dico l e gal m att e r s

-
H i s n am e i s hono urab l y .

con n e ct ed wit h t h e e arly h istory of an aes th eti c s whi ch m ay ,

b e bri efly sk et ch e d h e r e I t is oft en as s ert ed and it i s not

.
,

im pos s ibl e t hat t h e an ci ent s u rge on s s om e ti m es p rodu c ed

,

in s e n s ibility by m e an s of hy p noti s m ; but t h e r e i s n o dir e ct

e vid e n c e on t h e s ubj e ct Th ey a pp ear howe v e r to hav e
.
, ,

so m eti m e s obt ai n e d a local an d p artial a n aes t h e si a by t h e

“ ”
a pp lication o f a la p is m e m p h i ti c u s p erha p s a ki nd of ,

bit um e n whi ch a ct e d th ro ugh t h e p h e nol it cont ain e d an d

, ,

t h ey c ertai n ly us ed d e coct ion s o f p o pp y an d m andragora as ,

did al s o t h e m edi aeva l o p e rators B e rn ard t el l s u s t hat t h e .

S al e rnit an s rubb ed u p p o pp y s ee d an d h enban e and u s ed ,

t h e m as a p la s t er to d ead e n t h e s e nsibility Of a p art to b e

caut eris e d T h e aut hor of t h e B r evi ar i um ( Arnald of Villa
.

“
nova ! ) giv es t h e fol lo w i ng r e ci p e : To p rod uc e sl eep s o
p ro fo und th at t h e p at i e nt may b e c ut and will fee l nothin g ,

as t hough h e w er e d ead I t is an exp er i m en t u m of M agis

’
.

t er M icha e l S cot Take of o p i um man dragora bark and

.
, ,

h enb an e root e qual p a rt s p o und t h e m toge th e r and mix , ,

wit h wat er Wh en you want to s e w or c ut a m an d i p a rag

.

in thi s an d p ut it t o h i s for e h e ad a nd no s tril s H e will s oon .

s l e ep so d eep ly t h at you m ay do what yo u wil l To wak e .

him u p d i p t h e rag i n stron g vin e gar

,
T h e sam e is .
.

e xc e ll e nt i n b rain fe v e r wh e n t h e p ati e nt c annot sl eep fo r

, ,
’

i f h e do not s l eep h e will d i e H ugh o f Lu c c a s m ethod

w as e ith er t h e original or an i m p rov ed v e r s ion of t his He .

add e d t h e j ui c e o f l ettu c e ivy m ulb erry sorr e l and h emlock

, , , ,

to t h e abov e and boi l e d th e w hol e with a n ew s p onge This

,
.

was t h e n dri e d an d wh en want e d di pp ed in hot wat e r and

, , ,
'

a pp li ed t o t h e p at i e nt s nostri l s .

I 4
2 10 M ED CI AL I T RY
H S O .

What w e know o f t h e p ractic e of H ugh o f L ucca i s

g ath e r ed from t h e writing s o f h i s son Th e odoric B i s ho p of ,

“ ”
C ervia and surg eon and p oen i t e n t i ar i u s to Po pe I nnoc ent
,

IV H e i s re markably fond of m erc urial ointm ents es p e cially ,

an ungu ent um s ar ac en i c u m B es id es p ara s itic s kin affec

t ion s t hi s i s h e s ays t h e b est r em e dy fo r t h e
, , , mal um
”
m ort uum a di s e a se charact eri s ed by chronic ul c e rs on t h e
,

a rm s and l e g s and for s om e form s o f rh e umati s m

,
whil e it ,

will ev e n cur e l ep ro s y in t h e e arly s tag e T h e p ati e nt should .

s tand b e tw een t w o fir es and rub h i s arm s and l e gs daily with

t h e ointm ent till h e p roduc es toothach e and s alivat ion .

Th eodoric s s im p l e m ethod o f tr eating wound s by w in e

’

a n d dry dr es s ing s in o pp o s ition to most earli e r s urg eons

, ,

w h o h e ld that s u p p uration S hould alway s b e encourag ed in

o rd e r to p uri fy t h e p art from morbid humour s w as a great ,

advan c e B ut this h e borro w e d from B runo though som e

.

o f his oth er su g g e s tions s e e m mor e original H e ad inj uri es .

a r e n e arly alway s fatal wh e n t h e brain is involv e d ,

b ut t h e ,

p ati e nt will hav e t h e b es t chanc e o f r ecov e ry i f t h e su rge on

ap p li es a sim p l e ointm ent an d s p rinkl es t h er e u p on t h e ,

p ulvi s mirabili s o f H ugh of L u cca in t h e form o f a cro ss

‘ ’

, ,

r ep e ating at t h e s am e tim e t h e following v e r s e s : In t h e ‘

n am e et c ; in t h e nam e o f t h e holy an d undivid e d Trinity

,
.
.

T h e right hand o f t h e L ord hath t h e p r e emin e n c e et c God -

, .

hath cha s t e n e d and corr e ct ed m e et c I s hall not d i e ut

h , .
,

liv e et c
, . To extract arro w s from t h e body r e peat three
’

Pat e rno s t er s ; th e n ta k e t h e arrow b et w een t h e j oin e d hand s ,

and s ay N icod e mu s dr ew out t h e nail s from t h e hand s and

,
‘

feet o f t h e L ord and it wi ll at onc e com e o ut T h e bisho p

’

, .

admit s that h e h as n ev er t ri ed thi s him s el f b ut h e h as b een ,

a s s ur e d of its efficacy by many r e liabl e p e r s on s .

But t h e gr e at es t s urg eon s o f t h e s e cond hal f o f t h e thir

t een t h c ent ury w er e Willi am o f S ali c eto and h i s p u p il Lan
franc of M ilan both of whom fr e qu ently giv e t h e ir own
,

e x p e ri en c e as w e ll as that o f th e ir p r ed e c e ssor s
, W e may .

a cc ep t Guy s es t imat e of t h e form er and S p ac e only p e rmits

’

t w o bri ef extract s from h i s s urgical and m edical work

2 12 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

It was p artly to s ho w h i s gratit ud e fo r thi s w e lcom e that

h e wrot e h i s A r s Cornpl eta Toti us C hi r ur gi e as i s s hown by t h e ,

fol lowing extract from t h e p refac e which al s o indicat e s t h e ,

r eadin es s wit h which h e im p art ed h i s knowl edge by clinical

in s t ruction : Wh e r efor e to t h e honour of God o f t h e mo s t
.
,

bl ess e d and gloriou s V irgin o f t h e bl es s e d con fes s or Ambro s e

,

and all t h e saint s ; out o f t h e r es pe ct to Phili p t h e mo s t ,

ot nt and most C hristian king ; out of lov e to th ee d e ar es t

p e ,

B e rnard ur ged by t h e p ray e r s and p r e c ep t s o f t h e v en e rabl e

ma s t e r s o f p hy s i c an d from frat ernal affe ction to th e int el
,

l i ge n t s t ud e nt s o f m e dicin e who do m e t h e honour o f ac c o m

,

p anying m e I att e m p t thi s gr e at work fo r t h e common u se

, ,

and es p e cially fo r my so n Among t h e many things which

attract our notic e in t hi s work h i s r e mark s on t h e tr eatm ent
of h a e morrhag e are p e rha p s t h e mo s t int er e s t ing Pres s ure .

i s t h e firs t and b es t m ethod A C hild three y ear s old fell down

.

with a kni fe in i t s hand and cut a v e in in i t s n e ck L an franc

,
.

s av e d i t s li fe by holding hi s fing e r for mor e t han an hour on

t h e bl ee ding s p ot whil e his a s si s tant w ent to fet ch a s ty p tic

,

a p p lication con s i s ting of frankinc en s e alo es whit e of egg and , ,

har e s fu r B ut h e i s acquaint ed w it h ligatur e and e v en tor

’
.

sion A boy at M ilan fi ft ee n y e ar s old w as s tabb ed in th e

, ,

arm by anoth e r boy T h e bl ee ding cou ld not b e s to ppe d by

.

t h e ordinary m e thod s s o I j udge d it n e c es s ary to diss e ct out

,

t h e v es se l and t i e it T h e boy s moth e r how ev e r s ent for a

’
.
, ,

c ertain l ai c u s w h o utt e rly r ep robat e d my o p inion and p ro

,
’

m i s ed t o cur e t h e p ati ent H e s tay ed and I d ep art ed ; but

.
,

t h e bl ee ding continu e d o ff and on till t h e p ati ent w as n early

d ead I w as se nt fo r but d eclin e d to go Th en a p hysician

. .

acquaint e d with t h e p are nt s fri e nd s r e buk e d t h em and t h e

’

’
boy s moth e r for r ej e cting my advic e for t hat o f t h e idiota ‘
,
’

and told t h e m it w as t h e only way to s av e h i s l i fe A surgeon .

w as a s k e d i f h e could p e rform what I had r ecom m end e d and ,

r ep li ed h e could so h e in ci s ed t h e s kin ov e r t h e v e s s el et
, ,
‘

i l l am c o n to r s i t in m an i b u s et l i gav i t cum filo

,

T h e link b e tw ee n I talian and Fr en ch s u rg e ry i s form ed

by H e nry of M ond e vil l e ( or H er m o n d evi l l e) t h e p u p il of ,
 H E N R Y O F M O N D E V I LLE
'

. 2 13

L an fran c an d t utor of G uy of C hauliac H enry of H e rmon .

d evill e ( s ays th e latt er) b e gan a v e ry notabl e tr e ati s e in

whic h h e st rov e t o m ak e a m arriage b etw een Th eodori c an d
L an fran c b ut hi s d eat h p r ev e nt e d it s com p l etion ” w hi c h
, ,

was p e rhap s t h e r eason t hat it re m ain ed un p rint ed t ill 1 89 2

, , ,

wh e n it wa s p ub lish ed by D r Page] of B erlin . .

T h e t re atis e is not abl e in m any r e s p ec t s e s p e ci ally from ,

t h e l ight it t h rows u pon p ro fe ssional h abit s and c u s tom s b ut ,

w e m ust confin e o urs elv es fo r t h e p r e s ent to a few short

“
ext ract s : I t is very d angerou s for a surgeon who is not of ,

r ep ut e to o p erat e in any way differ ent to t hat in common

,

u s e ; as di d M ast e r
J Pit ard and I who first int rodu c e d
.
,
’
Th e odoric s m ethod of dre ssing wounds into Fran c e u s in g it ,

at Pari s an d in m any military e x pedit ion s A nd w e wer e .

o pp o s e d by al l e s pec ially by t h e p hysici ans and su ffe red

, ,

m uch ab us e and m any t hre ats from t h e vul gar an d our own
c oll e agu e s so th at w e sho ul d hav e give n it up entir ely God
, ,

knows had not h i s s er en e highn es s C harl es C ount o f Valois

, , ,

aid e d u s and ot h e rs who had s een our c ur es perform e d in t h e

,

arm i es an d t h e t ruth also aid e d u s for whos e sak e it i s b e tt er ,

t o d i e th an to adh ere t o a fal s e hood for i s not God th e ,

truth it s e lf an d did not H e d i e fo r it ! B ut h ad w e not b ee n

,

strong in t h e faith and m en of rep ut e with t h e kin g and t h e

,

p rin c e s and som e littl e l earn e d ( al i quan tul um l i ter ati ) w e

, ,

”
should hav e h ad to have giv e n u p th at m ethod I n qu es t ion s .

of diagno s i s t h e effec t of any drugs t h e p ati ent may have b een

taking m u s t be c onsid ered I f w e find ardor urin ae follow ed
by di ffic ulty of m i ct urit ion w e know that t h es e o cc ur aft er t h e
,

a pp li cat ion of c antharid es ; similarly if a p erso n who ha s ,

us e d oint m e n t fo r som e infe ct iou s d isord e rs (pr opter al i gnas

i nfec ti on es) g et s infla m mation of t h e m outh and corro s ion
”
of t h e gum s w e at on c e j udge t hat it i s d ue to m e rcury
,
.

’
I t is t h e s urge on s d uty t o k eep u p his p at i ent s s p irit s in
’

ev e ry p o s s ibl e way and h e r e com m ends th at a m u s ician

,

“
( j ocul ator ) shoul d b e b ro ught in who may solac e him by
i

l
p y ga i n o n a vio l or t en strin g e d p salt ery
,
O r fal s e l ett e rs
-

m ay b e writt e n r el atin g t h e d e c e a s e of his e n e m i es or thos e ,

2 14 M ED I C A L H I S T O R Y .

from who s e d e ath h e ex p ect s advantage ; i f for e xam pl e h e , ,

i s c anon of o n e o r more ch urch es h e should b e told th at t h e ,

bisho p i s d e ad and h e i s el e ct e d H i s dr e ams also shoul d be .

, ,

favourably int e r p r et ed as in t h e ca s e of a man who was,

c anon of four pr eb ends an d wh o dr ea m t two s tav es w ere ,

brought him N ext day h e told thi s to his com rad es whil e
.

riding and o n e said : S i r yo u ar e c anon of thi s and that

, , ,

your bisho p s ar e d e ad and it i s im p ossibl e but t hat at l east

,
’
two p astoral s t av e s will be brought you Th e n h e rod e .

fa st e r in hi s j oy with a loos e r e in and hi s hors e fe ll and h e

, , ,

brak e both hi s l egs an d wal k ed ev e r aft er with tho s e stav es

,

” “
h e h ad dr e amt of Wh e n you are t r e at ing a wound or
.

ac c id ent t h e fri e nd s etc shoul d b e ex c l ud ed for th ey may

,
.
, ,

faint and cau s e a di st urbanc e ; b ut som etim es a high er fee

may be got from pe rson s p rese nt faint ing and br eaking th eir
h e ad s again st wood and t h e like th an from t h e p rinci pal
”
p ati ent . H e n ry has alway s a k een eve for t h e fee : N ever
din e with a p ati e nt who h as not p aid you ; it wil l b e c h ea per
t o get yo ur dinn er at an inn for such fe asts ar e u sually ”

” “
e e f
d du ct d rom t h e surgeon s fee I h av e n ev er found ’
.

any o n e s o rich or eve n so hon es t of any c ondition re ligious

, , ,

or oth e r who was ready to p ay wh at he had p romis ed

, ,

un l ess obliged and c onvict e d T h e cas e how ev e r was not .

, ,

“
f
so bad a t r al l
e Y ou surg e on s who s erv e th e rich faithfully ,

for good p aym e nt and t end t h e poor for c harity n eed not
, ,

fear fi r e wind or rain nor n ee d yo u ent e r a mon a st ery or

, , , ,

wand er abo ut t h e world fo r a l iving ; for by your art you

m ay sav e yo ur soul s an d liv e in c omfort and d i e in peac e
,

i n your own h om e s Rej oi c e th er efore for gre at i s your

.
, ,

rewa rd in h eav en as n e c es s arily follows from t h e word of

,

t h e L ord by t h e p ro ph et in t h e p sal m B l e ss ed is th e man ,

t h at c on s id e r eth t h e sick and n eedy th e L ord s hall d eliv er ,

him in t h e t im e of troubl e .

NOTE .

Th e su rgi c al wo rk s of Roger R o l an d , , B runo, T h eo d o r i c Sali ceto

, ,

an d Lanfr an c ar e pr i nt ed w it h t h o s e of G uy of Ch au li ac G ui d o de
,
2 16 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

m ight also be obtain e d from anoth e r s ourc e contra s ting

s trang e ly w ith t ho s e now e m p loy ed D uring th e C ru sad e s .

p rinc e s and nobl e s w er e w ont to tak e with th e m as p art of ,

t h e ir cam p furnit ur e a l arg e cauldron in which in cas e o f

, , ,

d e ath th e ir bodi es w er e boil ed and t h e bon es ext ract e d and

, ,

brought back to th e ir fat h e rland S o w as it don e to many .

b isho p s and knights who accom p ani ed Fr e d e rick Barbaro ss a

t o I taly in 1 1 6 7 and to th at em p eror him s el f wh e n h e was
,

dro w n ed in t h e riv e r S al ep h S t L oui s of Franc e Phil i p

. .
, ,

t h e Bold and his qu ee n w e r e tr eat e d in t h e sam e w ay till

, , ,

in A D 1 3 0 0 t h e p ractic e w as entir ely p rohibit e d by a bull of

. .
,

P o p e Boni fac e V I I I .A s al r e ady indicat ed post m or tem ,

-

e xamination s w e r e by no m e an s unknown in t h e thirt ee nth

c entury and hum an anatomy w as p robably s tudi e d mor e

,

fr e qu e ntly than is g en erally su pp o se d I t w as c e rtainly .

p ractis ed by P e t e r o f Abano and P et er o f Abano w as a fri end

,

of M undi nu s or M ondino d e L uzzi T h e l att e r b e cam e .

p ro fe ssor at Bologna about 1 2 9 0 and in 1 3 1 6 h e p ubli s h ed ,

h i s A n atom i a t h e fir s t w ork s in c e t h e days of t h e Al ex

,

an d r i n e anatomist s found e d on actual di s s e ct ion o f human

s ubj ect s ,in w hich h e i s s aid to hav e b een a ss i s t e d by a

l e arn ed lady Al exandra G i l i an i
, .

Bologn a n o w b e cam e t h e for e mo s t of m edi cal s chools and ,

a mong t h e s tud e nt s attract e d t hith e r by t h e fam e o f M ondino

.

and h i s p u p il s w as G uy of C hauliac who al s o s tudi e d at ,

M ont p e lli e r and Pari s and a ft er w ards b e ca m e surgeon and

,
”
c ap l an u s c o m m e n s al i s to thr e e Po p es C l e m ent VI , .
,

I nnoc e nt V I and U rban V ( 1 3 52

.
,
.Guy h old s t h e sam e
p o s ition in s ur ge ry as M ondino do e s in anatomy both ar e ,

“
s aid to hav e r es tor ed t h e ir r e s p e ctiv e art s tha t i s th eir ,

w orks p o s s es s ed su ffici e nt originality and e xc e ll enc e to tak e

t h e p l ac e of tran s lation s from Gal e n and Albuca s i s but t h e ,

c r eation o f a n ew anatomy and a n ew surg e ry was r e s erv ed

for th eir gr e at e r suc c ess ors Ves aliu s and Ambro s e P ar e

, .

Guy of C haul iac w as not only t h e abl es t p ractit ion er but ,

a l s o t h e mo s t cult ur ed s urg e on o f h i s age H e r ev e r e n c e s .

”
h
t e Gr ee ks and Arabs e p cially s e ,
f
our ath e r Gal e n an d ,
 G UY O F C H A U L IA C . 2 17

th e gr eat Albu casi s and h e adm it s that hi s work on s urge ry

,

i s m ain ly com p i l e d from t h e ir writ in gs with t h e addi tion of ,

a few t hings wh i ch according t o my mod e rat e int el ligen c e

, ,

s ee m e d to b e u s eful For w e ar e lik e childr e n on t h e n eck of

.

”
a giant who , se e al l t h e giant s ees and s om e thing b es id e s .

H is cont e m p orari es h e say s follow o n e anoth e r li k e cran es

, , ,

an d d e s p is e ev eryt hing not san ction e d by c ustom and aut hor

ity forgetting t hat Aristot l e d e c lar e s in t h e s e cond book of
, ,

his m et ap hysic s t hat t h e s e ar e t h e two gr eat hindranc es to

,

t h e di s cov e ry o f t ruth B ut most of t h e m kno w not hing o f

A ristot l e and bot h surgeon s and p hysi ci ans so n egl ect th eir
,

gen eral ed u cat ion t hat i f t h ey p e rsist in doing so h e w ill

, , ,

n ot b e s ur ris e d to see t ann e r s and car e nt e r s d es e rting t h e ir

p p
t rad es an d taking to p hy s i c A good surgeon shoul d b e .

a cquaint e d wit h lib e ral st udi e s with m e di cin e and abov e , , ,

“
a l l wit h anat omy
, h e s hould b e court e ou s and cond es c end
i ng bol d in s e c urity caut iou s in t im e of dange r avoiding
, , ,

i m p racti cabilit i es com p a s sionat e to th e infirm b e n evol ent to

, ,

his associat es ci rc um s p e ct in p rogno s i s chast e s ob e r p iou s

, , , ,

and m e rci ful not gr ee dy of gain no e xtort ion e r but looking

, , ,

fo r h i s fee in mod e rat ion according to t h e ext ent of h i s ,

s ervic e s t h e ab ility o f h i s p ati e nt th e r es ult of h i s t r e atm e nt

, , ,
”
a n d a p ro p e r s e n s e o f h i s own dignity T h e surg eons of t h e .

p r ec e ding c e nt ury had b ee n l itt l e m or e than wound c ure r s ,

a n d as w e hav e s ee n w e r e divid e d into s e ct s ac cording to

, ,

t h e ir variou s m od es o f d ealing with s uch inj uri es ; but in

G uy s work oth e r bran ch e s of t h e art and es p ecial ly t h e
’

t r e at m e nt of fract ur e s and di s location s whi ch was com p ri se d ,

und e r t h e c uriou s t e rm Algebra first b e cam e p rom in e nt , ,

an d w e find m any p ract ic e s r e com m e nd e d wh ich ar e gen e rally

su pp os e d to hav e b ee n of m uch lat er origi n Thus h e .

,

a dvi s e s t hat ban dag e s should b e sti ffe n e d by b e ing di pp ed in

w hit e o f egg ; h e s us p e nds fract ur e d limbs in a sort o f cradl e ,

c u n ab u l u m aut su s p e n soriu m an d h e tr eat s fract ur es o f

t h e t high not only by lon g s p l int s but al s o by t h e p ull e y an d ,

w e ight ad p ed e m l igo p ond u s p l u m b i t r an seun d o c h o r d am

,

s u p e r p arv am p o l e ge am O n e of t h e most s t riking obj e ct s

’
2 18 I AL
M ED C H I S T O RY .

of th e hos p ital ward s eem s to hav e originat e d with him for ,

h e r e comm end s that a ro p e s hould b e s u s p end e d ov er t h e

p at i e nt s b ed to a ss i s t him in li fting or t urning him s el f
’
.

T h e following w as G uy s mod e of tr eating chroni c ulc ers

'

Was h t h e ulc e r and t h e p art s round it wit h al um wat er ;

t h e n a pp ly a t hin s h eet of l ead of t h e S iz e of t h e ul c e r and ,

bandage firmly I t work s w ond e r s in all ulc e r s and can

.

c e rou s di s p o s ition s and how o ft e n I hav e gai n e d honour

,

”
th er eby H e know s who kno w eth al l things .

Th e p hilo s o p h e r S e n e ca noti c e s wit h j ust c en s ure a

cu s tom among t h e p hy s ician s of h i s day o f writ ing l ett ers of
advic e t o p ati e nt s th ey had n ev e r s ee n T h e habit i s not y et
.

e xtin ct but it form e d on ly o n e and that t h e l e a s t im p ortant

, , ,

s ourc e o f t h e m e dical consilia of t h e fourt ee nth and

fi ft ee nth c ent uri es Oth e rs con s i s t o f ext ract s from t h e ca se
.

b ook s of di s tingui s h e d p hy s icians p ublish e d fo r t h e b en efit of

,

th e ir col l e agu es and s ucc es s or s whil e a third class com p ris es

,

an sw e rs to inquiri es s ent by co untry p ractition ers or form er

p u p ils to c el ebrat e d p ro fes s or s w h o thu s b e cam e t h e p roto
,

“
ty p es o f t h e mod ern con s ultant Th e
. con s ilia ar e far
su p erior in in ter es t and originality t o t h e old com p ilation s ,

and m ark an im p ortant st ep toward s t h e r ep rod uction of t h e

clinical ob s ervation s of H i pp ocrat es T h e c h i ef writ e rs w e re
.

“ ”
I tal ian s G e ntili s o f Foligno ( di e d of t h e bl ack d eath
Antony C e r m i so n e ( di e d and Bartholom ew M ontagu
ana ( l ‘ '

all thr ee p ro fess or s at Pad ua but w e must ,

confin e ours e lv e s to o n e or two e xam p l es from th e fir s t and

“
la s t nam ed author s A ty p ical con s iliu m b egin s w it h a
.

bri ef d e scri p tion o f t h e p ati ent h i s t e m p e ram e nt and h i s

, ,

di s eas e ; it th e n s ugges t s w hat m ay be th e caus e s of thi s ,

and warn s him of t h e dange rs h e in cur s i f h e do es not follow

.

t h e advic e giv e n un d e r t h e h eads of r egim e n di e t and drugs , ,

r es p e ct iv ely .

G entili s lays by far t h e gr eat es t s tr es s on t h e last H er e .

” “
i s his consili um fo r o n e gon e mad through exc es s o f j oy .

( I ) M ak e a s yru p o f d e coction o f borag e buglos s e ndiv e

, , ,

dodd e r and s enna l eav e s in s ugar and wat e r D o s e 2 to 3 oz . .

2 20 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

may b e ha s t en ed by p lunging his feet s udd e n ly in cold wat er .

A ft e r thi s l et him anoint h i s b e lly w ith o ne of t h e following

oint m e nt s ( a long l ist o f in gr e di e nt s in cluding quin c e and
coriand er in which h e s eem s to hav e gre at faith )
,
Th en .

com es a vari ety of int e rn al m edi cin es s yru p o f barb e rri e s , ,

p epp e rmint et c and fin ally advic e as to food w hi ch should

, .
, ,

b e light and e a s ily diges t e d s u ch as chi ck en s young p igeon s , ,

and t h e l ik e T h e oth er in con v eni enc e s t h e un fort unat e

.

abbot must ex p e ct ar e diarrh oea h e adach e thirst s l eep l es s , , ,

n e s s exhau s tion w ant of a pp etit e and lo ss o f fl es h for e ach

, , , ,

o f whi ch a p p ro p riat e advi c e i s giv e n .

N OT E .

Th e t
ili ng b od i es i s m en ti o n ed b y G i b b on (c ap
c u s o m of bo an d .

m ore fu lly b y H a e s er i 7 3 6 A c o n t em p or ar y w r it e r t e ll s t h e f ll o w i n g
, . . o

s t o y of t h p l agu e i n B arb aro ss a s arm y : “ A c er t ai n m an w as b o ili n g

r e
’

h i s br o t h er w h e n a fr i e n d s e n t t o b o r r o w t h e c au l d ro n fo r a s i m il ar
,

p u r p o e b ut h e re p li e d t h at h e c o u l d n ot p ar e it for aft e r c o oki ng h i s

s , S ,

b ro t h e r h e S h ou l d w an t t o b e c o o k ed i n it h i m s el f ; w h i c h w as al s o
’

do ne H e nry o f S al z b u g i n M i gu e s P at ol ogi a vo l c x c v i p 1 549

’
r , r ,
. .
,
. .

M u n d i n u s A natom i a M a rb u r g 1 54 1
, G u y o f C h au li ac t e l l s u
, ,
. s

M o n d i n o o f B o l o gn a w h o w ro t e o n an at o my an d p r ac ti s e d it o ft e n
, ,

a n d m y m a s t er B e r tr uc i u ac t d t h u s : Th e b o d y b e i n g p l a c e d o n a
,
s, e

t ab l e h e m ad e fo ur l ec t ures ov er it I n t h e fi r s t t h e n ut r iti e o rgans . v

w e re c o n s i d e re d fo r t h e y are m o s t c o r r up ti b l e i n t h e s ec o n d t h e
, ,

S p i rit ua l m e m b er s l un gs h e art ) i n th e t h i rd t h e an i m at e m e m b ers , ,

( b ra i n et c ) an d i n t h e fo u t h t h xt re m iti es ( q uo t e d by B u rggr aev e ”

, . r e e ,

P ré i l H i stoi r e d e l A natom i e G h e n t I n th e e d iti o n s w it h

’
c s u s r , ,

w h i c h I a m ac q ua i n t ed G uy ( Ch i r u g i a i I ) m en ti o n s B e r t r u c i us o n ly
, r , .
,

E t i p s am (an at o m i am ) ad m i n i s t rav it m u l t o t i es m ag i s t er m eu s B r t r u e

c i us i n h un c m o d u m ; c o l l o c a t o c or p o re m o r tu o i n s c a m n o e t c b ut , .

d o u b tl e ss h i m a s t er M o nd i n o prac ti s e d i n t h e s am e w ay
s , G e ntil i s ,
.

F ul gi n u s Cons i l i a V e n i c e 1 50 3 ; B art h M o n t agn a n a Cons i l i a M d i ca

e , , , .
,
e ,

V en i c e 4 9 7 T h e o p i n i o n o f h o no urab l e p r ac titi o n ers o f al l ages a s t o

, 1 .

t h e giv i n g o f m e d i c a l a dv i c e by l e tt m a y b e e x pres s e d i n t h e l an gu age er

o f H n ry o f M o n d ev ill e : I t i s n o t s afe n o r i n ac c o r d an c e w it h t h e ar t
“
e , ,

o r w it h a r i gh t c o n s c i e n c e f r a s urgeo n t o g i ve c ura tiv e a d v i c e i n , o

s er i o u s c a s e s t o p ati e n t s w h o m h e h as n o t s ee n ; b ut h e m a
y i f h e h as ,

l egiti m at e ex c us e g ive p alli a ti e c o u ns e l,

v
 M I LI TA RY M E D I C I N E . 22 1

XXX I X .
—M E D I ZE VA L M I L I TA RY M E D I C I N E .

S U R G E RY , and i nd eed t h e whol e art of h ealing ow es mu c h ,

to war t hat gr e at e st of vivi s e ctors an d th is alon e would

, ,

j u stify o ur t urnin g a si d e from ti m e to ti m e to c on s id e r mili

t ary m e di cin e Ta c it u s t e l ls us that t h e an ci ent G e rman s
.

b etoo k t h e ms elv es aft er a fi ght to th eir moth ers and wiv e s ,

who did not h esitat e to c o unt and examin e t h eir wounds .

Th ey doubt l ess also em p loy e d som e m od e of t r e at m ent

tho ugh t h e t e m pt ing e m en dation of exsugere—
, , ,

to su c k out
for exi gere i s not a cc ep t ed by scholars I n t h e L ay of N i be .

l ungs more r e gula r p ra c t it ion ers mak e t h eir a pp e aranc e fo r ,

w e h e ar t h at t h os e skill ed in l ee ch c ra ft w e re offe r e d s ilv e r

wit hout w eight an d bright go ld for h e aling t h e h ero e s aft e r
”
t h e batt l e b ut t his w as n ot t il l t h ey h ad r et urn e d hom e
,

from t h e ex p edition S om e id e a of t h e act ual p ractic e on

.

t h e fi e l d m ay p erha p s b e gat h er e d from an int e r estin g

, ,

p a s s ag e i n t h e c o m p anion p o e m Gudr un th e G erman , ,

Ody ssey .H er e t h e old wa rrior Wat e offi c i at es as army , ,

surge on “ for h e h ad l earn e d l ee chcraft fro m a wild woman

, ,

so h e firs t d ress e s hi s own wound s and th en t aking an h er b , ,

of marv e l lo u s p ow er an d a p last e r whi c h h e carri e d abou t

,

with hi m in a box h e binds up t hos e of his com rad es ; and

,

so m any did h e cu r e says t h e p o et that had h e b een in a, , ,

“
large arm y it wo uld hav e t ak en c a mel s to c arry t h e gi ft s
,
”
h e wo u ld hav e got .

T h e m il it ary su rg ery o f t h e N orth ern nation s i s clos e ly

sim il ar . Wh en St O laf w as slain in S ti c k l es t ad fight
.
,

A ugust 1 0 3 0 T h or m od t h e skald was struc k by an arrow in

, ,

t h e l e ft s id e an d re t ire d t o a b arn wh er e h e found wom e n

, ,

t e n ding t h e wo und e d On e of th e m was boil ing l ee ks in a .

o t and giving t h e brot h t o h e r p ati ent s to s ee wh e th e r t h e

p ,

wound s h ad r e a c h ed t h e b e lly for t h en th ey would sm e ll of ,

l ee ks S h e ask e d T h or m od w h y h e did n ot get s om e o n e t o

.

look t o h i s h urt b ut h e an s w e re d that h e was not hand s om e

,

en o ugh for wo m e n t o c ar e for h im and h ad no p r es e nt s t o ,

giv e Th en sh e took a p air of t o ngs and had a p ull at th e

.
2 22 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

arro w but fail e d to e xtract it

, C u t o pen t h e wound said .
,

“
T h or m o d till you can get a good hold and t h e n l et m e
—
, ,

p ul l. S o h e got out t h e iron w ith bit s o f fl es h red and ,

whit e —s ticking to t h e barb s T h e king h as fed u s w e ll ,

I am fat to t h e h eart roots obs erv ed t h e h e ro and with that , ,

h e di ed Thirt een y e ar s l at e r King M agn u s t h e Good of

.
, ,

N orway and D enmark d efe at e d a gr e at army o f W e nd s n ear ,

S l es w i g in o n e o f t h e bloodi est batt l es e v e r fought in t h e

,

N orth H e was conc ern ed to find that th e re w er e not e nough

.

s ur g e on s t o look a ft e r t h e w ound e d so h e ap p oint ed thos e ,

o f his soldi ers w h o had t h e so ft e st hand s to t his o ffic e and ,

tho ugh t h ey k n ew not hing o f t h e h e al ing art th ey al l b e cam e ,

p erfe ct l ee ch es doubtl ess by t h e aid of t h e king s fath er and

’

p atron S t O la f who had w rought m any h e aling miracl e s

,
.
, ,

both b efore and a ft er h i s d e at h Th e i r s kill w as inh erit ed .

by t h eir d e s c endant s o n e o f whom Ra fn S vei n bj or n so n , , ,

s ucc es sfully pe r form ed th e o p eration o f l ithotomy in t h e

I sland of I c e land about 1 1 80 A D in t h e p r ese n c e o f a large . .
,

com p any e ach of whom h ad jfi’ ev i ous l y r ep eat ed fi ve Pat er

,

no s t er s B ut h e had trav e ll e d far in h i s youth e v e n to I taly

.
, ,

and p robably o w e d h i s s kil l l e s s t o S t O l a f than to S al erno . .

H i s grand s on Ra fn O d d s o n again a p p e ar s as an army s ur

, ,

g e on fo r h e w ent wit h K ing E rik th e p ri est hat e r o f N or

, ,
-
,

w ay o u h i s e x p e dition t o D en m ark
, and w hil e t ending
t h e wound e d w as s truck by t hr ee arrows in t h e back t h e , ,

arm and t h e fin g e r t h e l ast of w hich ca u s ed h i s d eath

, , .

T hu s in t h e earl i es t middl e ag es w e find t h e w ound ed soldi e r

, ,

l ook e d a ft e r fir s t by wom e n or by thos e of h i s comrad es who ,

p o ss es se d s om e s urgical s kill and a ft e rward s by p ro fes sed ,

s urg e on s p r es e nt eith e r as form ing

, p art o f t h e g en eral l evy ,

or att ach e d to t h e king s pe r s on or who h ad j oin ed t h e army ’

fo r t h e s a k e o f t h e p ractic e and p re s ent s th ey could p ick u p .

S arac e n armi es as w e hav e s een w er e e v en accom p ani ed

, ,

by a p oth e cari es and S al adin h ad a m e dical s ta ff of fi ft een

,

p hy s icians whos e s ervic es can hardly hav e b ee n confin e d to

,

hi s own hous ehold I n t h e s ixth book of t h e L i ber A l man .

sor i s Rhaz es giv e s a short cha t e r on t h e hygi en e of cam s

p p ,
2 24 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

“
l und e r and th e ir p art of t h e u s ual bounty oi z 1 00
p , ,
.
,

mark s 1 3 s 4 d ) p er q ua rt e r for ev e ry thirty m e n during

. .

t h e actual cam p aign I f th ey got all this t h ey w e r e w e ll

.

p aid ind ee d but on ly o n e r e c ei p t h as com e down to u s in

, ,

w hi ch C o l n et ackn owl edg e s t h e p aym e nt o f £8 6 5 8d as . .

hal f quart er s s alary fo r him s e l f and h i s arch e rs Anoth er

-
’
.

s urg e on William B r e d ew ar dy n s ee m s t o hav e b een aft er

, ,

wards associat e d with M or s t ed e and th ey w e r e allow e d two ,

waggon s and a chari ot fo r th e ir baggage .

Fi e ld hos p ital s and amb ulan c es on a large scal e a pp ear

only at t h e v ery c lo se of th e m edi aeval e p och and t h e cr edit ,

o f introdu cin g th e m s e e m s to b e long to t hat nobl es t of

qu een s I s ab e lla t h e C athol ic S p e a king o f t h e s i e g e of
,
.

Alora t h e S p ani sh hi storian H e rnando d el Pulgar , ,

w rit e s : For t h e car e of th e sick and wound ed t h e qu een

s e nt alway s to t h e cam p s i x larg e t e nt s and th e ir furnitur e ,

togeth er w ith p hy s ician s s urg e on s m e dicin es and att e ndant s

, , ,

and command ed that th e y s hould C harge nothin g for s h e ,

w ould p ay fo r all Th es e t ent s w e r e cal l e d t h e Q u een s ’

.

H o s p ital O n t h e s urr end e r o f M alaga 1 4 87 t h e S p ani s h

.
, ,

army on i t s e ntry w as fol lowe d by t h e Q u ee n s H o s p ital

, ,
’

i n 40 0 waggon s amb ulancia s , At t h e s i ege of Granada ,

t w o y ear s l at er an ey e w itn es s P e t e r M artyr wro t e to

,
-
, ,

“
t h e Archbi s ho p o f M ilan as follo w s Fo ur h uge ho s p ital :

t e nt s t h e car eful p rovi s ion o f qu ee nly p i ety ar e a s ight

, ,

worth s eeing Th e y ar e int end e d not only for th e wound ed

.
,

but for tho s e labouring und e r any di s e a se T h e p hy s ician s .

,

a p oth e cari e s s urg eon s and ot h e r att e ndant s are as n um e rou s

, , ,

t h e ord er dil ige nc e and s u p p ly o f al l thing s n ee d ful as

,

com p l e t e as in your sub urban I nfirmary of t h e H oly S p irit ,

or t h e gr e at M ilan H os p ital it s e l f E ve ry s ickn ess and .

casualty i s m et and p rovid e d for by t h e royal bounty e xc ept ,

”
( Regia i m p en sa
’
wh e r e N at ur e s a p p oint e d day i s at hand .

q u i d q u i d l an g u o r i s q u i d q u i d ac c i d en t i s em er gi t n i s tat us
, ,

c ui q u e a nat ura di es ad s it ab s c i n d i t u r ) T h e q u e en h ers elf .

fr equ ently vi s it ed t h e wound ed and wh en h er co urti e rs ,

hint ed that this w as contrary to C a s tilian e tiqu ett e s h e is ,

 T H E M ED E I VA L PH YS I C I A N . 225

said to hav e r ep l i e d : L et m e go t o t h e m for th ey hav e n o ,

mot h e r s h e r e and it wil l soot h e t h em in th e ir p ain and

,

w eakn e ss to find t hat t h ey ar e not un car e d for W e l l m ay

t h e ad mi rin g chron ic l e r add : S ur e ly t hi s qu een d e s erv e d
as m u ch as t ho s e an ci e nt G r eek and Rom an p rin c e ss es th at
fam ous t it l e M at er c as tror u m
,

NO TE .

Ger rna n i a, 8 N i bel ungenl i ed , i v 2 55

. Gud r un , 53 6 ff Th e v iii . .

t i
s or e s of Th orm od an d M agn us ar e fro m i t h e H ei ms kr i ngl a ( L a n g s
’

t ran s l ati on) F or Rafn s e e F aye Rafn

.
, S vei n bj or nsen s l i v 0g Vi r ksomed ,
’

C h r i s ti ani a 1 87 8 an d H u s em a nn s rev i ew o f t h i s w or k i n Roh lf s A r ch i v

’ ’

, , ,

1 880 . A very fu ll ac c o un t of e ar ly E n gli s h m il it ary m e d i c i n e i s give n by

S m art B , . 1 87 3 v o l i T h e a gree m en t s w it h Go l met an d M or s t ed e
, . . .

m ay b e fo u n d i n Ry m er s F e d er a 2 9 t h Ap ril 1 4 1 5 et c
’
, , , .

T h e r e l ati ve r an k o f m il it ar y s u r ge o n as es ti m at e d b y t h e i r s a l a r i e s s

m ay be m a d e c l eare r b y t h e fo l l o w i n g ac c o u n t o f t h e p ay r ec e iv e d by
t h E n g li s h ar m y i n F r an c e i n 1 3 4 7 :
e P r i n c e o f W a l es o n e p o un d a ,

d ay ; B i s h o p o f D urh a m a n d 1 3 e ar l s s i x s h il li n gs a n d e i gh t p e n c e e ac h ;
,

1 0 4 6 k n i gh t s t w o s h il l i n gs ; 4 1 3 2 es q ui re s o n e s h ill i n g ; 51 0 4 m o u n t e d
, ,

a rc h e rs s ix e n c e ;
, p 4 3 7 4 W el s h m en fo ur p e n c e arc h e rs o n fo o t
, ,

t h reepe n c e ( M e y n er t Geschi ch te d es K r i egswesens)

,
.

Pe d r o B o s c a i n h i s O r a ti o n h e l d at Ro m e I s t N ove m b e r 1 4 87
, , , ,

b e fo re t h e s a c re d s e n a t e o f c ard i n a l s i n c e l ebrati on o f t h e g l o r i ou s i c
,
v - l

t o r y ga i n e d at M a l a ga b y t h e m os t s er e n e an d C at h o li c pr i n c es of S p ai n ,

F erd i n an d a n d H el i s a b et ( si c) s a ys t h e Qu een s H o s p it a l c om pr i s ed
,
’

n e ar ly 4 0 0 w aggo n s w it h aw n i n gs ( aper ti um br ac ul i s) a n d t h e w o u n d e d ,

w ere n u r s ed n o t by t h e h i gh ly i m p ro p er p er s o n s w h o u s u ally fo l l ow
arm i es bu t b y h o n e st i s s i m i s et p r o b at i s s i m i s m at r o n i s h u i c m u mer i
“
,

se rv i en t i b u s e t m i n i s tr a n t i b u s ( Or a ti o Rome h a bi ta , et c .
,
Ro m e,
O n t h e ge n er a s u b l j ec t s ee F r h li c h
o , Ueber d i e A nf a nge d er M i li td r
med i ci n i m M i ttel al ter an d Gesch i ch tl i ch es i i ber d i e M i l i ta r med i ci n d er
D eutsch en i n Rohlfs A r ch i v ,
’
1 880 , 1 8 82 r e s p ec ti ve ly .

XL .
—T H E M E D U E VA L P HYSI CIAN .

W H E N King G ram w e nt in di s gui s e to a w e dding for t h e

ur os e of carrying o ff t h e brid e h e dr e ss e d in t h e dirti e st
p p ,

I S
2 26 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

rags h e could find sat among t h e lowe st m enials in t h e hall

, ,

and call e d hi m s el f a physi cian 1 Thi s i s a sad cont ra s t to t h e

.

c url e d and sc ent e d dandi es o f t h e days of Aristo p han e s but ,

it i s only one of many sign s o f t h e low so c ial s t at e o f t h e

p ro fes s ion during t h e early m iddl e age s N o r are t h e caus es .

for thi s d e clin e hard to discov e r Wh en t h e C hri s tian .

E m p e rors Val en s and Val entinian hand ed ove r t h e p agan

, ,

“ ”
O riba s iu s to t h e most s avage o f t h e barbarian s in t h e ,

p iou s ho p e t hat h e woul d b e com e a targ et for th e ir arrows ,

t h ey w e r e di s a ppoint ed to h ear that his m edical s kill had

2
rais ed him to th e ran k of a chi ef B ut t h e p hysician s of t h e .

W es t could com pare n eit h e r socially nor p rofessionally with

O ribasiu s ; th ey stil l b elonge d larg ely to t h e s ervil e cla s s ,

a nd th e ir skil l wh eth e r in m e dicin e or surge ry was not

, ,

s u ffici e nt to im p r e ss t h e rud e conqu e rors who look ed u p on ,

t h e free born Romans th e m se lv es a s l ittl e b ett e r than S lav es

-
.

M e dicin e was ind eed sav ed from ent ir e d egradation by its

, ,

c onn e ction with t h e C hurch w hi ch did so much to s o ft en,

t h e horrors of t h e barbarian con qu e st ; but t h e su s p icion with

which its practition ers w er e r egard e d is v e ry c l early shown
by t h e l aws p ass ed c on c e rnin g t h em as in t h e fol lowing ,

e xam p l e s from t h e Visigothic cod e .

“
N o m edicus shall bl ee d a free woman exc e p t in th e
‘ ’

p res e nc e o f a rel ativ e or in ca s e of n ec e ssity of a res p e ctabl e

, , ,

n e ighbour or s ervant on p ain of a fi n e of t en s olidi

, No .

‘
m e di cus shall visit a p ri s on e r unl ess accom pani e d by an
’

o fficial for h e may brin g hi m a poison and so d efeat th e

, ,

e nd s o f j u s ti c e . B efor e und e rtaking a c as e h e s hall ent er

” “
into a contra c t and giv e p l edge s If a physician inj ur es
.

a fr ee man by bl ee ding l e t him p ay a h undr e d solidi ; but if

,

t h e p ati e nt d i e s l et him b e hand e d ov e r to h is re latives to tr eat

,

as th ey p l e as e I f a sl av e i s inj ur ed or kil l e d t h e p hy s ician

.
,
” 3
shall rep l a c e h i m by on e of eq ual val u e This la s t law is .

e s p e cially i m portant ; it r e a pp e ars in

y et st rong e r t e rm s in
l at e r cod e s and was doubtl e ss frequ ently p ut in forc e and
, ,

s om etim e s ev en ex c eed ed T h e p lagu e which ravaged

.

F ran c e in t h e sixth c e nt ury atta c k ed a m on g oth ers , ,

228 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

most famous o p e rators of t h e age H ugh o f L ucca and , ,

Roland of Parma T ho s e intrep id s urgeon s h avin g obtain e d

.
,

p e rmi s s ion o f t h e bi s ho p and tak e n an oat h from t hirty of

,

t h e p ati ent s fri e nd s that no harm s hould ha pp e n to th e m

’
,

boldly exci s ed t h e p rotrud ed l ung and app li ed a con s ol idat ive

p owd e r . Th e p ati en t r e cov e r ed and w ent on a p ilgrimage ,

to J e ru s al e m 7 .

T h e clos e re lation of m e di e val m edicin e t o t h e C hurch

h a s alr eady b een notic ed but w e m u s t r em e mb er that th er e
,

w as alway s a distinct C la s s o f lay p ra ct ition er s and that t h e ,

“ ”
p ri e stly doctor w as u s ual ly look ed u p on with di s favour
by h i s e ccl es ia s t ical s u p e rior s I n t h e N es torian s chools .

t h e s t ud e nt s of divinity w e r e as w e hav e s ee n forbidd e n to

, ,

follo w t h e p hysi cian s and s imil ar effort s w e r e m ad e to ch e ck

,

t h e p ract ic e o f m e dicin e by t h e C at holi c C l e rgy es p e cial ly in ,

t h e e l ev ent h and tw e l fth c e nt uri es T h e s ixth canon o f t h e .

C oun cil o f Rh e im s 1 1 3 1 d e clar es that , ,an e vil and d et est

abl e c ustom h as aris en that mon ks and r egular cl e rgy ,

d es p i s ing t h e rul es o f t h e bl es se d B e n e dict and Augustin e ,

”
p ractis e l aw and m edicin e for w orldly p rofit L aw i s bad .

enough and tho s e ra s h m e n who occ u p y th em s e lv e s th ere

,

wit h ar e to b e se v e r ely cha s t i se d B ut m edi cin e i s wors e ; .

nor i s mon e y making i t s only obj ect ion

-
C um qu e i mpudi cus
ocul us i mpudi ci cor di s si t nunti us i l l a d e qui bus l ogui er u bui t
,

h onestas n on d ebet r el i g i o per tr ectar e Wh er efor e by ap o s tolic .

,

a uthority w e forbid t h e contin uanc e of t hi s p ractic e and l et

, ,

t h e bi s ho p s abbot s and p rior s who conniv e at s uch an

, ,

” 8
e normity b e d e grad e d and excomm unicat e Thi s canon .

w as r ep eat e d by t h e s e cond g e n eral L at e ran C oun cil 1 1 3 9 , ,

and again at M ont p elli er in 1 1 62 wh en it was a pp l i e d to all ,

r e ligiosi T h e fourth L at e ran C ouncil 1 2 1 5 forbad e all , ,

s ubd e acon s d eacon s and p ri es ts to p ract i s e that p art of

, ,

s urg e ry which h as to do wit h burn ing and c utting ; and ,

finally Po pe H onoriu s I I I p rohibit e d all p e rson s in holy

, .

ord e r s from p racti s ing m e dicin e in any form T h e numb er .

of t h e s e d e cr e es indi cat es t h e ir want of e ffe ct D ist ingui s h ed .

cl e rica l s urgeon s as for instanc e Th eodoric and G uy of

, , ,
 T H E D OC T O R S V I SI T’
. 2 29

C h aul i ac , cont in u e d burnin g and c utt ing in e ntir e di s r e gard ,

of t h e oft q uot e d eccl esi a abh or r et a sangui ne and t h e fin al

-
,

s ep arat ion of m e di cin e from t h e C h urch w as p robably due

to m or e gen e ral c a us e s su ch as th e in c r ea sing c om p l exity
,

of th e art t h e ris e of t h e gre at s e cu lar univ er s it i e s S al e rno

, , ,

M ont p e ll i er Padua and Bologna and e s pe cial ly to t h e fact

, , ,

t hat t h e r ecogn is ed m edi c al t ext books w e r e tran s l at ion s -

fro m t h e works of m i s b e li eving M osl e m whos e c h i ef C h ri s ,

t ian ex p on ent s h ad b ee n c onvi c t ed of n u m erous and d eadly

h er esi e s .

T h e m ost l iv ely p i c t u r e of t h e m edi e val p hysician i s

gi v en i n a tw elft h c e nt ury t r eat is e e ntitl e d D e A d ven tu
'

M edi ci or , Th e D o ctor s Visit ”

and attrib ut ed to A r c h i
’

m atth ae u s on e of t h e S al e rnitan m ast e rs Th e followin g i s

, .

a cond e n s ed ab stra c t of thi s work wh i c h in s pit e of its , ,

q uaint p i ety cont ain s so m u ch of t h e wi sdo m o f t h e s er p ent

,

t h at it c om p are s som ewh at unfavourably wit h an alogo us

“
p assag e s by p agan p hysi c ian s Wh e n c all e d to a p ati ent
.

c o m m en d yours elf to God and t o t h e ang e l who guid e d

Tobia s On t h e way l e arn as m u c h a s p os s ibl e from t h e
.

m ess e nge r so t hat i f you discov er noth in g from th e p at i ent s

,
’

p uls e or wat e r you m ay stil l aston ish him an d gain hi s c on

,

fi d en c e by you r knowl e dg e of t h e ca s e O n arrival ask t h e .

fri end s wh eth e r t h e p ati ent has confe ss e d for if you bi d h i m ,

do so aft e r t h e examin ation it will fright en h im Th en sit .

down t ak e a d rin k an d p rais e t h e b e auty o f t h e country

, ,

and t h e hou s e if t h ey d e s erv e it or e xtol t h e l ib eral ity of

, ,

t h e fam ily N ext p roc ee d to feel h i s p ul s e r em emb ering

.
,

t hat it m ay be affec t e d by your arrival or t h e p at i e nt b e in g , ,

a m is e r by hi s th in king of t h e fee D o not b e in a hurry

,
.

to giv e an Op inion for t h e fri ends wi ll be mor e grat eful fo r

,

you r j udgm e nt if th ey h av e to wait fo r it T e l l t h e p at i ent .

you wil l c u r e h i m with God s h el p but inform his fri ends

,
’

th at t h e c as e i s a m o s t s e riou s o n e L ook n ot d es iro usly .

on t h e m an s wife d au ght e r or handmaid for t his b lind s

’

, , ,

t h e e y e s of t h e p hysi cian d ep riv e s him of t h e divin e assi st

,
’
an c e and dist urbs t h e p at i e nt s mind
,
I f accordin g t o .
,
2 30 M E D I C A L H I ST O R Y .

c usto m you are ask e d t o dinn e r do not hast en to t ak e t h e

, ,

first pl a c e unl ess as i s u s ual fo r t h e p ri est and t h e physician

, , ,

it i s o ffer ed to you Oft en s e nd to in quire how t h e pati ent

.

i s t hat h e may see you do not n e gl e ct him for t h e p l easures

,

of t h e tabl e and on l eaving ex p r ess yo ur th an ks for th e

, ,

”
att ention shown you for t hi s wil l p l e as e him m uch ,
Th en .

com e dir ec tion s for t r eatm ent in sim p l e c as e s and finally ,

“
t h e im p ortant qu e stion o f t h e fee Wh en t h e p ati ent is .

n early well addres s t h e h e ad o f t h e fam ily or th e S ick man s

, ,
’

n e arest r elativ e th u s : God Al mighty having d eign ed by

,
‘

our aid to r estore him whom you a s ke d us to visit w e pray ,

that H e wil l maintain h i s h e alth and that you will now ,

giv e us an honourabl e di s m i s s al S ho uld any oth er m emb er .

o f y o ur family d es ire our aid

. w e should in grat eful r e , ,

m em br an c e o f our form e r d eal ing s wit h you l e av e all el s e ,

”9
and h urry to s erv e him Anoth e r S al er n itan suggests a .
’

t erribl e v engeanc e whic h may b e infli ct ed o n a non paying

“
p ati ent C ontriv e that h e shal l t ak e al u m inst ead of salt
.

with his m eat ; t his will not fail to m ak e him com e out all
”
ov er s pots .

Th e abov e tr eatis e w as a ft erward s d ev elo p ed int o a r egul ar

q uack s hand book und e r t h e tit l e D e Cautel i s M edi ci ( H ints
’
-

for D o c tors ) fal s e ly attribut e d to Arn ald of Vill anova 10 It

, .

contain s t h e fol lowin g amu s in g advic e S u pp os e you know

n othing say th er e i s an obstruct ion of t h e l iv er
, P erhaps .

h e wil l r ep ly : N ay mast e r it is my h e ad or l egs ( or oth er

, ,

m emb ers) that t roubl e m e Repeat t hat it c om es from th e

l iv er or stomach and e s p e cially u se t h e word obstru c tion for
, ,
”
p ati ents do not und er s tand it which is v ery im p ortant , .

W h en you go to a pat i ent alway s try and do so mething ,

n ew ev ery day l est th ey s a

y you ar e good at nothing but
,
”
book s . If you un fortunat e ly vi s it a pat i ent and find
him d ead and th ey ask why you ar e com e say you kn ew
, ,

h e would di e that night but want to know at what hour h e ,

”
di ed .

Towards th e c los e o f t h e fi ft e enth c e nt ury anoth er ,

book of H i nts for D octor s ( C aut el ae M ed i c orum) was writt en

 232 M ED C I AL H I ST O RY .

N OT ES .

1
Sa xo G r am m at i c us , i .
9 .

E u n a p i us i n Vi ta Or i basi i .

C an c i an i , L eges B a r bar or um, v 1 80

3 Th e aw s o f t h e C h r s i . . l i ti a n
i
k n g d o m o f J e r u s a e m w er e s l
s ev er e r b o h aga n s regu ar a nd til l t i t l ir
“
r e u ar
g l
r
p ac r
o ne s h s i s h ow titi
t h e a e l tt
r w e r e d
.
e a w h T i
: Et it se l lt
a v i e n C h e a l c u n m e d i c o m e d i c ar a i n l a c it a s e n a l i c e n t i a d e l a c ort e et z

d e l V e s c o o l a c o r t e d eve pre n d er l o et far l o fr u s t ar p er l a t err a d e j ure

v , ,

p er l a ss i a d e l Re a m e d e H i e r u s al e m ( op ci t ii
’
et s . .
,
.

H i st F r anc v i 3 6
.
, .

M agn u s , D er A ugena r z tl i che S tand i n S ei ner Gesch i ch tl i ch en E ntwi cke

5

l ung, Rohlfs A r ch i e , 1 87 8
’
.

6
H ero n y m u s B ru n s c h w i g, H and wer k der Wund ar z tnei , S t r as s b ur g,
1 t rac t ii
49 7 , . .

R o l and s ay s h e w as t h e o p er at o r b ut T h eo d or i c d ec l ares t h at h i s
7
,

m as t e r H ugh o f L u c c a a tt e n d e d t h e p ati e n t w h il e Ro l an d m er ely

, ,

l o oked o n T h e re w as d o ub tl es s m u c h j e al o u s y b e t w een t h e r ival

.

sc h o o l s o f S a l er n o a n d B o l o gn a .

9
S acr or um Conci l i ar am Col l ecti o , s ub anno .

Th e i th
n n l er m on t ( 1 1 3 0 ) i s t o t h e s ame
c an o n o f t h e C o un c il of C
e ffe c t Th e p r o h i b iti o n w as p r o b ab ly s ugges t e d b y St B er n ar d w h o s e
. .
,

i nfl ue n c e w as t h e n very gr e at an d w h o s e a tt e n ti o n w a s p erh aps , , ,

d i r e c t e d t o t h e m a tt e r by t h e fo l l o w i n g c a s e A m o n k B e n e d i c t fl ed .
, ,

fro m Fl av i gn y t o C l a i rvaux w h r e h e w a s s h e lt ere d by S t B ern ar d , e . .

W h e n t h e ab b o t o f Fl av i gn y d e m an d e d h i s s ur re n d er t h e s a i n t rep li ed ,

“
W e t oo k h i m i n b e c aus e h e s ai d y o u h a d u s ed h i m n ot as a m o nk
b u t as a m e d i c i n er an d h ad c o m p e ll ed h i m t o t r e at ty ran t s ob b er s
, ,
r ,

a n d e x c o mm u n i c a t e p er s o n s t o t h e p er il of h i s s o u l s o h e h ad fl e d fr om ,

h i s o w n d a m na ti o n T h e abb o t r e p li ed t h a t t h e s a i d B e n e d i c t h ad
n o t b e e n c o m p e l l e d t o p ra c ti s e m e d i c i n e b ut h ad pe r s i s t e d i n d o i n
g so ,

“
t h r o ugh l ove of l uc re a n d a vaga b o n d li fe b ut St B ernard refus ed to ,
"
.

g ive h i m u p ( s ee Ep 67 M i gn e s e d iti o n )
’
. .
,

An o t h e r r ea s o n fo r t h e p r o h i b iti o n w as t h at it w as c o n s i d e r e d i m
p r o per t h a t a p r i es t s h o u l d eve n a pp ear t o b e t h e i nn o c e n t c au s e o f
d e at h o r d a n ger t o h i s n e i gh b o ur s A s ub d e ac o n h ad b efo re h i s or d i na .
,

ti o n ac c i d en t a lly w o un d e d a b o y T h e w o un d h a l e d b ut b r o ke out
, . e ,

aga i n a y e ar aft er w ard s a n d t h r o ugh t h e c are l es s n e ss of p h ys i c i an s

“
,

t h e b o y d i ed P o p e C l em e n t I I I ( 1 1 88 9 1 ) d ec i d ed t h at t h e s u bd eac o n
. .
-

m i gh t ret a i n h i s ofli c e b ut w a s n o t t o b e ad m itt e d t o t h e pr i es t h o o d

, ,
“
q u i a oc c as i o n e m m or ti ej us de m pu e i d edi s s e v i d et ur Th e s am e r

P o p e w rit es a s fo ll ow s t o a c ert a i n R c an o n o f C o l o n e :
g
“
W e h e ar ,

t h at y o u ar e s kill e d i n p h y s i c an d h ave g iven m ed i c i n es to m an y ac , ,

c o rd i n g t o t h e t rad iti o n s o f t h at a r t w it h d ue c are Ye t t h e res u lt h as , .

 THE P R O F E SS I O N IN T H E M D D LE I A GE S . 233

t ti m es b ee n c o n t r ar y t o yo ur e x pec t ati on and m an y per s o n s aft er

o f en
,

t aki n g y our r em e d i e s h ave c o m e i n p er il o f d e a t h S i n c e t h e refor e .

, ,

y o u n o w w i s h t o t ak e h o ly o rd e rs an d a s k o ur a dv i c e t h er eo n w e re p ly , ,

b r i efly t h at i f y o ur c o n s c i e n c e r e p ro ac h e s
, y o u i n an y w ay w h at s oever
w it h r e gar d t o t h es e m a tt ers y o u w ill n o t b o ur a dv i c e t a ke h i gh er
y , , ,
”
o rd ers . C a no n R w as t h ere fo r e n o t i n h o ly o r d e rs a n d t h i s s ee m s
, , ,

t o h av e b ee n th e c a s e w it h m o s t m e d i e v a l m e d i c a l “ c l e rk s w h o s om e ,

ti mes t o o k w h at w e re c a ll e d m i n o r or d ers t o e n ab l e t h ei r r o yal or

p r i n c e ly p at ro n s t o re c o m p e n s e t h e i r s erv i c es c h e a p ly by s o m e ec c l es i
as t i c a l s i n e c u r e J affe D e A te M ed i ca S e cu l i xii B er li n 1 8 53
.
, r , .
, ,
.

o ve rs i o n s o f t h e D e A d oen ta M ed i c i i n p ro s e a n d ver s e a r e
9 Tw

p u b li s h e d i n t h e Col l ecti o S aler ni tana an d a t h i r d m ay b e fo u n d i n t h e

,

B e n e d i c ti n e H i s toi re L i tter a i r e d e l a F r ance

’

1°
P u b li s h e d i n A r n al d s Oper a
’
.

‘1
I n P an t h al e o n d e C o n fl u e n t i a P i l ul ar i u m et c Ly o n s 1 52 8
, ,
.
, , .

X LI . T H E M E D I CA L P RO F E SS I O N I N T HE
M I D DLE AG E S .

W H O S O E V E R w il l h e n c eforth p racti s e m e dicin e l et him ,

p r es e nt him s e l f to our o ffi cial s and j udges to b e e xam in ed

by t h e m ; but if h e p r es um e of h i s own t e m erity l et him b e ,

i m p rison e d and al l h i s goods b e sold by auct ion Th e obj ect .

of t his i s t o p r e v e nt t h e subj e ct s o f o ur kingdom incurrin g

p eri l through t h e ignoran c e o f p hysicians .

T h e abov e e dict p rom ul gat e d in 1 1 4 0 by Roge r I I

,
.
,

Kin g of t h e two S i c i l i es i s t h e first known l e gal enactm e nt

,

for t h e r e gul at ion of m e di cal p ractic e in E uro p e Rog e r .

,
”
who w as a gr e at fri e nd of S arac e ni c st udi es had many ,

Arab s at h i s court an d h i s m e dica l l aw was not im p robably

,

co p i e d from t h e r e gu lat ion s lon g in forc e in t h e E a s t H is .

“
grand son t h e E m p e ror Fr e d e ric k H ca ll e d t h e World s
’

.
,
,

Wond er ” was notorio us for his addiction to M o s l e m mann ers

,

and l e arnin g and h i s m e dical e nact m e nt s ar e o f gr eat i n

,

t e res t and i m p ortan c e Th e follo w ing ar e t h e chi ef :

. C on
s i d er i n g t h e h arm which may ar i s e from t h e ignoran c e of

h s i c i a n s w e ord ain t hat no o n e s hall h e nc eforth p racti s e

p y ,
234 M ED C I AL I T O RY
H S .

p hysic unl ess h e b e fir s t p ublicly examin ed by t h e mast ers

at S al e rno , and p res e nt t es timonial s , bot h from t h em and
from tho se app oint e d by u s to ours e lv es or ou r r ep reseri t a
,

“
t iv e and r e c e iv e from us or him lic e nc e to p racti s e
, S inc e
t h e s ci e n c e of m edicin e can n e v e r b e und e rstood without
som e p r eviou s k nowl edg e of logic w e d e cr e e th at non e s hall
,

s t udy m e dici n e unl es s h e hav e s tudi e d logic fo r at l e a s t thr e e

y e ars Th e n l et him l e arn m e dicin e for fi ve y ear s and also

.
,

”
surgery which i s a p art o f m e dicin e
, On re c e iving his
.

l ic enc e h e m ust ta k e oath to att e nd t h e p oor grati s and to ,

d e noun c e any fraud s o f t h e a p oth e cari e s and must still ,

r emain fo r a y e ar und e r t h e s u p e rvi s ion o f s om e old er p ra o

t i t i o n er. H e s hal l vi s it t h e s ick at l e a s t twic e d aily and ,

onc e at n ight i f r e quir ed H e s hall not charg e a p ati ent

,
.

in t h e to w n more t han hal f a t ar en u s or o n e in t h e country,

m or e t han thre e tar eni i f his ex p ens e s ar e p aid or four if

, ,

h e p ay s h i s ow n — a
“
t ar e n u s w as worth about three
“
s hi llings . N o s urg eon s hal l p ra cti s e unt il h e has giv en
evid e nc e to t h e ma s t e r s o f t h e m e dical faculty of having

st udi e d t h at p art o f m e di cin e at l ea s t a y e ar and e s p ecially ,

o f having thoroughly l e arnt human an atomy without w hich ,

n e it h er can inci s ion s b e safe ly mad e nor fractures cur ed

,
.

Th e sal e of p oi s on s w a s s im p ly and effe ct ually r egulat ed

Who s o ev er s hal l hav e or s el l any p oi s on or noxious drug ,

not u s eful or n e c ess ary to h i s art l et hi m be h anged ,

“
Tho s e w h o giv e magi c drink s and lov e p hiltre s i f th ey ,

ca us e bodily harm s hall b e p uni s h e d wit h d eath b ut i f t h e

, ,

r e ci p i e nt i s uninj ur ed th e y shall forfe it al l th eir goods and

,

su ffe r a y e ar s im p ri s onm e nt I nv e stigators of truth and

’
.

nat ure know t hat t h ese art s ar e fooli s h and fabulou s but ,

e v e n t h e int e nt to do evil s ho uld not go un un ish ed

p
” “
We .

"
c on s id e r it our d uty continu es t h e s ci ent ifi c em p e ror
, ,

“
t o p r es e rv e as far as p os s ibl e t h e sal ubrity of t h e air ;
, ,

wh erefor e w e d e cree that no h e m p or fl ax b e p lac ed for

m at uring in wat e r w ithin a mil e of any to w n or cam p for ,

w e hav e l e arnt fo r c e rtain that t h e air i s corru p t e d th e re by ;

l et thos e who do s o forfe it th ei r h e m p or flax and b e brought
236 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

M edi e val s urge on s m ay b e roughly divid e d into thr ee

“ ”
cla ss es : ( 1 ) tho s e of t h e long rob e s uch as L an franc and ,

Guy of C hauliac w h o equall e d t h e p hysician s in l earning

, ,

and u s ually s urp a s se d th e m in p ractical knowl edge ; ( 2 )

t h e bulk o f t h e p ro fession who w e r e clos e ly conn e ct ed w ith
t h e barb e rs and bath k eep e rs ; and ( 3 ) t h e wand ering
-

lithotomi s t s ru pt ur e cure r s and oth e r s p e ciali s t s Th e two

, ,
.

latt er C la s s es w e re much d es p i se d by th e p ur e p hysicians ,

but w e s hall s hortly com e acro s s r ep r es e ntativ es of both ,

who are j ustly famou s in m edi cal hi s tory A d e s cri ption of .

t h e r e l ation s o f th ese se v e ral grad es to o n e an oth e r and of ,

t h e r egulat ion s con c e rning th e m in variou s countri e s w ould ,

far exc ee d t h e s co p e o f th i s cha p t e r and w e n eed only m ention ,

t hat th ey w e r e s om e tim es lic e n s e d by t h e bi s ho p s a p ractic e ,

originating pe rha p s in t h e c u s tom of w hich an e xam p l e h as ,

alr eady b ee n giv e n of obtaining th e ir p ermission b efore

,

p er forming any p e rilou s o p e ration .

T h e r e c e ntly p ubli s h e d w ork o f H enry of M ond evill e

giv e s an int e r es ting account of how cra fty p hy s icians and
s urg e ons att e m p t e d to invad e e ach ot h e r s d e p artm e nt If
’
.

s uch a p hy s ician i s call e d to a

p ati e nt an d finds th at h e h as ,

a s u rg ical dis ea s e h e will s ay : S i r it i s p lain ( pl anum est)

, ,

t hat s urg e on s ar e p roud and p om p ou s y et entir e ly d evoid ,

o f logic and utt erly ignorant or i f th ey know anyt hing th ey

h av e l e arnt it from us p hy s ician s th ey ar e al so rough m en
(fer oces) an d d emand high fees On t h e oth e r hand you
.

are w e ak , s u ffe ring and d e l icat e and hav e h e avy e x p en ses

, , ,

so I advi se you not t o s ee k th e ir co uns el ; and I fr om r e gard ,

to you though I am not a s urge on w il l try to h el p you

, ,

’
without th e m .I f t h e p at i ent r e cov e r s w e ll ; but i f not , ,

th en t h e p hy s ician w i ll s ay : S i r I told you at first that I

‘

w as not a s urge on but fo r t h e s aid re a s on s and b e cause I

,

p iti e d you I did what I d id w e ll and according t o art and

, ,

lo g ic and b e tt e r than any s urg e on God knows B ut I am

, , .

j u s t now occu p i e d in c ert ain busin es s which p r ev ent s m e at

t ending to you as usual so I advi s e you to cal l in a surg e on
,
.

Th e n h e contriv es that a w r etch ed ignorant s urg eon s hall ,

 A CO N S U LTATI O N . 237

be s u mm on e d an d t hat for fou r r eason s

, that h e may
b e un ab l e to di scov er t h e p hysician s m i s t ak es ( 2 ) that t h e
’

p hy s i cian m ay dominat e ov e r him and contin u e surg e on as

,

b efor e ; ( 3 ) t hat i f n e c es sary h e may t hrow t h e blam e of his

e rro rs
p ast and fut ur e on t h e surg eon and ( 4) t hat h e may ,

”
att rib ut e all t h e honour to h im s e l f H enry i m p artially
.

draws a co m p an ion p i ct ure of t h e crafty s urg eon who t el l s ,

h i s m e d ical p ati ent s t hat p hy s i cian s know not hing and do ,

n ot hin g but t al k an d dos e e very o n e indi s criminat e ly with

p urgat iv es which ar e most un suit ed fo r your ca s e et c , .

S u ch ar e t h e cra fty and d ec ep tiv e of both class es b ut t h e r e ,

ar e also sci entific an d e x p e ri e n c e d p ractition e r s w ith w hom

it i s a solac e to con sult Thi s i s how a con s ultation S hould

.

“
b e condu ct ed Fir s t th e di s ea se d p art should be mo s t
c ar efu l ly examin e d and fe lt for as H aly Abba s s aith surgi
, , ,
‘

c al diagn o s i s con s i s t s in fee l ing with t h e hand and ob se rving

wit h t h e ey e an d l et e ach do t hi s in t urn r ep e ating t h e ex ,

am inat ion if n e c es s ary and p ointing out to o n e anoth e r any

,

noti c e abl e signs both in t h e di s e a s ed p art and in t h e p ati ent ,

ge n e ral ly Th en l et him who i s of most aut hority p refe rably

.
,

a p hy s i cian s ay to th e p ati e nt : S i r w e hav e car eful ly

, ,

e xam in e d you r cas e ,

and you ought to r ej oi c e and b e v e ry
glad t h at w e ar e so many and s u ch abl e m e n h e r e suffici e nt ,

fo r a kin g and t h e l e a s t o f whom i s fully com p et e nt t o work

,

out fol low u p and com p l et e t h e cure of yo ur di s ord er Th e n

, ,
’
.

h e s ho ul d in quir e into t h e circ um s t an c es o f t h e ca s e s aying : ,

S i r exc u s e u s (non di spl i cea t vobi s n ec ha beati s pr o mal o) but

, ,
’
h ow long is it sinc e thi s di s e a se att ack e d yo u ! Th e n l et
him ask ot h er q u e stion s as laid down in s e ct ion 4 5 t h e
, ,

oth e r s car eful ly att ending A ft er t hi s th ey s hould all go into

.

an ot h e r room wh er e ar e non e but th e ms elv e s t hat t h ey may ,

b ett e r dis cu ss t h e truth and that th e r e b e no witn es s e s of

,

t h e di s cord s and quarr e ls whi ch som etim e s ha pp e n And .

l et t h e chi ef among th em cal l u p on t h e oth ers to s p e ak in

t urn b eginnin g from t h e yo unge st or l e ast for if t h e gr eat e r
,
,

s p e ak first t h e oth e rs wil l fe ar to di ffe r from t h e m He .

shou l d ask what th e dis eas e is what aut hors have mad e,
238 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

m e ntion o f it and w h e r e ,
Wh eth e r it i s curabl e and if
. ,

so ,
how et c Tak e fo r exam p l e an ab s c ess in a fl e shy
,
.

p art ; l et him a s k o f what matt er or h um our it is ; i f

o f blood in what s t ag e wh eth er evacuation is indicat ed
, , ,

and of what kind ; i f by v e n es e ction in which v ein and ,

wh e n con s id e ring t h e s tag e of t h e di se a s e p osition of

, ,

t h e moon and h eav en ly bodi es an d an infinity o f oth er ,

”
m att e rs .

On e of t h e e arl i es t sign s of t h e r evival of m e dicin e w as

t h e r es toration o f t h e p ubli c or com munal p hy s ician s a s at ,

Bologna and Venic e t h e m e rcantil e p e o p l e o f w hich latt er

,

city w ith a k een ey e for obtaining t h e b e s t val u e for th eir

,

mon ey did not h es it at e to em p loy e v en un conv e rt ed S arac en s

,
.

I n 1 43 6 t h e E m p e ror S igi s m und d e cr eed th at e v e ry im pe rial

C ity in G e rm any shoul d hav e a p ubl ic m e di cal o ffic er who ,

S houl d b e p aid 1 0 0 guld e n y e arly from C hurch r ev en u es and ,

“
att e nd t h e p oor grati s fo r t h e h igh m ast er s in p hys ic
,

”
n ev e r do thi s and th e r efor e th ey go to h e ll
,
Th e archiatri .

”
o f t h e p alac e or royal p hy s ician s w e re r es tor e d in t h e
, ,

r e ign o f t h e E m pe ror C harl es t h e B ald whos e J ewi s h doctor , ,

Z ed e kiah w as acc us e d p robably with equal truth of b e ing a

, , ,

s orc er e r and o f p oi s onin g h i s ma s t e r I t i s in this ca p acity .

t hat w e m eet wi t h t h e la s t G r ee k p ractition er who might

t rac e som e conn e ction w ith t h e gre at m en of old Angelus .

o f C y p ru s fo r s ev en y e ar s ( 1 3 64 7 1 ) p hy s i cian to C harl es -
,

t h e Bad o f N avarr e w as a v e ry l e arn ed cl e rk v ers ed

, ,
”
in t h e L atin tongu e and p o w e rful in argum e nt ; so his
,

m a s t e r s ugges t e d that h e s hould u s e th e s e q ualiti es to

ingratiat e him s el f w ith h i s cou s in C harl e s V of Franc e , .
,

and tak e an early o pp ort unity of p oi s oning t hat monarch .

Rath e r than ob ey t h e p hysician fl e d from t h e court and w as ,

n ev er s ee n again but r ep ort s aid th at h e had b ee n overtak en

,

and p ut to d e ath by t h e king s ord e r ’

C harl e s t h e Bold o f B urgundy had six p hysician s o ne ,

o f whom alway s s tood b e hind h i s chai r and told hi m what

h e might e at .
2 40 M ED C I AL H S I T O RY .

by n ec ess ity tak e r efuge und e r t h e C loak of s urgery s inc e '

,

that art is in univ e r s al r e qu es t and th e vulgar cannot d i s ,

t i n gu i s h t h e s kill e d from t h e i gnorant B ut it i s m ore than .

w ond erful that not only t h e afor es aid but king s p rinc e s , , ,

p r e lat es canons c urat es monk s d uk es nobl es and bu r g h e rs

, , , , , ,

should without any p r evio u s knowl ed ge tak e in hand p erilou s

, ,

ca ses of s urgery es p e cial ly t h e cur e of ey e affect ion s which

, ,

are mo s t dang erou s di ffic ult and fal lacious

,
And t hrough .

th e ir error s p articularly tho s e o f ri ch m en monk s h ermit s

, , , ,

and r ecl us es in whom t h e vul gar hav e gr e at es t tru st di s ea s es

, ,

c urabl e in th e m se lv es b e com e in curabl e or at l e a s t wors e ,

than b efore And s om et im es th e y d e s troy t h e affe ct ed organ s

.
,

and o ft e n k ill t h e p ati ent B ut t h e p eo p l e hold t hat t h e s aid

.

mon k s and th eir l ik e hav e a knowl e dge o f s urge ry ap art

from ex p e ri e nc e in fu s e d into t h e m by t h e grac e o f God and ,

i f any o n e doubt s this h e i s r ep ut e d a h e r e tic or an infid el ,

and in famous p er s on .

T h e hi s tory o f touching fo r scro fula by E ngli s h

s ov e r e ign s h as b ee n s o o ft e n r e l at ed th at w e may confin e

our s e lv es to a s hort account of t h e p ract ic e by Fre nch kings .

I n t h e o p inion o f S t Thoma s Aqu inas th er e i s no b ett e r

.

p roo f that D ivin e grac e i s giv e n to anoint e d monarchs than ,

t h e undoubt e d fact t hat t h e p ow e r o f h e al ing di s e a s e s w as

”
t h er eby b es tow ed on t hat s t range e ld es t so n o f t h e C hurch ,

C lovi s t h e Frank A D 4 9 6 , B ut h e do e s not m ention

. . .

s cro fula ,
and t h e e arli es t notic e of a s pe cial p o w e r of
h e aling t hat di se a se i s p robably t h e followin g p a s s age from
Abbot Guib e rt d e N ogent author of t h e famou s Gesta D ei ,

“
p r
e F r a n c os What a p rodigy is that which w e s ee p racti s ed
by ou r sov ere ign lord L oui s [t h e Fat 1 1 0 0 I hav e ,

see n tho s e who hav e sw el lings on t h e n e ck or e l se wh e r e run

in cro w ds to b e touch e d by him w hil e I was p r ese nt and ,

trying to k eep th em off B ut h e with his nat ural kindn es s

.
, ,

g ently b e ckon ed th em to him and h umbly sign ed th e m with ,

t h e S ign o f t h e C ro s s H i s fath er Phili p o ft en perform e d

.

t hi s glorious miracl e but lo s t t h e p ow er through falling into

,

s om e S i n . I p as s ov e r what oth e r kings do in thi s way but ,

 K I N GS AND S AI N T S . 24 1

I know t h e King of E ngland n ev e r att e m p t s it H e n ry I V . .

is s aid to have h eal e d mor e t han 1 50 0 p ati e nts and to hav e ,

“
t ouc h ed n e arly fo ur t im e s as m any ev e ry y e ar A ft e r t h e .

“
c e re mony says an an ci e nt ch ron ic l e
, t h e kin g wi p e d h i s ,

fi ngers on a c loth di pp ed in win e and w at e r and th en din ed , ,

t hough h e s e ldo m had m uc h a pp e t it e t h er eto b ecaus e of th e ,

un p l e asant sm e ll s and S ight s ; b ut charity ov ercom et h al l

t hin gs . T h e c u s tom was continu e d til l t h e Revol ution ,
’
and wh en about 1 7 50 D Argen son s ent t h e m ini s t e r s o f
, ,

L oui s X V d et ail s of a cas e whi c h had act ually r e cov e re d

.

“
aft e r b ein g touch e d h e r e c e iv e d t h e cru s hing r ep ly
,

“
M on s i e u r t h e p r erogat iv e of t h e kings of Franc e to cure
,

scro fu la is p rov ed by s uch unqu es tio nabl e evid e nc e that it i s .

u nn e c es s ary to confirm it by p artic ular in s tanc es M any

cas e s of fail ur e ho w e v e r o cc urr e d ev en in t h e age s of faith
, , , ,

o n e o f w h ich i s o f s p e cial int e r es t I n 1 483 t h e crafty and .

su p erstitious L oui s X I s ent for S t Fran c is of Paul w h o

. .
,

had wrought m any w ond e r s in I taly to h e al him o f t h e r e ,

s u l t s o f an a p o p l e xy That holy man s u ffe r e d from s cro fula

.
,

b ut t h e hi s torian is oblig e d to con fe s s t hat n e ith er t h e s aint

cou ld c ur e t h e king nor t h e kin g t h e saint .

T h e p ow er of m e di e val saint s to h e al t h e s ick lik e t hat ,

of t h e king s of Franc e i s so notorious t hat it i s n e edl es s

,

to giv e e xa m p l es ; b ut o n e of t h e ir numb e r h as s pe ci al
c laim s to a p l ac e in t h e hi s tory of m e di cin e S t H ild e gard ,
.

o f B ing e n ( 1 0 9 8 who s har e s wit h h er cont em p orary ,

A v en z o ar t h e honour of having fir s t m e nt ion e d t h e it ch

,

mit e According t o so m e mod e rn writ e r s s h e es tabl i s h e d a

.

s chool of n ur s es ( l ) but th e r e is no m ent ion of thi s in h er

,

l e tt e rs or aut he nt ic biograp hi e s H er own p at i ent s at any .

,

rat e re quir ed no n ur s ing fo r s h e cur e d th em in th e m i r ac u

, ,

lous mann er a pp ro p riat e to h er s aintly charact e r and w e ar e ,

told t hat hardly any sick p erson s a pp li e d to h er who w e r e

not in s tant ly h e al e d B ut fo r t h e b en efit of t hos e l e ss
.

highly favour ed S t H ild egard wrot e s e v eral m e dical book s

,
.
,

of whic h t h e b e st known is t h e P hy si ca a d e scri pt ion of ,

t h e nat ur e an d m e di cal p ro p e rti es of min e ral s h e rbs fish es , , ,

16
24 2 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY

bird s and animal s W e s hal l again refer to thi s w ork wh en

.

di s cu s sing t h e doct rin e of S ignat ures but t h e r e ad e r may ,

b e int e res t ed by t h e follo w in g d es cri p tion of t h e unicorn in ,

w h ich it i s hard to s ay w h eth er th e s aint i s con s ciou s ly or

u n con s ciou s ly hum orou s As t h e se r p e nt in t h e G ard en o f
.

E d e n avoid e d t h e man and gaz ed at t h e woman so thi s ,

animal fl ees from m e n and fol low s fe mal e s A c e rtain .

p hilo s o p h e r skill e d in t h e way s o f b e a s t s had lon g hunt ed

, ,

a unicorn but coul d not catch h im

,
w h e r e at h e m arve ll ed ,

g r eatly . B ut o n e day h e w ent hunting w ith a com p any of

m en and wom e n and t h e unicorn s ee ing t h e girl s s lack en ed
, , ,

h i s p ac e s at on h i s hind l egs and s t ar e d at th em

, , And t h e .

p hilo s o p h e r wh e n h e had dilige ntly con s id e r e d this s aw that

, ,

t h e animal m i g ht thu s b e caught so h e cam e u p b e hind him ,

a n d ca p tur e d him For t h e unicorn w h en h e s ees a girl

.
, ,

marv e l s that s h e h as no b e ard and y et h as t h e form of man

, ,

and i f th e r e ar e s ev eral girl s h e marv e l s t h e mor e and i s

caught t h e mor e ea s ily G et a unicorn s liv er and mak e it
.
’

into an ointm e nt with yol k of egg Th e re is no l ep ro s y o f .

any k ind w hich this wil l not cur e i f t h e p ati ent us es it o ft en , ,

unl es s h i s d e at h i s fore ordain e d or God will eth not that h e

,

M ak e a b e lt o f unicorn s s kin and w ear it n ext

’
b e h eal ed .
,

”
your own and n o p es til en c e or feve r will harm you
, .

S h e ascrib es gr e at e r virtu es to arn ica than do es t h e

“
wild es t homoeo p ath : I f any o n e touch es a man or w oman
w ith green arni ca t h ey wil l burn in l ov e fo r him and as t h e ,

h e rb di es t h e man or w om an tou ch ed wil l b e com e i n fat u

at ed by t h e lov e w ith which h e i s i nflam e d i ta quod stul tus ,

d ei nceps cr i t ( T h e s aint s ays h er biogra p h e r n ev e r l e arn ed

, ,

L atin but wrot e it by D ivin e in s p iration ) H enban e : Wh ere .

th e r e ar e s ur e n in a man whi ch ul c e rat e h is fl es h rub

‘ ’

hi m in t h e s am e p lac e with it s j uic e and t h e s ur en w ill ,

‘ ’

”
di e . Probably a r efere n c e to s cabi es for t h e word s s yro ,
”
s y ro n es w er e u se d ev en in t h e la s t c e nt ury to d e not e t h e
a carus and oth e r p ara s it es
, N ight s had e ( b elladonn a ! ) is
.

h ot and dry and who s o h as p ain at t h e h eart or h as fainting

,

fi t s ( i n c or de un mech ti g i st) l et him boil night s had e in wat e r

2 44 M E D I C A L H I ST O RY .

fes s i o n al m edicin e Th e fol lowing is t h e s ev enty t hird Obser

.
-

vati on of Antony B en i v i en i ( 1 4 40 a p hysician who m

w e s hal l m ee t again S hortly : An acquaint anc e of min e ,

M ich e lott i wa s t roubl ed with h e rnia and w e nt to a p ri est

, ,

who p ro fe ss ed to c ur e that di s ord e r Without r e du cing t h e .

ru pture t h e latt e r imm ediat e ly p ut on a t igh t bandage T h e

,
.

bo w e l r e main ed so c om p res s e d for a w eek an d b e cam e i h ,

flam e d causing th e pati ent gr e at p ain S udd enly t h e p ain

, .

c ea s ed and h e b e cam e d e lirious so at last I w as s ent fo r , , ,

.

H aving fe lt his p u l s e whi ch was hardly perc ep tibl e and , ,

s ee n hi s
p al e fac e and sun k en ey es I ord e red t h e p ri es t to ,

b e s ummon ed T h en I r e mov e d t h e bandag e and saw t h e

.
,

w hol e p art blac k e n e d with an ul c e r showin g t h e p utrid ,

int estin e H e di ed in a few hours l eavin g us a u s eful

.
,

e xam p l e and warning not to e ntrust our sick bodi e s to

p ri es t s who are only re quire d to cur e t h e soul b ut t o t h e
, ,

”
mor e l e arn ed physicians .

S om etim es howev er ev e n l e arn e d p hysi c ian s and surg eons

, ,

quot e lay p r escri pt ion s with a pp roval Thus L an fran c a ft er .

,

d es cribing how to make a tru s s wit h a p i e c e of sh ee t iron

and a b andag e adds : Giv e t h e p at i ent al so ev ery day five
,

drachm s o f p owd er ed val erian root in win e Thi s p owd e r .

h as a marv ellous effe ct as I hav e o ft en p rov e d I got t h e , .

re c e i p t from on e who had it of a c ertain nobl e lady who ,

t re at e d all ru p t ure s t h erewith .

NO TE .

G u be i rt d e N ogent D e P ignor i bus S anctor um l i b i

, , . . Th e a tt em p t
of St . Fr an c i s t o c ure Loui s X I i s r e l a t e d by Com i nes .
, an d Ray n au l d ,

A n E ccl es i ast
. .
, 1 4 83 .

Th e Oper a S H i l d egar d i s ar e p u b li s h ed i n M i gue s P a trol og i a ;

.
’

s ee a l s o R e nard , H i stoi r e d e S ai n te H i ld e ar d e, Par i s , 1 86 5 ; D ah l ,

g
D i e H ei l i ge H i ld egar d i s , M a i n z , 1 852 Th e s t o ry o f t h e p h il o so p h er i s
.

n ot fo un d i n s o m e M S S .

A go o d s p ec i me n of a m e d i c a l p as t o ral i s t h at by t h e B l essed
E rn e s t us
t Arc h b i s h op of Prague D e Remed i i s Spi r i tual i bus i n P este
, fi rs ,

A d h i bend i s w r itt en 1 3 49 d ur i ng t h e “ b l ac k d eat h

, ( i n B al bi nu s M i scel
, , .

H i s t Reg ni B ohemi e v ol
. B ut t h s e c u l ar pow ers out d i d t h e S p i r i
, . e
 THE R EV IVAL O F LE A RN I N G . 24 5

t u al i n t h i s d i rec ti o n T h us t h e E m p eror J u s ti n i an j usti fies th e s ever ity

.

o f h i s l aw a a i n s t b l a s h e m y N ovell a xxv iii

g p ( ) by s ayi n g t h at t h at h ab i t
, .

i s a c o m m o n c a u s e o f p l agu es fam i n e s an d e ar t h q u a kes : an d n ear ly a

, ,

t h ous an d ye ar l at er Ka i s er M a xi m ili an att ri b ut e s a like o r i g i n t o a

s

d i seas e w h i c h m i gh t w it h s o m e s h ow o f re as o n b e c o n s i d ere d a D i v i n e

p u n i s h m en t d ec l a r i n g i n h i s e d i c t aga i n s t p ro fan e l an gu age ( 1 4 95) t h a t

,

t h i s i s th e u n d o ub t e d c au s e of t h a t h or r i b l e d i s eas e kn o w n as t h e
m al u m fr a n c i c u m w h i c h h as rec e n tly app e ar e d am o ng u s ”
.

F or B i s h o p K i rk h am s ee t h e S acr or um Conci l i ar am Col l ecti o xxiii 9 0 1 , . .

XL I I I . T H E RE VI VA L O F L E A RN I N G .

T H E Re naissan c e or age o f r eformation has b ee n com p ar ed

t o a tr ee whi ch p ut s forth fr e sh b uds and blossoms in s p ring
tim e whil e t h e with e re d l eav e s of t h e p r evious autumn sti l l
hang t hick u p on it s bran ch es and t h e im age may v e ry fairly
,

b e a pp li ed to t h e chang es w hi ch th e n took p lac e in t h e

h ealing art Tho ugh w e dat e t h e b eginn ing of a n ew ep och
.

in t hi s as i n oth e r d ep artm e nt s of h uman knowl edge from

t h e inv e ntion o f p rint in g and t h e r e vival o f Gr ee k in t h e
middl e of t h e fi ft ee nth c e nt ury n early 2 0 0 y e ar s e l a ps e d ,

b efor e t h e n ew s p irit could b e said to hav e b e com e p r e

dom inant i n m e dicin e T h e fruits of t h e p hy s ical sci e n c e s
.

ri p en mor e slo w ly t han do t h e m or e dir e ct p rod uct s of t h e

int el l e ct an d it was not till a c ent ury aft er Ra p ha el an d
,

L ut h e r that t h e world w as r e ady for H arv ey and G ali l eo .

T h e infl u en c e s of t h e age howev er man i fe st ed t h e m s e lv es

, ,

durin g this int erval in many w ays th e mor e im p ortant of ,

whi ch wil l now b e bri e fly consid e r e d .

To tak e first t h e r evival o f cla s s i cal l e arning Thi s .

b egins from t h e p oint of Vi ew of t h e m e dical hi s torian with

, ,

t h e y ear 1 4 43 wh e n Thom a s of S arzana a ft e rwards Po p e

, ,

N i cholas V di s cov er ed in t h e ch urch o f S t Ambros e at

.
,
.
,

M i lan a man uscri p t of t h e D e M edi ci n a o f C orn e li u s

,

C e l s u s whi ch had disa ppe ar e d for many c ent uri e s

,
I t was .

o n e of t h e fir s t m e di cal book s p rint e d an d gav e t h e p hy s i cian s ,

 24 6 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

of th e ageth eir earli es t o pportunity of s t udying t h e b es t sid e

of t h e H i pp ocratic m e dicin e undimm e d by t h e m e di um of

im p e rfect tran s lat ion s T en y ear s lat er cam e t h e fal l of

.

C onst antino p l e and t h e dis p er s al of Gr eek t e ach er s and

,

Greek man u s cri p t s throughout W es t e rn E uro pe A mong .

t h e s chol ars and critics who n o w s p rang u p on e v e ry s id e

p hy s ician s hold a p romin e nt p lac e At F e rrara. N ichola s ,

L eo n i c en u s tran s lat e d t h e Aphor i sms of H i pp ocrat es and ,

p oint e d out t h e man y error s in that oracl e o f t h e m iddl e

a ges t h e N atur al H i story o f Pliny t h e E ld e r At S tra s .

b urg and Paris G unth e r of And e rnach p ro fe s s or at onc e

, ,

of Gr ee k an d o f anatomy tran s lat e d Gal en Al e xand e r

, , ,

and Paul u s into cl as sical L atin At M e tz A n u ti u s F oes i u s

.
,

d evot ed forty y e ar s o f h i s li fe to p roducing a worthy edition

of t h e works o f t h e Fath er o f M edi cin e M e an w hil e our .
,

o w n L inacr e w as s t udying p hy s ic at Padua and Gr ee k at

Flor e n c e wh e r e h e p e rha p s took from th e Pl atonic Acad e my

,

e stabli s h e d by t h e M e dici t h e mod e l o f that mor e famou s

Royal C ol l eg e of Physician s w hich h e him s el f found ed in

L ondon Th es e ar e b ut a few of t h e m e di cal p hilo
l ogi st s of t h e age and i t i s int e r es ting to notic e that re p re
,

s e n t at i v es o f t h e T e utonic nation s E ngland and G e rmany

, ,

now b e com e t h e rival s and e v en t h e t e ach er s o f t h e Fren ch

,

and It alians J ohn Kay e ( C aiu s ) l e ct uring on Ari s totl e at

,

Pad ua whil e G ii nt h er o f And e rnach taught anatomy at Pari s

, .

T h e sub s tit ut ion o f t h e work s o f C e lsu s and H i p p ocrat es

for bad t ranslations from Gal en and Avic enn a w as a gr eat
advanc e and had as w e shal l s oon s e e a marke d effe ct on
, , ,

m edical p ractic e B ut t h e r evival of l earnin g gav e birth to

.

som ething o f y et gr e at er im p ort and of far wid er infl u e n c e

t h e s p irit o f crit i ci s m which b eginning wit h t h e di s p ut es o f
, ,

gram marian s gradual ly invad ed ev ery d ep artm ent o f h um an

,

thought and action Wh en not o n l v p a s sage s but whol e

.
,

t re ati se s hit h e rto b e li e v e d to hav e b ee n writt en by Gal e n

,

or H i pp ocrat es w e r e s ho w n to be doubt ful or s p urious it

, ,

w as nat ural that m en s hould look fo r som e high e r crit erion

o f m e dical truth than im p erfe ct man uscri p t s or s till mor e ,
248 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

follow ed hi m and rage d s til l mor e fi e rc ely aft e r hi s d e at h

and t h e p ubli cation of his Apol ogy in which h e ,

d efend s t h e Gr ee k s and attack s t h e Arabs with mu ch

, ,

e loqu e nc e and l earning Th e adh e rent s of t h e latt e r a pp eal ed

.

fir s t to t h e U niv ersity of S alaman ca and wh e n it d ecid ed , ,

a gain s t th e m to t h e E m peror C harl es V t o w hom th ey

,
.
,

d e clar ed that t h e d e rivationi sts w e re t h e L uth e ran s of

m e dicin e ; but a r e lat iv e of t h e monarch had r ec ently di ed
und er Arabist tr eatm ent so h e al s o d e cid ed for t h e Gree k s
,
.

M ean w hil e t h e I talian p hy s ician s att e m p t e d to s ettl e t h e

m att er by holding a s ynod on t h e th eological mod e l at , ,

Bologna und er t h e p r es id en cy o f Po p e C l e m ent V I I but

, ,

t h e p r es tig e o f t h e classic l e arn ing and of t h e t e rm Hi p

p oc r at i c w a s alon e s u ffi ci e nt to s e cur e t h e final victory o f
t h e G r ee ks though t h e controv e r s y s m ould e r ed on till it
,
’
w as e xtingui s h ed by H arv ey s gr e at di s cov e ry .

At t h e clo s e of t h e fi ft ee nt h c e nt ury t h e Arabi s t s chool

was s til l d e cid e dly p r edominant as i s s hown by t h e m e dical ,

curri cul um introdu c e d in 1 4 8 1 at T ii b i n gen a r ec ently ,

found e d un iv ersity which would natural ly ado p t t h e syst em

,

most in vogu e T h e cours e e x t e nd e d ov e r t hr ee y ear s and w as

.
,

t hu s arrang ed Fir s t y e ar : M orning s Gal en s A r s M edi ca

.
,
’

aft e rnoon s t h e t w o fir s t cha p t e r s on fe v e rs from t h e Can on

, ,

o f Avic enna S e cond y ear : M orning s Avic e nna book i

.
, , .
,

o n anatomy and p hy s iolo gy ; a ft e rnoon s t h e nint h book of ,

Rhaz es Li ber A l m ansor i s or t h e corr es pondin g p art of

’

the Ca non Third y e ar : M ornings t h e Aphor i sms o f

.
,

H i pp ocrat es ; aft e rnoon s Gal en On I n ternal D i seases or, , ,

On th e Regi men of H eal th Additional l e ct ur es w e r e .

giv en on t h e surgical p art of t h e C an on on M es ue s S i mpl e ,

’

M edi ci nes and on C onstant in e s Vi ati cum also a trans

’

, ,

“
l ation from t h e Arabic E v e ry thr ee or four y e ar s in t h e
.
,

c old est s e a s on aft e r C hri s t mas t h e body of an ex e cut e d ,

criminal s hall b e di ss ect ed ( says th e s tatut e) i f it can b e got , .

A l l who tak e p art in t h e di s s e ct ion s hall att end a ma s s for

t h e subj e ct s s oul e v ery morning ; th e y shal l t ak e oath not
’

t o r e mov e any p art of t h e body ; and th ey s hal l all att end

 JOH N OF V I GO . 249

th e r e mains to t h e grav e In t h e abov e l i s t w e find a p ro

.

p ortion of six Arabi c to t hr ee G r ee k t ext books but by t h e -

,

e n d of t h e n e xt c e nt ury t hi s wi l l b e mor e than r ev e r s e d

,

a ft e r whic h t h e Arabi c writ e r s ra p idly di s a pp e ar .

T h e a p pe aran c e of n ew and t h e d ev e lo p m e nt o f old forms

of di s e a s e e
g t h e sw e ating si ckn ess and sc urvy p l ay e d an
, . .
, ,

i m p ortant p art in ov ert hrowing t h e authority both o f Gr ee ks

and Arabs an d t hi s influ e n c e is w e l l s een in t h e la s t i m p ort
,

ant p rodu ct o f t h e Arabi st school t h e P r ac ti ca C opi osa o f ,

J ohn of V igo whi ch w ent through mor e than tw e nty

,

e dit ion s wit hin th irty y e ar s ( 1 51 4 an un p arall el e d ev ent

in t h e first c e nt ury of p rint in g J ohn of Vigo who call s .
,

him s e l f D o ct or of S urge ry was m e dical att endant to Po p e ,

J uli u s I I an d ac com p ani e d t hat warlik e Vicar of C hri s t on

.
,

h i s n u m e rous cam p aign s T h e m arv ellou s suc c e ss of his

.

work s ee m s to hav e b een main ly d u e to t h e fact that al l t h e

r e cogni s ed t e xt book s of s urgery had b ee n t hro w n out of
-

dat e by t h e in cr e a s ing i m p ortanc e of gun s hot inj uri es and ,

t h e d e v e lo p m e nt o f that s p e cifi c dis e as e which brok e out

with s uch virul e n c e at t h e C lo s e of t h e fi ft eenth c ent ury ;
for t h e P r ac ti ca Copi osa t ho ugh w e ll arrang e d and cl early
,

writt en is m er e ly a ha s h up fro m G uy of C hauliac and oth er

,
‘

Arabi s t s u rg eon s fl avoure d wit h e xtract s fro m t h e r ec ently

,

discov e re d C e l s u s and w ith t h e addition o f two i m p ortant

,

s ect ions on t h e subj e ct s abov e noti c e d Th e fol lowing i s t h e .

substan c e of V igo s t e ac hing on gun s hot inj uri es : S uc h

’

woun d s ar e co m p ound e d of t hr e e kind s ( 1 ) th ey ar e brui s e d ,

wounds b e cau s e of t h e roundn es s of t h e b ul l et ; ( 2 ) th ey ar e

b urnt wo un ds by r e a s on of t h e fi r e ; ( 3 ) th ey ar e p oison e d
wounds b e caus e o f t h e p owd e r This r e nd ers th em v e ry
hard to cur e fo r whil e bruising and b urning r e quir e moi s t ur e
, ,

a p oi s on e d wo und d e mand s dryn es s but t h e mo s t i m p ort ant :

indi cation is to tr e at t h e p oison Wh er efor e th er e i s no .

b ett er r e m e dy t han to u s e in t h e s aid wound an act ual

caut e ry to t ou ch all p arts t h e r e o f or to a p p ly E gy p tian
, ,

o int m ent as d es c r i b e d b y Avi c e nna

,
Al so in s t e ad t h er eo f a .

m an may u se a caut eri s ation of oi l of e ld er boil ing hot for ,

2 50 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

t hi s k eep eth t h e wound from p utrefying U n fortunat ely

t hi s la s t s ugg es tion w as t h e o n e mo s t w id e ly ado pt ed till t h e ,

authority of Vigo w as s u p e r se d e d by that of Am bro se Par é .

N OT E .

Fo r th e ve n e ec ti o n c o n t rovers y s ee B r i s s otus Apol ogeti ca D i sceptati o

s , ,

P a r i s 1 6 2 2 ; D e l a tt re E ssa i su r l H i stoi r e d e l a S a i gnée M ay en n e 1 886

’
.
, , , ,

Th e a c c ou n t of t h e T ub i n ge n m e d i c a l c o u e i s fro m W u n d er li c h Ges rs ,

ch i c h te d r M ed i i n a pp en d ix xx v iii
c c ,
Th e re ad er s h o u l d c o m p are it w it h
.

t h at at L e i p s i c give n i n Pu s c h m a nn s H i story of M ed i cal E d ucati on

,
’
.

T h e q u o t ati o n fr o m V i go i fro m t h e E ngl i s h t ra n s l ati o n o f h i s w o rks

s ,

L o nd o n , 1 54 3 .

X L I V —T H E M Y S T I CS
. .

THE r evival of G r ee k l e arnin g and t h e di s cov e ry o f t h e N ew

World at t h e clos e of t h e fi ft ee nth c ent ury p roduc e d an i n
t e l l e c t u al fe rm e nt in w hich t h e mind s of m e n w e r e singul arly
att ract ed by all t hings n ew and ext ravagant T h e trium p h .

o f t h e H umani s t s ov e r th e S choolm e n brought with it t h e

s ub s tit ution o f Plato fo r Ari s totl e which though in som e , ,

s ens e an e manci p ation l eft t h e way o p e n for wild and vagu e

,

s p e cul ation and for a r e vival o f t hat my s t ical N eo p l atoni s m

, ,

t h e bal eful effe cts o f which u p on m e dicin e hav e al re ady b ee n

notic ed ; and throughout t h e s ixt eenth c ent ury w e find d i s
t i n gu i s h e d m en d evotin g th e m s e lv es to t h e s e riou s s t udy of
s uch w orks as t h e J e wi s h C abal a and t h e forg ed th e o s o hic
p ,

fragm e nt s attribut ed to O rp h e u s Pythagoras and H erm es , ,

Tri s m egi s tu s T h e r esult s o f thi s my s ti cism w ere manifest ed

.

in gen e ral hi s tory by what h as b ee n we ll call e d th e witch

mania an d in t hat o f m e di cin e by t h e e xtravagan c es of
,

t h e a s trolog ers and al ch e mist s and it i s to t h e cr edit o f t h e

,

“ “
Gr ee k s or H i pp ocratic p hy s i cian s as t h ey call ed th em
,

s e lv es t hat th ey vigorou s ly o pp o s e d all t hr ee

,
.

Pa s s ing ov er D r J ohn W ey e r and h i s cru sad e again s t

.

t h e wit ch h unt e rs w e may gath e r s om e int e r e s tin g d etai l s

,
2 52 M ED I C A L H I S TO RY .

Van H elmont m en who s e re lativ e fam e is p erha p s in inv e rs e

,

p ro p ortion to th e ir act ual m e rit O f t h e first w e know only

'

.
,

w hat can b e g a th er e d from his work s which w e r e not p u b ,

l i s h ed till a c entury a ft e r h i s d e ath H e t ell s us h e w as a .

B e n e dictin e monk and l eg end conn e ct s him w ith t h e mon a s

,

t ery at E rfurt but no l ist o f t h e ord e r contai ns his nam e

, ,

w hich is p robably an assum ed on e Finding that t h e rul e .

of St B e n e dict s til l l eft l e i s ur e for t h e intrusion o f idl e

.

t hought s h e b egan to s tudy t h e s e cr et s of N at ur e in which

, ,

h e was m uch aid e d by an ci e nt book s contain e d in t h e mona s

t ery library A broth er monk had long s u ffer e d from a d i s
.

e a s e w hi ch ba ffl e d all p hy s i cian s I n vain did B a s il inv es t i

.

“ “ ”
gat e th e anatomy and extract t h e quint es s en c e s of
n umb e rl es s h e rbs during six y e ars t ill at last h e turn e d to ,

m in e ral s and found o n e o f m any colours t h e

, S p irit of ,

whi ch s u ffic e d to cur e t h e mon k in a few day s For t h e res t .

o f his li fe t h e grat eful p ati ent d evot ed an ho ur daily to s p e cial

p ray er fo r Basil who as t h e r es ult o f th es e and his ow n p eti

, ,

tion s di s cov er e d many things hidd en from thos e w h o think

,

t h e m se lv es wi se and p rud ent N or i s t hi s boast unj u s tifi ed

.
,

for t h e work s o f Ba s il V al e ntin e contain t h e earli es t m e ntion

o f zinc and bi s m uth o f hydrochloric acid , s ugar o f l ead , ,

n itrat e of m erc ury and num e rou s s alt s o f antimony b esid es

, ,

t h e m od e rn m e thods of p rodu cing am monia and s ul p huric

a cid . By di s till ing thi s la s t s ubstan c e with alcohol h e o b
t ai n ed a p l e a s antly s m e lling l iquid which mu s t hav e b een ,

e t h e r and w hi ch h e r e comm e nd s in many di s e a s es

, To Ba s i l .

t h e gr e at e n d o f al ch e my i s t h e discov ery o f n ew r e m e di e s .

M o s t ch emists h e say s s triv e only a ft e r ri ch e s caring no

, , ,

t hing for th eir fellow s and th e r e by h ea p u p j udgm ent ag a in s t

,

t h e m s elv es at t h e la s t day b ut it would ill b es ee m a m e mb er

,
'

o f h i s sacr ed ord e r to follow such exam p l es and his only ,

O bj e ct is to im p art t h e kn owl e dg e o f u s eful m edi cin e s to tho s e

who com e aft er him M e rc ury contain s t h e h igh e st arcanu m

.

o f h uman h e alth and it s S p irit m ak es m e n and animal s

,

young lik e t h e e agl e T h e s pirit of quicklim e dissolv es s ton e

.
,

and i s a s ov e re ign c ur e for go ut Valuabl e r e m edi es may b e .

 B A S I L V A LE N T I N E . 2 53

got from ars eni c nit re c o pp er and l ead but t h e h igh e st an d

, , , ,

nobl est of drugs i s th e quint es s e n c e of anti mony which was ,

s pe cial ly cr e at ed for th e p urificat ion of m ankind and not ,

only c ur e s di s e as e s b ut r ej oi c e s t h e h e art and in c re as e s chas

,

t ity and p i ety Th e p hysi cians of h is day adds B a s il avoid

.
, ,

ch e m ist ry b ec aus e t h ey ar e afraid of dirtying th e ir hand s

and rai s in g t h e p ric e of soap an d h e p roc eeds to att ack t h e m ,

i n l angu age c lo s e ly r es em bl in g t hat of Para c el s us tho ugh ,

som ewhat l e ss vigoro us for I a m a S p irit ual m an an d bound , ,

by t h e rul e of my ord e r to hav e p at i en c e wit h all or I co uld ,

s p eak m u c h mor e st rongly H ad B asil s works b ee n p ub ’

li s h ed wh en th ey w er e writt e n h e would hav e b ee n t h e ,

found e r of m edi c al c h em istry an honour whi ch h as b een ,

usu rpe d by Para c el su s who s e writ in gs contain so e xact a ,

r ep rodu ct ion of B asil s t h eori e s dis c ov eri es and ev en lan

’

guage th at it i s h ardly p o s s ibl e t o doubt t hat h e had s een hi s

p r e d e c es s or s works in m an u s cri p t and mad e ext en s iv e u se
’
,

of th e m .

N OT E .

L an ge, M ed i ci nal i um Epi stol ar um M i scel l anea, B as e l , 1 554 ; Ep .

, 35 .

H enry M o n d e v ill e s p eaki ng of ap p li c a ti ons for t h e rem ova l o f s u p e r

of

fl uo u s h a i r s ay s : S o me o ne t o l d m e t h a t t h e y s h o u l d on ly b e u s e d w h e n
t h e m o o n i s i n h a i ry s i gn s N ow , h a i ry s i gns are t h e r am , b u l l , et c ,
. .

”
an d s m oo t h s i gn s ar e th e c rab an d t h e lik e t h ereo f ,
.

J er o m e C ar d an s ee h i s i n t eres ti ng L ife b y Professor M orl ey L o n ,

C ar d an s i m p o rt an c e i n m e d i c a l h i s t o ry h as p e rh ap s b ee n
'
d o n 1 854
,
.

e x agge r at e d H e see ms i n fac t t o h ave b een a s ort of I t a li an Par a

.
, ,

ce l s u s ren d ered i neffec t ual t h ro u gh l a c k of t h at co ars e v i go ur w h i c h

,

c h ar ac t er i es t h e G erm an
s B V a l e n ti n e Chy mi sche S chr iften H am b u r g
. .
, , ,

1 67 7 . T h e m y s t ery w h i c h en s h ro u d s t h e form of B as il Va l e n ti n e h as
l ed s o m e t o d e n y h i s v ery exi s t e n c e a n d it h as b een s ugge s t e d t h at h i s
,

w o rks a r e fo rger i es w r itt en p erh ap s by P a rac e l s us h i m s e l f o r h i s p up il s

,
.

Aga i n s t t h i s it m ay b e urged t h a t it i s h ard t o s ee any reas on fo r t h e

s up p os e d fo rge ry fo r a m an
w h o c o u l d w r it e th e Cur r us Tr i u mph al i s
,

A nti mon i i eve n at t h e e nd o f t h e S ixt een t h c ent ury h ad no c aus e t o b e

,
,

h
as a m e d o f
h i m s e l f Le as t o f al l i s it c once ivab l e t h at Parac e l s u s
. ,

l
c ou d h e h a e w
v r itt en s u c h a w ork w ou l d h ave h i dd en it b en eat h t h e ,

c o w l o f an i m agi n ary mo nk
O n t h e o t h e r h an d t h ere c ert a i n ly e xi s t e d
.

t h ro ugh o ut th e S ixt eent h cen t ury a w i d es pread report of a Germ an

2 54 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

m o n k w h o h ad c o m pos ed r l
k s o n c h e m i s t ry t h ough t h e
w o n d e fu w or ,

s t o ry t h at M axi m ili a n I o r d er e d a s p ec i a l s e arc h t o b e m ad e fo r t h e m

.

i n 1 51 5 i s p rh ap s d o u b t fu l
e T h a t t h e c o nn ec ti o n b etw ee n th e w r iti ngs
.

o f B as il a n d t h o s e o f P ar ac e l s u i s m o r e t h an ac c i d e n t a l i s u n q ue s ti o n ab l e
s ,

a n d t h e ac c u a ti o n o f p l a gi ar i s m w a s b r o ugh t aga i n s t t h e l a tt e r a s s o o n
s

as t h ey w ere p u b li s h e d b y n o o n e m o re d i r ec tly t h a n V an H e l m o n t
, ,

w h o w r i t i n g o f B as il s ays :
, , C uj u s d o c t r i n am s upp r e s s o a uc t o r i s n o m i n e
, ,

i n s e r ap u i t P ar ac e l s us

X LV . PA RA C E L S U S .

T HE mo s t s t riking figur e among t h e p hysician s of t h e

s ixt eenth c ent ury p e rha p s in t h e whol e of m e dical hi s tory is
, ,

Th eo p hra s t u s von H oh e nh e im cal l e d Parac e l s u s ( 1 4 9 3

,

to w hom h i s en e mi es in h i s li fetim e and h i s admir er s o f a ,

“
l a t er day h av e giv e n t h e tit l e
, L u t h er us M edi c or u m
Biogra p hical d etail s may r e adily b e found e l s ew h er e and ,

s p ac e w i ll on ly s u ffic e fo r a bri ef con s id eration o f t h e i m

p ortan c e o f Parac e l s u s in m e dical hi s tory and of t h e syst em ,

w hich h e att e m p t e d to s ub s tit ut e fo r t hat o f Gal e n For .

Parac e l s u s did not as is som etim es a s se rt e d s ee k to div ert

, ,

t h e m ind s o f h i s cont e m p orari es from th e ory to obs ervation

a n d ex p e rim e nt b ut rath e r to introduc e th eori es and s p e cula

,

tion s o f h i s own far mor e vagu e and contradictory than

t ho s e th ey w e r e int end e d to su ppl ant .

H e t e lls us that a ft e r trav elling th rough n early all

,

E uro p e and inv e stigatin g t h e art o f h e aling as p ract i se d not

,

only by p hy s ician s but al s o by s urge on s wom en conj ure rs , , ,

alch e mi s t s monk s and in t h e hous es of rich and p oor h e

, , ,

c am e to t h e con cl usion that m e dicin e i s un c e rtain varying , ,

a n d worthl es s —i n s hort a d e l u s ion o f evil s p i rit s

,
H e h ad .

d et e rmin ed to giv e up t h e s t udy altoge th e r wh en his ey e fe l l

u p on t h e word s o f t h e Gos p e l Th ey that ar e whol e n eed
not a p hy s ician but t h ey t hat ar e s ick —
,
and hi s e stimat e
o f m e dicin e was at onc e com p l e t e ly r ev er se d An art s anc .

t i o n ed by C hri s t H im s e l f could hav e nothing to do with evil

2 56 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

“
rat es as highly as any an ci ent dogmati s t : Philo s o p hy i s
t h e gat e of m edicin e and th ey who go not in t h e r eat C limb in
,

by t h e roof and b e com e thi ev es and murd er er s Thi s p hilo

s o p hy ho w e v e r i s not that o f Ari s totl e which h e com p ar es
, , ,

to t h e froth and scum on t h e p o t containing p e rhap s som e ,

flavour o f t h e broth but fit only fo r dogs and cat s ; it ,

com p ris es t h e w hol e circl e o f t h e s ci en c e s p hy s i cal and ,

magical es pe cially t h e latt e r An im p ortant division of it i s

,
.

“
anatomy not t h e diss ection of bodi es w hich i s a boori s h
, ,

“
anatomy p racti s e d by Italian j uggl ers and giving ris e
, ,

to nothing but e rror ; but t h e anatomy of t h e e s se n c e an ,

analy s i s imaginary rath er than ch emical of th e intimat e

, ,

“
com po s ition of m an into i ts my s tical ingr edi ents s alt , ,

” ”
s ul p hur and m e rcury
,
and t h e r ecognition of t h e,

” “
form s o f di s e a s e w ith t h e corr es p onding,
form s o f th e ir
”
r e m e di es L ik e t h e p hilo s o p hy gen erally this kno w l edge
.
,

is acquir e d not s o m uch by t h e int el l ect as by t h e ill umina

tion of t h e H oly S p irit .

T h e s e cond p illar of m edicin e i s Astronomy N o one .

”
can b e a good p hy s ician who i s not s kill e d in astronomy .

Th e s t ars ind ee d hav e no infl u en c e on h uman t e m p e ram e nt

, ,

or fat e ; N ero would hav e b ee n a s avage and H el en an i m ,

p ro p e r p e r s on though th e re had b ee n no such p l an e t s as

,

M ar s and Ve nu s ; in t h es e r es p e ct s a C hild s moth e r i s i t s

’

p lan et and s tar B ut th ey do cau s e dis eas e s by th e ir exhala

.

t ion s as for in s tan c e t h e s un by e xc es s iv e h e at and it i s no

, , , ,

u s e trying to cur e an a s tral di s e a se whil e i t s s tar i s in t h e

a s c endant Th e refor e l et p hy s i cians c e a s e p oking th e ir no s es

.

into e xcr e m e nt and li ft up th eir ey e s to t h e h e av en s wh ere

, ,

t h ey will find t h e fun dam e ntal p rin ci p l es of th e ir art and t h e ,

p ath to tru e t h era p e utic s .

Th e third p illar i s Al ch e my Without a p erfe ct know .

l e dge of al ch emy t h e p hy s ician will use all t h e res ourc es of

h i s art in vain Parac e l s u s cl a ss es h ere all att e m pt s to i m
.

p rov e natural substanc es Th us t h e bak e r and w eav e r are

.

al ch e mi s ts ; but i t s gre at u se in m e dicin e i s to s ep arat e t h e

q uint es se n c e s of drugs a fore shadowing of t h e mod ern s earch
,
 C A US ES O F D SE I A SE . 2 57

fo r a c t iv e p rin ci p l es An al c h e m i st or arch e us r e sid es , ,

in t h e h um an stom ach and p r e sid e s ov er diges t ion s ep arat in g ,

t h e p oisono us from t h e n ut ritio us p art of t h e food and wh e n ,

a h uman al c h e mist has attain e d s im ilar s kill h e wil l be p er

fec t in his art .

T h e fourth p ill ar is t h e V irt u e of t h e p hysician ; fo r t h e

vi rtuous only ar e p erm itt e d to pe n et rat e into t h e in n ermos t
n at ur e of man an d t h e univ e rs e a p ow e r p o ss ess e d in gr eat
,

p er fe ct ion by Parac el sus b ut fo und i n v e ry few b es id es ev en

, ,

among hi s own p u p il s on ly t en in s om e h un dr eds of whom

, ,

h e s ays w e r e at all s atis factory

, .

M an accordin g to Parac e l s u s i s a m icro co s m —that is h e

, , ,

cont ain s e l e m e nt s r ep r e s ent in g e v e ry p art of t h e univ er s e .

Th er e i s nothin g in h e av e n and e arth whi ch i s not in m an ,

”
and God who i s in h e av en i s al s o in m an
, ,
D is ea s e s are .

c aus ed an d cur e d by t h e act ion of t h e variou s con stitu ent s of

t h e univ e rs e ( t h e m ac roco s m ) on t h eir corr e s p on ding p art s in

m an ( t h e m icroco s m ) from which it foll ows that t h e p hysi cian

,

m u s t tak e all kn owl edge as h i s p rovi n c e and t h at m e di cin e ,

i s t h e high es t and wid e st of s ci e n c e s sin c e it in clud es t h e m

all from t h eology downwards E l s ewh er e h e distin gui sh es .
.

fi v e “ B eings ( E ntia ) wh ich ar e t h e cau s es o f al l di s e a s es ,

an d e ach of which can p roduc e any di s e a s e th e r e b eing t hu s ,

“
fi v e kinds of j a undic e fi v e kind s of dro psy and s o on
,
Wh e n ,
.

a p hysi cian th e r efor e find s him s el f in t h e p r es e n c e of a

, ,
’

p aralytic h e mu s t b efor e all things discov er whic h

, ,
E ns ,

“
h a s p roduc ed t h e p aralysis T h e fir s t fou r are t h e
. E ns
A str orum or infl u en c e o f t h e stars ; t h e E n s Y eme ni or
, ,
'

p oi s on ; t h e E n s N at ural e or di s t urban c es a ri s ing in t h e

,

”
body it s e l f ; an d t h e E n s S p irit ual e or s p irit u al age n ci es ,
.

Th e E n s A s t r or um has b e e n con s id e re d und e r a s t ronomy ,

and t h e E 118 Ve n en i wil l b e di s cu s s e d wh e n w e s pe ak of

“ ”
h is doct rin e of t artar b ut t h e s p irit ual age n ci es d e s e rv e
,

a s p e cial noti c e Th ese h e d e clar e s have nothing to d o

.
, ,

wit h ange l s or d e vil s whom h e l eav e s to t h e ologians b ut

, ,

a re t h e s p irits of h uman b e ing s Th ey are not id e ntica l .

“
wit h t h e soul nor i s t his s p irit giv en from h eav e n ; but
,

I 7
2 58 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

man makes it hims el f it i s t h e child of h i s w il l

, C hi ldr e n
hav e no S p irit s for th ey hav e n o pe rfe ct wi l l T h e s p irit s
,
.

may l eav e t h e body of th eir p oss e ssor with or without h is

c on s ciou s n ess ; t h e y can b e s een and fe lt by oth e r s p irit s ,

a n d can a ss i s t or inj ur e o n e anot h e r A free fight ( fr ey er .

kampfi) may t ak e p l ac e b etw ee n two s uch s p irit s as a r es ult ,

o f w hi ch ,
wound s ul c e r s and dis e a ses may a ppe ar i n t h e
,

bodi es of th e ir own e r s Parac e l s us su pp ort s t hi s by w hat

.

h e call s t h e undoubt e d fact t hat w itch es can i m p ri s on t h e

s p irit s of th e ir e n e mi es in wax figur e s : also t h e s pirit s of
a fugitiv e th i ef may b e forc e d into a wax figur e and al l that ,

is don e to it will b e fe lt by t h e thi ef Thi s cannot b e don e .

to an hon es t m an for h i s S p irit res i s t s ; but a thi ef s s p irit ’

i s cowardly as i s s hown by h i s runn ing away

,
And thin k .

not that t hi s is a j oke y e p hysician s y e know not t h e l ea s t

,

p art of t h e p ow e r of t h e wil l for s h e b e ar s s p irit s quit e di s

,

”
tin ct from t h e ration al s p irit .

But aft er car efully d es cribing and distingui s hing th e s e

four E ntia Parac e l s u s t e l l s u s that al l this ap p li es only
,

to Turk s S arac e n s and ot h e r i n fi d e l s and has b een writt en

, , ,

“
m ainly to sharp en th e r ead e r s
’
inge nium fo r C hri s tians
”
a n d J e w s th e r e is but o n e cau s e o f s ickn es s t h e E n s D ei , ,

or dir e ct action of God who se nd s di se a s es as p urgatorial

,

p uni s hm ent s Wh en th e p r ed e stin e d hour o f r e l e a se com es

.
,

H e e it h e r cur es t h e p ati ent dir ectly or through a p hy s i cian , ,

most o f whom how ev er r es embl e t h e d e mon s of p urgatory

, , ,

and ar e s ent to incre as e t h e torm ents of t h e s ick .

T h e imm edi at e cau ses o f di s e a s e ar e changes not in t h e ,

four h umours but in t h e thr ee my s tic e l e m e nt s s alt s ul p hur

, , , ,

“
a n d m ercury .What burn s i s sul p hur what s mok e s or ,

sublim es i s m ercury t h e a s h es ar e s alt

, I n h ealt h th es e .

ar e s o mingl ed in t h e body that th ey cannot b e di s tinguish e d

wh en th ey s ep arat e th e y cau s e s ickn es s ; th e ir co m p l et e

“
s ep aration i s d eath Th u s di s till e d
. m e rcury p roduc es
p araly s i s , p re ci pitat e d gout s ublimat ed mania , Prurigo .

and scabi e s ar e d u e to a s ol ution ul c e r s to a cal cination of ,

“ ”
th e salt Thi s doctrin e i s obviously a m er e r e p rod u ction
2 60 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

cin e di s cov ere d hydroge n and inv e nt e d l audan um but it i s

, , ,

in what you call absurditi es that w e re cogni s e t h e language

of t h e gr e at ad ep t t h e fri e nd of t h e Khan of Tartary who
, ,

conv e r s e d with e sot e ri c B uddhi st s on t h e north e rn s lo p e s of

t h e H imalaya N eith e r t h e biblio nor biogra p hical qu es tion
.

can b e con s id e re d h e re but a ft e r a short ac count o f Para ,

c e l s u s doctrin e on s om e s pe ci al p oi nt s and p artic ularly on

’

t h e tr e atm e nt of di s e a se w e s hall att e m p t to form an i m ,

p art ial e s timat e of h i s r e al p o s ition in m e di cal hi story .

N OT E S .

Th e titl e Ph il i pp us Aureo l us T h eo ph ras t us P ar ac e l s us B o m b as t o n v

H o h en h e i m i s n ever e m p l o y e d by h i m s e l f an d i s m o s tly u s e d by h i s ,

e n e m i es w h o c o n i d e re d uc h a n am e i n it s e l f a p r oo f o f q u ac k er y
, s s .

T h o n ly ev d en c e fo r Ph ili p i s h i s t o m b s t o n e w h ere it m ay b e a l at er
e i ,

a dd iti o n an d a s i n gl e l e tt er o f d o ub t fu l a u t h e n ti c ity
, H e u s es t h e t erm .

w h e n c o m p ar i n g h i m e l f w it h T h e o p h ra t u s t h e p u p il o f
“ ”
A u reo l us s s ,

A r i s t o tl e h e ( Parac e l s us ) i s a ve y d i ffer en t m a n a “ go l d en T h eo
, r ,
”

p h r as t u s I t i s p r o b ab ly o n e o f t h o s e e u p h o n i o us p s e u d o n y m s s o c o m
.

m o n i n t h at age B o m b as t w as p a rt o f t h e fa m ily n am e o f t h e H o h e n
.

h e i m s a n d i n S p it e o f s o m e s c an d a l to t h c o n t rary Pa ra c e l s u s s ee m s t o
, ,
e ,

h ave a l eg iti m at e c l a i m t o it I t h as n o c o nn c ti o n ex c e p t t h r o u gh th e
. e ,

i ro n y o f fat e w i t h th e E n gli h w ord fo r i n fl at ed l an gu age T h o ugh h e

, s .

d o u b tl e s c o n s i d ered h i m s e l f “ u per i or t o C e l s us
s h i s us ua l titl e i s
s

p r o b a b ly i n t e n d e d f or a t r a n s l a ti o n o f “
Vo n H o h en h e i m fo r h i s p up il
B o d e n s t e i n d es c r i bes h i m as “ e fam ili a P ar ac e l s o r u m
For an ex p l an ati o n a n d refu t ati o n o f t h e h y d r o ge n m yt h se e K o p p s
’

t reati s e o n t h e d i s c overy o f t h e c o m p oun d nat ure of w at er i n h i s B ei tr age '

z ur Geschi ch te d e Ch emi e B r un s w i c k 1 86 9 7 5
r ,
T h e n at u re o f t h e,
-
.

l aud an u m i s d i s c us s ed i n Ap V i Pa r ac e l s u v i s it t o T art ary r es t s o n

. . s
’

t h e ev i d e n c e o f Va n H e l m o n t w h o c o n n e c t s it w it h t h e l e gen d o f h i s
,

m u til ati o n I t s e e m s s uffi c i en tly d i s prove d b y th e fac t t h at P arac e l s u s

.

m akes n o m en ti o n of i t i n t h e tw o li s t s h gi ves o f t h e c o u n t ri es h e h as e

v i s it ed w h il e i n t h e D e M or bo Tar tar i co c ap ii h d i s ti n c tly d en i es t h at

, ,
. . e

h e h a e er b ee n i n A s i a o r Afr i c a : “ D as s i c h As i am un d Ap h r i c am
s v

erfa h re n h ab u n d d i es e l bi ge n B l att er um b k er t i s t n i t
”
.

N e arly 3 0 0 t reati ses h ave b ee n att r i but ed to Par ac e l s us of w h i c h ,

a b o u t 1 0 0 ar p r i n t e d i n t h e c o ll ec t e d e d iti o ns B asel 1 589 9 0 S t r as s

e , ,
-
,

b ur g 1 60 3 1 6 and G e n eva 1 6 58 ( L ati n t ran s )

,
-
, ,
O f t h e s e H ae s e r c o n .

s i d e r fi ft e e n M ar x t e n an d Ro h l fs fi v e o r s i x t o b e ge n u i n e
s , , S ee H aeser .
,

ii 83 w h ere m ay be fo u n d a c o p i o us l i s t o f th e P arac e l s us L it erat ure

.
,
 TA R TA R . 26 1

up t o 1 87 0 . i nc e t h e n t h e c h i ef w orks o n th e s ubj ec t ar e M o o k Th eo
S ,

ph r astus P ar acel sus W u rz b u rg 1 87 6 s evere ly c r iti c i ed b y Ro h l fs A r ch i v

, , , s , ,

1 8 82 ; S c h u b er t P ar acel s us F or sch ungen F ran kfort 1 88 7 ; F ergu s o n

, , , ,

B i bl i ogr aph i a P ar acel si ca G l asgo w t h ree p art s 1 87 7 9 0 ; H ar t m an n

, , ,
-
,

P ar acel sus L o n d o n 1 887 ( fro m an “ e so t er i c B u d d h i s t s t an d p o i n t )

, , .

X L V I — PA RAC E L S U S ( conti nued)

. .

A C C O R D I N G to Para c e l su s t h e p hysi cians o f h i s day w a s t e d

th e ir ti m e di s p uting wit h p e a s ant s and l aym en an d n e gl e ct ed ,

“
p hilo s o p hy whi ch wou l d hav e taught th e m t h e doctrin e
,

“ ” ” “
of t art ar an d it s coagul ation by t h e S p irit of s alt
, a ,

far b ett e r an ato my t han t h e c utt ing u p of robb e rs an d such

li k e for t h e yo un g n ew fl ed ged fool s wh en th ey hav e s een it
,
-

all know l ess th an b efor e and cho ke t h e m s e lv es in dirt and ,

carca s es Al l food cont ain s p oison ou s as w e ll as n ut ritio us ,

in gr e di e nt s an d it is t h e busin e s s o f t h e al ch e mi s t or Arch e u s
,

of dig e st ion t o s e p arat e t h e t w o I f h e fail s t o d o this or i f .

,

t h e e xcr et ory organ s are damag ed t h e p oi s on r e main s in t h e ,

“
body and t h e r e m eet s wit h a s p irit of coagulation whi ch
, ,

solid ifi e s and cau s e s it to b e d ep o s it e d on t h e t eeth in t h e ,

j oint s and in variou s oth er organ s Thi s d ep osit Parac e l s u s

,
.

“ ”
cal l s tartar p artly b e ca us e of it s r es e mblan c e to that found
,

in win e ca s ks an d p artly b ecau s e t h e p ain s it caus es ar e lik e

,

“ ”
t hos e of Tartarus N um e rous t artari c dis e as e s ar e thu s
.

rod uc e d t h e ch i e f b e ing gout an d ston e whi ch ar e cl o s e ly

p , ,

al li e d and t h e t en d e n cy to which m ay b e inh erit ed Thi s

,
.

doct rin e o f t artar i s o n e of t h e m o s t highly p rais e d p art s of -

t h e Parac e l si c s yst e m b ut tho ugh it contain s m uch that i s

,

t ru e t h e r e i s littl e t hat is n ew as Parac elsus might hav e ,

l e arnt had h e r e ad h i s G al e n in st ead of burning hi m .

S ti l l m or e e xc el l e nt is h i s t eac hin g as to t h e h ealin g of

wo und s E v e ry p art of t h e body h e s ays contain s a n at ural , ,

“
bal s am ca p abl e of c uring i nj uri e s and not hing mor e i s ,

r equir e d than som e sim p l e oint m e nt to s e rv e as a nutri m e nt

 26 2 I AL
M ED C H S I T O RY .

to t hi s bal s am and dress ings t o p rot e ct it from e l e m entary

,

p o w ers hostil e to n at ur e H e r e on e might say i s t h e , ,

H unt e rian doctrin e o f p la s ti c lym p h and t h e mod e rn th e ory ,

o f anti s ep s i s in a sin gl e s e nt e n c e T h e ho s til e p o w er s of t h e

.

air may ind eed b e con s id e r e d a p o e t ic antici p ation of micro

organ i s m s but t h e r es t of t h e s ent enc e is to b e found in and
, ,

w as p robably co p i e d from t h e writings of Basil Val entin e

,
.

I n Parac e l s u s t h e b e li ef i n t h e h e aling p ow e r of natu r e i s

over s hado w e d by h i s fait h in t h e efficacy of drug s E v ery .

di s eas e h as i t s s p e cific r em edy or arcan um and i s only ,

incurabl e b e cau se of t h e ignoranc e of p hy s ician s Tho s e .

who s ay t hat l ep ro s y i s in curabl e ar e not on ly ignorant but

im p ious for did not C hri s t S p e cially comm and H is disci p l e s
,

to h e al l e p e r s ! H e a p p li es t h e s am e p rin ci p l es to s urgery
“
w hich r e quir es more p hy s ic than al l int e rnal di s e a s e s
O p e rat ions with t h e p o ss ibl e exc ep tion of lithotomy are
, ,
’
barbarou s and it s hould b e t h e s urge on s gr eat O bj e ct to
,

di s cov e r t h e in fallibl e arcan a which cur e al l di s e as es s urg ica l ,

as w e l l a s m e dical I t i s t hu s t hat Parac e lsus arriv es at his

.

highly p rais ed tho ugh by no m e an s original a s s e rtion t hat

,

s urg e ry and m e dicin e are o n e but it i s O bviou s that had

, ,

such doctrin es b ee n acc ept ed t h ey would h av e r e du c ed t h e,

form e r art to a m e r e caricat ur e of t h e l att er .

M a g n e ti s m h as al w ay s b een an attract iv e s ubj e ct for t h e

“
mystic s and t h e p ow er of t h e load s ton e which t rav e r se s
,
-
,

”
many thousand m il es to i t s p olar s t ar i s adduc e d by B a s il ,

Val e ntin e to p rov e that t h e curativ e influ en c e of s ym p ath e tic

oint m e nt s a pp li ed to t h e blood which h as flo w e d from or ,

t h e w e a p on whi ch h as i nfli ct e d a wound i s carri e d to it ,

t hrough t h e air and w il l undoubt edly h e al it Parac e l s u s

, .

r ep eat s thi s and add s a di s cov e ry o f hi s own

, that ,

m agn e ts p ro p erly a pp li e d wil l ch e ck all abnorm al discharges ,

bl eeding et c and will al so cure ep il ep sy and t etan us fo r

,
.
, ,

whi ch p ur p os e four magn e t s m ust b e fa s t e n e d to t h e four e x

t r e m i t i e s and th e n t h e p ro pe r m e di ci n e s b e giv e n
,
And this .

p aragra p h i s worth more than all t h e h umorali st s h av e writt e n

or taught i n all t h e school s from t h e ir first day until n ow .
 2 64 M ED C I AL H I ST O RY .

l ing e r long es t Th e wall s o f t h e Gal en ic J e richo w er e

.

tott ering with age and wer e alr eady und ermin e d by t h e
,

kni fe o f t h e anatomi st but it may also hav e b een n e c es sary

,

t hat som e o n e s hould blow t h e trum p et and w e m ay admit ,

t hat Parac e l s us bl ew vigorou s ly .

M or e S p ac e h as b ee n d e vot e d to Parac e l s u s th an h e p ro
b ably d es e rv es and t h e j udgm e nt h as b een an un favorabl e
,

o n e ; but i f som e t hing s ar e omitt e d which ar e to h i s cr e dit ,

w e hav e p a s s e d ov er far mor e o f h i s ab s urditi es Hi s .

a dmir e r s p rais e hi s wond e rful str ength o f mind in br e aking

with t h e old tradition s I t may ind ee d excit e our ad mira

.
, ,

tion wh e n a m an lik e Ve sali us s tak es his r e p utation and

l iv e lihood on t h e truths of facts d e ni ed by n e arly al l h i s
fe llows and tri um p hantly demonstrat e s th e m but w hat sort
,

of mind i s r e quir e d for th e a s s e rtion that al l on e s p r e d e

’

c ess o r s w er e con s um mat e idiots and for t h e d e cl amation of ,

m y s tical th e ori es as inca p abl e o f di s p roo f as t h e exi s t e nc e of

gho s t s or M ahat ma s may b e l eft to t h e admir ers of Para
"

c e l s u s to d et e rmin e Th e r e can b e no t e m p tat ion t o j udge

.

h ar s hly now on e who w as harshly j udged in h i s l i fe tim e ,

but w h en t h e notoriou s G e rman i s p lac e d abov e H arv e y ,

a n d Ve s aliu s , and by t h e sid e of H i pp ocrat e s w e m ay at ,

l e ast att e m p t to di s lodge him and to r e d uc e him t o hi s

—
,

p p ro e r l e v e l not i nd eed th at of a m er e drun k e n quack

, , ,

b ut b e low H arv ey b e lo w Ves ali u s and b elow t h e man w hom

, ,

h e robb e d i n t h e dark t h e un known mon k o f E rfurt who

,

c all e d him s e l f Ba s il V al e ntin e .

I t i s im p o s s ibl e to ov e rlook t h e clo s e an alogy b etw ee n

Parac el su s an d H ahn e mann s ee n both in t h e m en an d in
,

t h e ir doct rin e s Th er e i s t h e sam e sudd e n r e action from

.

sc ep ti ci sm t o in fal libility ; t h e sam e ov e rwee ning s e l f con -

fi d en c e and indi s criminat e a bu se of oth e r s ; t h e s am e th e ory

of s pe cifics ba s e d on t h e id e a t hat God m u s t hav e cr e at e d

re m e di e s fo r ev e ry di s e a s e but h as con c e al e d th e m i n a s ort

,

o f p uzzl e t h e solution o f which e stabli sh es a ne w and divin e

,

m e dicin e in p lac e o f t h e ol d and fal s e on e to advan c e w hich ,

s o m any gr e at m e n hav e for age s l abour ed in vain ; e v e n t h e

 P A R A C E LSU S AN D HAHN EMAN N . 26 5

su pp o s e d k ey s to t he p uzzl e ar e in many re s pe ct s sim ilar .

An d w e may t rac e a lik e re s e mbl an c e from t h e hi stori c

st an d p oint Though m e di cin e may hav e in som e d egr ee
.

p rofit e d from t h e controv e r s i e s rai s e d by Parac e l s us and

H ah n e m ann n e ith e r c an rightly b e call e d a r eform e r I t
, .

w as n ot Para c e l sus b ut H arv ey and th e gr e at an atomist s

, ,

whom h e so d e s p is e d who ov e rthr e w G al e ni s m ; it was not

,

H ah n e m ann b ut t h e gre at p at hologi s t s and c lin ician s M or

, ,

gagni B ic hat L a e nn e c who fin al ly d e liv e re d u s from s chool s

, , ,

an d s yst e m s altoge t h e r an d introdu c e d a n ew ep och of ,

s ci e ntifi c m e di cin e T h e t ri um p h o f e ith e r would hav e b ee n

.

l itt l e l e ss t h an di s a strou s : t hat of Parac e l s u s woul d h av e

s ubst it ut e d for Gal e ni s m a n e w s y s t e m mor e di ffic ult to ov e r

t hrow b e cau se l es s i n cont act with fact s ; t hat of H ahn e

,

m an n would h av e form e d an almost fat al hin dranc e to t h e

p rogr e ssiv e d e v e lo p m ent whic h marks t h e m e dicin e o f t h e
p re s e nt c e nt ury .

NO T ES .

T h o ugh ra c e l s u s t alks m uc h o f s i m p li c ity i n m e d i c i n es th e s p ec i

Pa ,

m e n s o f h i s p res c r i p ti o n s w h i c h h ave c o m e d o w n t o u s ar e n o l es s
c o m p li c at e d t h a n t h o s e o f h i s o p p o n e n t s I n d ee d t h e m or e o n e s t u d i es
.

h i s w or k s t h e h ar d e r it i s t o fi n d an y j us t i fi c at i o n fo r t h e titl e r eform er
,
“

o f m ed i c i n e g i v en h i m by s o m e G er m an w r it er s an d t h e i r E n g li s h
c o p yi s t s B y t h e i r fru it s y e s h all k n o w t h e m
. W h e re w er e t h e c e n t re s
.

o f m e d i c a l ac ti v ity a n d p ro gres s d u r i n g t h e l att er p a rt o f t h e s ixt e e n t h

c en t ur y I n G e rm a n y am o n g t h e P arac e l s i s t s N o b ut i n I t aly an d ,

F ran c e a m o ng t h e great an at o m i s t s o n w h o m h e po ur e d t h e v i al s o f h i s
,

a b u s e a n d t h e gr e a t s u r geo n s w h ose ar t h e w o u l d h ave b r o ug h t d o w n

,

t o a m ixt ur e o f d rugg i n g a n d d r i ve lli n g s u p ers titi o n I n t h e c e n t ur y .

s u c c e e d i n g t h e d e a t h o f P a r ac e l s us o n ly t w o G e rm an p r ac titi o n e rs a re
,

n o ti c e a b l e fro m t h e v i e w of ge n e ra l m e d i c a l h i s t o ry ; t h e d i s ti n gu i s h e d

s urge o n F a bri c i u s H i l d an u s a n d t h e great c h e m i s t a n d p h ys i c i a n

, , ,

An d r e w L i b av i u s b o t h o f w h o m w ere s t urd y o p p o n e n t s o f t h e P ar a
,

c el s i s t s .

Th e ab o ve ou tli n e of th e m e d i c a l d o c t r i n es of P ar a c e l sus i s bas ed

u po n t h e F a r a m i r a m, t h e P a r agr anum, an d th e G reat S urgery , w o r ks
wh ic h ar e usua l ly
itt e d t o b e ge n u i n e
ad m . Th e t re ati s es q u o t e d
i n t h e f ll o w i n g c h ap t e r a r e ver y d o u b t fu l b ut
o ,
are n o t t o b e o m itt e d o n

t h at ac c o u nt for Parac e l s us i s r e p r es e n t e d
,
i n m ed i c a l h i s t o ry b y al l
2 66 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

th e w o rks
i c h w ere ge nerally b e li eved to b e by h i m n o t m ere ly by
wh ,

t h os e w h ose a ut h en ti c ity m ay urvive th e ab s t rus e res e arc h es o f th e

s

l at es t l earn ed G erm an .

X LVI I .
-
S I M I LA RS , S Y M PAT H Y , A N D
S I G N AT U RE S .

W E may conv eni ently p au s e h ere to con s id er thr ee i m portant

and clos ely alli ed m e dical doctrin es fir s t C l early form ulat ed
-
,

by Ba s il Val entin e and Parac e l s u s tho s e o f s i m i l ar s , ,

” ”
s ym p athy and s ignatures
, T h e g e rm o f t h es e th eori e s .

may b e s ee n in s uch p rimitiv e b eli efs as t hat t h e s ight o f a

y e llow bird w il l cure j aundic e and in t h e an ci e nt l eg end of ,

t h e s p e ar of Achill es w hi ch h e al e d t h e w o und s it infli ct ed

,
.

Th e u s e o f s i m i l ar s had b e en s an ction e d in s p e cial ca s es by

H i p pocrat e s and i s ind eed a nat ural r es ult o f h i s doctrin e
, , ,

“
of t h e v i s m e di catrix for if som e s ym ptom s in dis eas e
,

ar e d u e to t h e effort s o f N at ur e toward s a c ur e it is th e ,

p hy s ician s obviou s duty to a s s i s t thos e efforts by m e an s of

’

drug s w hich p roduc e s imilar s ym p tom s Analogous th e ori es .

m ay b e trac ed throughout t h e M iddl e Ag es both among

Arab s and C hristians Thu s t h e free thinking p hi loso p h e r .
-
,

Av e rro es writ es ( Col li get v

, N at ure has so arrang e d .

that di se a s ed organ s are b e n e fit e d by p arts S imilar to t h em ,

e .
g in disord e rs o f t h e stomach t h e s tomach s of animal s are
.
,

comm e nd ed es p ecial ly tho s e o f fowl s and fo r a dis e a se d

, ,

l ung t h e l ungs o f anim al s es pe cial ly fox es

, S o too t h e , , ,

bl e ss ed Alb ertu s M agn u s t ell s us : I t is no se cr et how

’

ev ery lik e aid s confirm s l ov es act s u pon and e m brac e s

‘
, , ,

that which i s lik e it quomodo omn e s imil e adj u ve t e t con

fi r m e t s uum s imil e di l i gat et m ov eat e t am p l ec t at u r i l l u d
,

And t h e p hy s i cian s hav e alr e ady a s s ert ed and v erifi ed thi s

fo r th eir p art fo r th ey d eclare that liv e r i s good for t h e
,

”
l iv e r and ev e ry organ fo r i t s li k e
,
Arnald of V illanova .

r ecomm ends t hat al l s oldi e r s wound ed in batt l e s hould drink

a d ecoction of per s icaria or wat er p epp e r and that a powd er -
,
26 8 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

fat tain s from l in e n ; s imilarly antimony is a p oi son but

s , ,

i f tre at e d ch emically it wil l acq uir e t h e p ow er o f drawing

out p oi s on s from t h e human body or in ot h e r word s of , , ,

c uring dis ea s e I t i s int er es t ing t o fin d Parac e l sus u s in g

.

exactly t h e sam e an alogy in almo s t t h e s am e word s to s u p

, ,

p ort h i s doctrin e o f si mi l i a si mi li bus ( M anual e d e L api d e

P hi l osoph or um )
B ut t h e doctrin e of Parac e l s u s may p erh ap s b e m or e , ,

corre ctly ex p r es s ed by anal oga anal ogi s T h e G al e nic th e ory .

o f co n trari es or o f tr e ating hot by cold et c

,
h e d e cl ar es i s ,
.
, ,

and alway s h as b ee n fal s e ; t h e tru e o p p osit ion is b e t w ee n

,

t h e di se a s e and t h e arcanum or r e m e dy w hich corr es p ond s

,

to it Th es e h e com p ar es to two com bat ant s who ar e alik e

.

hot or cold and arm e d w it h S imil ar w e a p on s d efen s iv e and

, ,

O ffe n s iv e ,
fo r it is th u s that N at ur e w il ls h er batt l es s hould
“
f
b e ought S o h e art cur es h e art s p l ee n s p l een l ungs , ,
' ’
l ungs ; not s ow s h eart not co w s s p l ee n not goat s l ungs
,
’

, ,

b ut m e mb er to corre s p on ding m e mb e r of t h e gre at and th e

inn e r m an t h e macrocosm and t h e microco s m ) Th ese .

corr es p ond e n ci es ar e s ho w n by s ign s or s ignat ur es e s p ecially ,

in colour . I f a p lant h as a flow e r of two colours it h as two

virt u es ; i f thr ee thr ee et c , T h e s p in es of t h e thi s tl e
,
.

indicat e that a d e coction of that h erb i s good fo r p ain s in t h e

s id e ; p e r s i caria fo r t h e r e a s on s giv e n abov e i s t h e r e m edy
, ,

for bl eeding wound s ; but t h e l eav es and k e rn els o f t h e

“
p e ach t r ee are al s o u seful for see now on t h e fruit of t h e
-

p e ach i f it i s p res se d by t h e finge r hollow p lac e s r em ain so

, , ,

”
al s o s ev e re wound s l e av e hollow p lac e s b ehind th e m .

L izard s ar e good for ant hrax or carbun cl e as i s p rov e d by ,

t h e ir colour and t h e frog is a s p e cific for p lagu e “ Why i s

,
.

t h e frog s o s trang e ly mad e e xc ep t that h e should b e a

m e dicin e for t h e p l agu e ! Th er efor e h e has h is s ignat ure
t h er e to ; fo r s ee as disgu s ting ( abscheul i ch ) as i s t h e p l agu e ,

s o di s gu s ting i s t h e frog al s o Wh e n a p lagu e is coming

.

frog s hav e bl ack s p ots on th e i r tongu e s : al so s o many frog s

as s i t u p on o n e an oth e r at an un u s ual tim e eg t e n or , . .
,

tw e nty u p on o n e anoth er S how how m any h um an b eings

,
 S Y M PAT H Y . 269

sh al l b e t hrown u po n o n e anoth e r i n o n e grav e For s igna .

t u re s ar e t o b e s ought not on ly i n s ha p e an d colou r b ut , ,

al so in action s Parac e lsu s p roc ee d s with h is usual stre n gth

.
,

of l anguag e t o d e cl are th at t hos e who

, p ro fan e ly doubt t his
m ak e G od a liar for it is H e who cr e at e s m e dicin e s out of
,

t h e e art h an d m arks th e m s o t hat w e m ay r e cogn is e th e ir

,

us e s ( Von der P esti l enz I

B asi l V al e nt in e w as a m an of far mor e s ob e r an d sc i e n
t i fi c m in d t h an Parac e ls us b ut t h e following e xam p l e s hows ,

t o what d e p th s o f ab s urdity ev e n h e could b e brought by t h e

s p irit of mysti ci sm L e ad in t h e language of al ch e my cor
.
, ,

re s p on d s t o S at urn t h e slow m ovi ng m e l an choly p lan e t

,
-
.

Th e refor e according to B a s il t h e salt s of l e ad wil l attract

, ,

to t h e m s e lv e s by s ym p at hy t h e h umours whi ch cau se m e l an

c h o l i a an d so c ur e t hat di s ord e r
, S uch th eori es we r e con .

s i d e r e d by t h e mysti cs p e c uliarly p rofoun d gli m p ses i nto t h e

s e c r e t s of N at ur e an d t h e l es s t h e y w e r e con n e ct e d with
,

com m on s e n se t h e mor e th ey w e r e h e ld to b e d u e to s om e
-
,

s e mi divi n e r e v e l at ion
- an d t h e mor e vigorously did t h ey
,

ab us e t hos e who r ej e ct e d t h e m .

T h e s p e cial int e r es t of t h e s ym p at h et ic oint m e nt an d ,

t h e gr e at n am e s wit h which it i s conn e ct e d will j u s ti fy a

so m ewhat d e tai l e d ac cou nt Thou gh m e ntion e d by B asil .

V al ent in e it s ori gin was univ ersally a s crib e d t o Parac e l sus

, ,

an d t h e fir s t p ubli s h e d d e s cri p t ion o f it i s t h e followin g

assag e from h is A r chi d oxi s M agi c a S ym p at hy do es m u ch
p
.

in hu m an affair s Tak e of mo s s growing on a S ku ll ex

.

o s e d t o t h e w e at h e r an d of h uman fat e ach two o z of

p
.
, ,

m um ia and hu m an blood e ach h al f an oz oil of ro s e s bol e .

, ,

ar m e n i ac e ach o n e oz lin s ee d oil two drach ms M ak e an

.
,
.

oint m e nt an d p r e s e rv e i n a box Wh en you hav e to t r e at

,
.

a wo und s im p ly d i p a s p l int er of wood in t h e blood an d

, ,

wh e n d ry st i ck t h e wood in t h e oint m ent Bandage t h e .

wo un d ev ery mornin g wit h a n ew C loth s oak ed in t h e

p
at i e nt s urin e
’
S o it wil l h e al wit hout any ot h e r a pp lica
.

t ion and you m ay t h u s cur e a p at i e nt t en or t w e nty m il e s

,

off i f you only hav e his blood

, ( Toot hach e may b e t r eat e d .
270 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY

s imilarly al s o a hor se which h as b ee n badly s hod —ver na

,

g el t )
. Th ese ar e al l wond e r s and gi ft s of God Also i f you .

hav e a w e a p on wit h w hi ch a m an has b ee n wound e d and

anoi nt it with a c e rt ain ointm e nt t h e wound wil l h e al wit h ,

out p ain Th e ointm e nt i s t h e sam e as t h e form e r but you

.
,

al so t ake of b eef fat 1 drachm hon ey 1 oz S in c e ho w e v er

, .
,

o n e cannot alway s get t h e w e a p on t h e wood p l an i s b e tt e r .

Ba p ti s ta Porta a s s e rt s on t h e authority of a courti er (M agi ca

N atur al i s viii 1 2 ) that Parac e l s us im p art e d thi s re m e dy to
, .

M aximilian I who val u e d it highly

. I f so h e m u s t hav e .

inv e nt e d it in hi s youth fo r Kai s e r M ax di e d 1 51 9 J e rom e

,
.

“
C ardan w riting about 1 56 8 s ay s : I t is r ep ort e d ( vulg atum
f ama est) that i f a w e ap on with which a m an h as b ee n
wound e d is ex p o se d to t h e air th e p at i e nt s u ffe r s s e v e re p ain ,

and on t h e oth e r hand th at th e re i s an oi ntm e nt w hich

, ,

wh e n a pp li e d to t h e w e ap on will r e li ev e t h e p ati ent as much

a s i f an e ffe ctual r e m e dy had b ee n p lac e d on t h e wound .

A nd to confirm thi s th ey add a d es cri pt ion of t h e ointm e nt

w hich consi s t s o f fran kinc e n s e s a ffron myrrh bd e llium
, , ,

h um an fat ( or at l e a s t bon e ) s arcocolla alo e s c e ntaury

, , , ,

re sin e l e mi s tyrax p e ony root p an ax p itch iri s v e rb e na

, , , , , , , ,

b e tony coccu s
,
r e d cabbag e oz i m u s e l m l e av e s sycamor e
, , ,

j ui c e dregs of th e bath ( bal nei sor des ) win e hon ey and salt
, , , ,

—b ut s om e say th ere are only fourt een ingredi e nt s ” (D e

Ven eni s ii ,

D uring t h e l att er p art of t h e c e nt ury t h e s ym p ath e tic

ointm e nt w as w id e ly u se d es pe cial ly by amat eur p ractition e rs
,

and t h e di s ci p l es o f Parac e l s u s and i n 1 59 2 t h e gre at ch e mi s t

,

an d physi ci an Andr e w Li b avi us p ubli s h e d a s pe ci al tr e ati se

, ,

A gai nst th e P ar acel si c I mpostur e of the Weapon S al ve which , ,

as t h e follo w ing e xt ract s will show could e v e n now hardly ,

“
b e im p rov e d u pon Whil e at J ena ( 1 588) my att e ntion
w as dire ct e d to t h e w e a p on salv e by an i ll ustrious and
wid e ly c e l e brat e d man th e re who firm ly b e li ev e d in it I
, .

argu ed that wound s are c ure d by nature and t hat t h e c e re

m ony i s an im p osture or don e to e n courage t h e p ati e nt and
,

gain his confid e n c e though it may al so be of use by dire ct

,
27 2 M E D I CA L H I S T O R Y .

sym path eti c cure w as alli e d to witch c raft was t h e vi ew t ake n

by mo s t of its o pp on e nt s and it was a p am phl et maintain ing
,

t his th eory p ubl i s h e d by t h e J e suit Rob e rt in 1 6 1 5 whi c h

, , ,

c al l ed fort h t h e abl e st an d mo s t un fort unat e of its d e fe nd e rs ,

J B van H elmont Van H e l mont had alre ady o ffe nd ed a

. . .

l arge p art of hi s own profes s ion an d h e now we nt out of his

,

way to atta c k a more pow e rful clas s I n hi s D i sputati o

.

de M agn eti ca Vul ner um N atur a l i et L egi ti ma Cur ati one, h e re

m ark s that wh en th eologian s go b eyon d th e ir l ast (ul tr a cr e

“
pi dazn) th ey invariably mak e t h e m s elv es ridic ulous What .

marve l i f a t h eologian knows nothing of this matt e r For .

aft e r t h e p ri e st and t h e L evit e had gon e to J e ri c h o cam e t h e ,

layman t h e S am aritan who h as t ak e n from t h e p ri est s al l

, ,

right of in quirin g into n at ural things N at ur e th e refore h as

.

th enc eforth not cal l e d th e th eologian s as h er int e rp r et e rs but ,

”
has ado p t e d t h e p hysi c ian s as h e r son s H e th e n p roc eeds
.

to p rovi d e his o p p on e nts with w e a p on s again s t him s elf .

B asi l Val e nt in e in whol esom e dre ad o f t h e wit ch h unt ers

,
-
,

had d e clar ed t hat t h e sym p ath eti c ointm e nt com p ris es

nothing magical or c ontrary t o H oly S cri p t ure but a c ts ,

through natural forc es al li e d to thos e o f t h e m agn e t and ,

this Van H el m ont i s car eful to r epe at B ut t h e narrow .

p ath of orthodoxy i s bord ere d by p i t fall s on t h e right hand

-

as w el l as on th e l eft an d H e lmont go e s on to as se rt that

,

t h e c ure s wrought by t h e r e lics of saint s and c e rt ai n i mage s

are al s o n ot t ruly s u p e rnat ural but ar e d u e p art ly to t h e
,

fait h of t h e p at i e nt s and p artly to a m agn eti c influ en c e

,

simi lar to t h at of th e famous ointm e nt H i s book was .

t h e refore assail ed bot h by p hysician s an d th e ologi ans and ,

t h e l att e r dis c ov e r e d in it t we nty s ev e n h e ret ical p ro p osi

-

tions o f which t h e above e x ege si s of t h e p arabl e of t h e

,

S amaritan was t h e tw enty fi r s t I t was in vain that Van

-
.

H elmont p rofes s e d his r eadin es s to re cant al l h i s e rrors ,

to su pp re ss and burn h i s book and to b e li ev e e v e ryt hin g

,

whi c h t h e H oly C at holi c an d Roman Churc h h ad d e clar ed

to be matt e rs of faith H e w as arre st e d 4 t h M arch 1 63 4
.
, ,

by ord e r o f t h e Procurator of t h e holy offi c e at M alin e s an d ,

 THE G R E AT A N AT O M I S T S . 273

aft e r a short i m p rison m e nt in a conv e nt was st rict ly con ,

fi n e d to hi s own hou se for four y e ar s nor w as h e fin al l y ,

r e con cil ed t o t h e C h urc h t il l s om e t im e a ft e r his d e at h .

Th e o ft tol d s t ory of S i r K e n e l m D igby an d h i s p owd e r

”
of sym p at hy n ee d not be re pe at e d h e r e I t m e re ly re .

p r e s e nt s a fin al ep isod e of t h e su p e r s tit ion an d contai ns ,

n othing origin al for Van H e l mont h ad alr e ady d e cl ar e d t hat

,

“
c al c an t h os or a mixt ur e of t h e s ul p hat es of co p pe r an d
iron ( wh ich s ee m s to hav e b ee n t h e p owd e r us e d by D igby )
w as quit e a s effe ct iv e as t h e horribl e m e ss p r e s crib e d b y
Parac e l s u s .

T ES NO .

T h e v ar i o u s t re ati s es o n t h e s y m p a t h e ti c o i n t m e n t ar e c o l l e c t ed i n
t h e Th ea tr um Sy mpatheti c um A u c tum N urem b er g 1 662 S e e al s o
, ,
.

G an g l o ff D i sputati o d e Sy mpath i a J e n a 1 6 6 7 ; Li b a i u s Tr actatus d uo

, , ,
v ,

P hy s i ci F r an kfo r t 1 594 ; B r oec k x I nter r oga toi r es d a D r

, , ,
B van H el mon t . .

sur l e M ag neti sm A ni mal An t w e rp 1 8 56

, ,
.

X L V I I I — T H E G RE AT A N AT O M I S T S
. .

T H O U G H t h e int el l e ct ual r evival whi ch durin g t h e fi ft eenth

, ,

and sixt eent h c ent uri es p roduc e d s uch gr e at r esult s in art

, ,

lit e rat ur e a n d re ligion w as s low in effect ing a r evol ut ion in

, ,

m e di cin e t h e act ivity in oth er dir e ction s had i m p ortant i nfl u

,

en c es on t h e h e aling art W e hav e alre ady s een how t h e

.

st udy of classical lit erat ure gav e ris e t o a Gr ee k as o pp o se d ,

to t h e dominant Gr eco Arabi c s chool of p hysicians who s e

-
, ,

controv er s i es la s t ed mor e t han a c ent u r y and how t h e rej ec ,

t ion of a uthority in r el igion coin cid ed wit h t h e a pp e aran c e of

m e di cal an arch i s t s and fr eethink e r s o f whom Parac e lsu s was ,
.

t h e ch i ef Th e re nai s s anc e of art was not wit hout st i m u l at

.

i n g effe ct s u p on anot h e r form of activity in m edi cin e l e ss ,

noisy and cons p ic uous b ut d es t in e d to p rodu c e far gr eat er

,

and more p erman ent r esults .

Two c ent uri e s had e la ps ed sin c e M ondino of Bologn a

18
2 74 I AL
M ED C I T RY
H S O .

res tore d anatomy but hardly any p rogr e ss had b ee n mad e

,
.

Bodi es w er e o pe n e d rath er than dis se ct e d and littl e mor e ,

w as don e than to p oint out how t h e p o s ition of t h e vi s c e ra

corres p ond ed with t h e d es cri p tion s of G al en T h e r e quir e .

m e nt s of t h e gre at arti s t s L e onardo da Vinci Ra p hae l

,
- -
, ,

M icha e l Ang e lo d e mand ed s om ething mor e than t hi s and

, ,

wh en in 1 52 1 B er en gar of C arp i Pro fes s or at Bologna

, , , ,

s p r e d e c es s or s work int e nd e d
’

p ubli s h e d a comm e ntary on h i

fo r arti s t s as w ell as p hy s i cian s and cal ling in qu es t ion a s s e r
,

t ion s not onl y of M ondino but of G al e n him s e l f h e inaugur

,
“

at ed a n e w e r a—t hat of t h e gre at anatomi s t s S p ac e wil l .

not p e rm it t h e e n um e rat ion of t h e variou s di s cov e ri es att r i

but e d to e ach of t h e di st ingui s h e d m en to b e now bri efly
m e ntion e d nor ar e s uch li s t s o f much hi s tori cal val u e ; t h e
,

t w o fact s im p ortant to notic e ar e t h e gradual un d e rmin ing

o f t h e G al e nic in fallibility an d t h e anatomi cal p r e p aration

,

fo r H arv e y s gre at di s cov e ry B er e n gar did s om e thing in

’
.

t hi s dir e ction by car efully d e s cribing t h e s truct ur e and valv e s

o f t h e h e art but t h e r e al b eginn e r of t h e work w as An dr ew

V es aliu s born at Brus s els 1 51 4 ; p ro fe s s or at Pad ua 1 53 7 4 6
, ,
-
,

whil e h e tau g ht al s o at B ologna and Pi s a ; di e d 1 564 s hi p ,

wr e ck e d o n t h e I s l and of Z ant e Why i s Ves aliu s t h e .

gr e at es t of anatomi s t s ! N ot b e caus e o f t h e fact s h e

di s cov e re d for in th ese h e w as e quall e d i f not s ur p a s se d by
, , ,

E ustachiu s and Fallo p i u s ; but b e cau se h e fir s t s aw that it

w as us e l es s to contin u e comm e nting u p on or corr e cting
Gal en and M on di no and that an atomy mu s t b e gin a fre s h ;
,

and b e cau s e h e mad e thi s fre sh b egin ning as w e ll as any ,

s ingl e man could mak e it in h i s immortal work On the

,

S tr uctur e of th e H uman B ody p ublish e d 1 543 wh e n h e was

, ,

o nly tw e nty nin e y e ar s old

-
Th e im p ort anc e of thi s work i s
.

b es t see n in t h e attack s of th e G al e ni s t s es p e cially of h i s ,

“
mast e r S ylviu s who call e d him
, ,
a madman ( vesanus) ,

whos e p es til e ntial bre ath p oi s on s E uro pe i n t h e admira

tion of s uch m e n as Fal lo p iu s and Par é ; and abov e al l in , ,

t h e im p ul s e whi ch it gav e to t h es t udy o f an atomy A few .

y e ars a ft e r i t s p ublication t h e p ro fe s s ori al chair s o f t h e

2 76 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

s ci e n c e was at l east a p romi s e o f gre at e r t hings t o com e

, , ,
.

B ut t h e only country which could in any way com p ar e with

I taly was Fran c e Wh en t h e C ol l ege d e Fran c e was
, .

e s tabli s h e d in 1 53 0 t h e y se nt for G uido G uidi from Flor e n c e

to organi se t h e m e di cal faculty an d h e di d s o wit h a ra p idity ,

an d s ucc ess whi ch cau se d t h e wit s of t h e age to d e cl are t hat

Vi dus Vi di us veni t vi di t vi ci t H e l eft t h e contin uation of
, , .

h i s work to J acqu es D uboi s ( S ylviu s ) of A mi e ns a t e ach e r of

m e n gr e at e r t han hi m se l f—Ves al i u s S e rv et us E t i e n n e —to
,

, ,

whom how e v e r though t h e fri e n d of Gal e n rat h e r than o f

, ,

truth an atomy i s ind e bt e d for m uch of i t s nom e n clat ur e

,
.

H e chi efly di ss e ct e d an imals p erha p s from t h e di fficulty of ,

obtaining h Ii m an s ubj e ct s whi ch com pe l l e d Ves alius to rob ,

t h e gal lows and t h e ge ntl e and p iou s Rond e l e t to in augurat e

,

h i s anato mical t h e atr e at M ont p e lli e r by diss e ct ing t h e body

o f o n e o f his own childr e n .

T h e history o f t h e di s cov e ry o f t h e valv e s in t h e v e in s i s

o f s p e cial int e r e s t an d im ort anc e D r Wi lli s in h i s L ife of
p . .

H ar vey attribut e s it to S ylvius ( I sagoge Ve n ic e

, , ,

mo s t Fr e n ch writ e rs giv e t h e cr e dit to E ti e nn e 1 54 5 ; ,

S p r eng e l H aeser and t h e G e rmans g e n e ral ly ascrib e t h e

, , ,

di s cov e ry t o C anani 1 54 6 ; whil e H arv e y s t utor Fabriciu s

, ,

of Aqua p e nd e nt e cl aim s t h e honour fo r hi m se l f 1

, 57 4 Th ere ,
.

i s no doubt that S ylvi u s m e ntion s t h e valv es in h i s I sag og e .

Th ey ar e found h e s ay s in t h e v e na azygos t h e j ugulars , , ,

brachials fe moral s and t h e trunk o f t h e v e na cava wh e re it

, ,

l e av es t h e liv er an d th ey r e s e mbl e in form an d function

,

t ho s e at t h e origin of t h e gr e at v e ss el s o f t h e h eart B ut .

t h e I sagoge w as first p ubl ish e d in 1

555 ; t h e r e w as an
e dition at Ve nic e in t h e fol lowing y e ar an d D r Willi s was , .

p erha p s d e c e iv e d by a mi s p ri nt S ylvi us how ev e r may v ery .

, ,

p o s s ibly hav e noti c e d t h e valv es as e arly as 1 53 6 an d h i s ,

p u p il E t i e nn e not im p robably borrow e d from him t h e a s se r

tion that t h e re are valves in t h e h ep at ic v ein s which p r e ve nt
t h e r e gurgitation of t h e blood Th e re are of co urs e no s uch .
, ,

valv e s in man t hough th e y ar e sai d to e xi s t in s om e animal s

, .

T h e claim o f C anani r es t s on t h e evid en c e o f his cont e m

 I
D S CO V E RY OF VA LV E S IN TH E VEI N S . 27 7

p or ar i es . A mat us L usi t an us ob s erv e s ( i I f you p ut .

a t ub e in t h e u
pp e r p art of t h e v e n a cava an d bl ow down
wards bot h t h e v e n a cava an d t h e azygo s wil l b e i nfl at e d ;
,

but i f you blow int o t h e low e r p art of t h e v e n a azygo s t h e air

will n ot p a s s int o t h e cava b eca us e of a valv e an d o perculum
whi ch exi sts at t h e ir j un ct ion An d t h e re is not t h e l e ast .

doubt of thi s for I hav e p rov e d it a thou san d t im e s For .

in 1 547 at F e rrara I caus e d tw e lv e bodi es of m e n an d

anim al s to b e di s s e ct e d an d both I an d a gre at com p any
,

o f l e arn e d s e ctators s aw t hat all h a

p pp e n e d as d e s crib e d .

As al s o was ob s e rv e d by t hat ad mirabl e anatom i s t J B ,

. .

C anani Fallo p i us writing t o Ve s al iu s 1 56 2 s ay s th at

, , ,

“
h e could find n o s uch valv e s N or i s C anani s uch a fool
.

( neque i ta i n eptus est C ann anus) that h e could not e a s ily

h av e s e e n t h e large and p at e nt o p e ning b e tw e en t h e
v e n a azygos an d v e na cava an d h e con clud e s that e it h e r
,

Amatu s m ad e a s t range e rror or that C an an i w as h aving a ,

“
j oke at h i s e x p en s e To thi s V es ali us rep li e s : Wh et h e r
.

you t hin k C anan i was am using him s e l f at my e x p e n s e as ,

w e l l as t hat of Am atu s I know not For wh e n I m e t h i m

,
.

i n con sult ation at Rat i s bon on t h e cas e of Fran ci s o f E s t e ,

h e told m e h e had s ee n valv es i n t h e v e n a azygo s in t h e ,

r e n al v e in s an d at t h e bi fu rcat ion o f t h e v e n a cava n e ar t h e

,

p rom ontory of t h e sacrum r ese mbli ng in sha p e t ho s e o f

,

t h e aorta an d p ulm on ary art e ry and s e rving t o hin d e r r efl ux

, ,

”
o f b lood . Ve salius d et e rmin e d to v e ri fy t hi s on t h e first
“
o p p ort unity b ut fail e d to fi nd t h e m H as namque n on r eper i
, ,

but th e r e i s a c e rtain thi ckn e s s an d sw el ling ( extu ber an ti am)

at t h e orific es Of t h e v e in s whi ch I s u p po se th e y h av e m i s
, , ,

t a k e n for valv es As a m att e r o f fact th e re u s u al ly ar e

.

valv e s i n t hi s po sit ion b ut th ey ar e rar e ly effe ct iv e Wh e n

, .

th ey are effe ctiv e th ey act in a way exact ly th e r eve r s e of

,

that con cl ud e d by Am atu s from h i s t ho usand e x p e rim e nt s

Ve sali u s was at Rati sbon in 1 54 6 .

I n 1 56 5 E u s tachius d es crib e d an d figur e d t h e valv e at

t h e e n d o f t h e coron ary v e i n o f t h e h e art C olumbu s 1 559 .
, ,

d e c lare d that t h e r e are valv e s in t h e m e s e nt eri c v e in s per

278 I AL
M ED C H I S T O RY .

mitting fl uid to e nt e r from t h e int es tin e but p r e v e nting it s ,

r egurgit ation H ad h e di s cov e r e d t h e valv e s of t h e l act e als !

.

P os t h i u s a p u p il o f Rond e l e t comm e nting u p on t hi s in

, ,

1 59 2 s ay s t h e r e are no valv es in t h e m e s e nt e ri c v e in s b ut
, ,

v e ry large and di s tin ct on es i n t h e femoral Final ly Fabri .

ciu s p ubli s h e d his tr e ati se D e Ven ar um Osti ol i s in

1 60 3 w ith b e aut i ful i l lust rat ion s o f t h e valv es w hi ch h e
, ,

d e cl ar es s e rve li k e t h e lock s and w e irs on a riv e r to p re v e nt

, ,

t h e too ra p id flow of t h e n utrit iv e fluid and to e n sur e i t s ,

e quabl e dist rib ution .

Thi s i s a t ruly marv e llou s s tory A gr e at G al e ni c ana .

t o m i s t i s t h e fir s t to giv e a ful l and corr e ct d e scri p tion of

t h e valv e s an d th e ir fun ction but fail s to s ee t hat any modi ,

fi c at i o n of t h e old vi ew as to t h e motion o f t h e bl ood i s r e

quire d T w o abl e di s se ctor s car efully t e st t h e ir action by
.

e x p e ri m e nt and com e to a res ult t h e exact rev e rse of t h e

,

t ruth U rge d by th em t h e two for e mo s t an atomi s t s of t h e

.

age m ak e a s p e cial se arch fo r valv e s and fai l t o fi nd th e m .

Finally p a ss ing ov e r l e s s e r p e culi arit i es an age d and

, ,

honourabl e p rofe s s or who h as liv e d through al l thi s calmly

, ,

a s se rt s th at no anatom i s t an ci e nt or mod e rn had e v e r , ,

m e ntion e d valv es in t h e v eins til l h e di s cov e re d th e m in

1 57 4 !
I t i s int e res ting to n ot e th at t h e t hr ee mo s t distingui s h ed
p u p ils of t h e gre at orthodox anatomi s t w e re accu se d of
h er e sy in re ligion as we l l as s ci e nc e Ve s aliu s was per .

s ec u t e d by t h e th e ologians E ti e nn e p e ri s h e d i n t h e dung e on s
,

o f t h e I nqui s it ion whil e S e rv e t u s as all know m et a

, , ,

y et more t e rribl e fat e at t h e hand s o f C alvin B ut t h e man .

who n e arly ant ici p at e d H arv ey d es e rv e s more t han a m e re

m e ntion M e di cal hi story fir s t m ee t s with M icha e l S e rv et u s
.
,

M A M B
. .
, Pari s on a F e bruary a ft e rnoon 1 53 8 i n t h e
. .
, , , ,

anatomy th e at r e o f that u nive r s ity wh e re h e h as j ust ,

fi ni s h e d dis s e cting a h um an s ubj e ct and i s di s p ut ing with ,

t h e d e an o f t h e m e dical faculty about s om e a s trological

l e ct ur e s h e had b ee n giving A fe w day s lat e r h e s e nd s .

“ ”
c e rt ain I t alian fri end s to a p ologis e to t h e d e an It .
2 80 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

Th e arly anatomi s ts in curr ed risk s of m any kind s as

e ,

may b e illu s t rat e d by t h e fol lowin g s tory from Al exan d e r

B e n edict u s p ro fe ssor at Padua at t h e b egin ning of t h e
,

c e ntu ry .At t h e clo s e of t h e an atomy cours e at Padua a ,

m edical s t ud e nt l eft t h e univ e r s ity taking wit h him s om e,

bon e s which h e k ep t in a box with s w ee t h erb s Arrivin g .

at Ve nic e i n t h e ev ening h e l eft hi s l uggage at an in n and

, ,

w e nt out to e nj oy hi m se l f I t got v ery lat e and h e did not

.

“
r et urn so t h e im p ud e nt family o f t h e p u blican
,
took
p o s s e s s ion of h i s baggage an d o pe n e d it in p re s en c e of t h e
,

p oli c e. Th er e t h e y foun d t h e bon e s and re cogni s ing an ,

o dour of sanctity p roc ee d e d to ador e t h e m w ith bar e d h e ad s

,

a n d b e nd e d kn ee s Th e n th ey took th e m to t h e m agi s trat e

.

a n d accus e d t h e un fortun at e s t ud e nt o f r i fl i n g t h e s hrin e o f

s om e s aint in ord e r to s t udy t h e p ro fan e s ci e n c e of anatomy

,

on h i s bon es I n anoth e r age or p lac e h e might hav e b ee n

.

tort ure d till h e con fes s e d t h e nam e of t h e saint and burnt ,

for sacril eg e a ft e rward s ; but t h e Ve n e tian se c ular arm

was th e n s trongly in favour of anatomi s t s an d h e w as ,

r es cu e d by Fran ci s cus S an ut us c o n s i l i ar i u s vir s umm ae

, ,

virtuti s h i s acc u s er s getti ng nothing but ridicul e B en edi ct

, .

t e l l s t h e s tory s o vividly t hat it s e em s not un li k e ly that h e

w as him s e l f t h e h e ro o f i t .

I t i s v e ry int e res ting to r e ad t h e origin al d e scri p tion s

o f variou s p arts of our anatomy as giv e n by t h e ir di s cov e r e rs ,

but con s id e ration s o f s p ac e confin e u s to t h e foll o w ing ac

count of t h e pons or bridge of t h e brain by C on stantin e ,

“
V arolius I ob se rv e anoth e r large p roc es s o f t h e c e re
b e llu m whi ch I hav e not found n oti c e d by any though t h e ,

follo w ing d es cri p tion wil l S how i t s gre at im p ortan c e Th ere .

a ri se s from e ith e r s id e o f t h e c e r e b e ll um a p roc es s which

p a s se s downward s an d forward s embracing t h e s p in al cord

s om e what in t h e sam e way as t h e broad t ran s v e r s e m uscl e s

o f t h e larynx forming t h e third p air of common mu s cl es

,

( in ferior p harynge al s ) e mbrac e t h e t o p of t h e gull et Any .

o n e may see t h e p o s ition o f thi s p roc e ss i n t h e s kull wh e r e

i s a we l l m ark e d tran sv e r s e d ep res s ion j ust in front o f t h e

 THE R E FO R M O F SU R GE RY . 28 1

foram e n for t h e s p in al cord Th e m od e rn o ppon e nts of Gal en .

acc us e hi m wrongful ly wh e n t h e y s ay t hat h e was mistak e n

i n att ri but i ng t h e origin of so m e n e rv e s to t h e c e r eb e ll um ,

for t h e au ditory n e rv e s an d I b e l i e v e s o m e ot h e r s al so ari s e , ,

from t hi s p roc es s M ay I giv e a n am e to my di s cov e ry !

.

W h e n I saw t h e s p in al cord p as s in g und e r this t ran s v e r s e

p roc e ss l ik e a can al un d e r s om e bridg e I fo r t h e s ak e of , ,

c l e arn es s call e d it t h e bridge of t h e c e r e b e ll um and hav e

, ,

”
l ong b ee n acc u s t om ed to u s e t h e t e rm (E p ad M er cur i al em ) . .

NO TES
C a rp i , Commentar i a l o gn a 1 52 1
S uper A natomi a m M u nd i ni , Bo ,
.

V es ali u s D e Corpor i s H umani F a br i cd B as e l 1 543

, A ve r y fu ll ac c o u n t , ,
.

o f h i s b i o r a h y an d o f t h e
g p gre a t an a t o m i s t ge n er ally m ay b e fo u n d i n
,
s ,

Ro t h A nd r eas Vesa l i us B uxel l ens i s B e r li n 1 89 2

, r , ,
.

F or t h e U n i ver ity o f P ad u a d ur i n g t h e s ixt een t h c e n t ury s ee P ap a

s

d o p o l i H i s tor i a Gy mnas i i P atavi ni V e n i c e 1 7 2 7 Y r i ar t e L a Vi e d un

’

, , ,
.
,

P a tr i c i en d e Veni se d a x vi S i ecl e c ap ix .
,
. .

Vi c ar y s an at o m y h as b e e n rec e n tly p u b li s h e d by th e E ar ly E ng li s h
’

T ext S o c i e ty .

S yl v i u s n a m ed t h e c y s ti c ga s t r i c i n terc o s t al p o p lit e al an d o t h er, , , ,

a r t e r i es a n d m an y m u s c l e s i n c l ud i n g t h e o b t ur a t o rs
,
I t i s n o t h e b ut
, .
,

h i s y o u n ge r n a m es a ke S yl v i us o f L e y d e n w h o i s rec o r d e d i n t h e fi s s ure
, ,

a n d a q ue d u c t o f t h e b ra i n H ere i s h i s d e s c r i p ti o n of t h e val ves

.

M e m b r a n e q u o q u e e p i p h y s i s e s t i n o r e ve n e azy gi as o r u m q u e a l i o r um ,
v

m ag n o r u m se p e, ut j ugul ar u m ,
b r a c h i al i u m , c r u r al i u m , t r u n c oc av e ex

h ep at e p r o s i l i e n t i s , us u s j
e u s d em
’

c um m e m b r an i s o ra vas oru m c or d s i
c l au d e n t i b u s ( I sagoge, i .

For Se rve t u s s ee W il li s ,
S er vetus and Cal vi n, t h e revi ew of th is wo rk
i n t h e Th eol ogi cal Revi ew, 1 8 7 8, an d es p ec a i l ly t h e n um er o u s p ap e rs by
P as t o r To l l i n in Ro h l fs A r chi v ’
an d o t h e r p er i o d i c a l s .

A B e n e d i c tu s, S i ngu l i s Corpor um M or bi s
. Remed i a, et c .
,
B as e l ,
1 50 8, v .

23 ( s t o ry of th e t
s u d ent) I n b o o k xxii c ap 4 8 t h ere i s d i s ti n c t m e n ti o n
. . .

of lit h o t r ity : “
A l i qu i i n t u s s i n e p l ag a l ap i d e m c o n te r un t fe rre i s i n
s t r um ent i s qu o d ,
e q ui d e m t ut u m non i nv en i m us

X L I X —T H E RE F O RM . O F S U RG E RY .

T H E p rogre s s of
anatomy not on ly p av e d t h e way fo r
H arv e y , b ut brought with it a n ew su rge ry fou n d ed no ,
2 82 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

longe r on Gal e n and Albucasi s b ut on nat ur e an d ex p e ri e n c e ,

.

M any of t h e di s tingui s h e d an atomi s t s alr e ady m e ntion e d

w e re al s o abl e s urge on s Fal lo p i u s was both s urge on and
.

p hy s i cian and h e re ar e two exam p l e s of h i s p ractic e t h e

-
, ,

fir s t r e cord e d by h i s fri e nd V idu s Vidiu s t h e s e con d by

, ,

hi m s e l f
. C ir s oid an e uri s m Art e ri es s om e tim e s dilat e li k e
.

vari co se v e in s but more rare ly b e caus e t h e ir wal l s are

,

t hick e r I s aw ho w eve r Al ex B os c o l l i of Flor e n c e t h e

.
, ,
.
,

art e ri es of t h e back o f who se h e ad from v ert ex to occi p ut

w e re s o s w oll e n that th e y re s e mbl e d huge varic e s and p ul ,

s at e d v e h e m e ntly H e cam e to Pi s a to b e c ur e d by G abri e l

.

Fallo p i us who p rovid e d a gre at a ppa ratu s for e xci s ing t h e

,

tum ou r ; but wh e n h e b egan h e w as t e rrifi e d by i t s s ize and ,

so l et it alon e l es t t h e man s hould bl ee d t o d e ath H e liv e d

, .

“
long aft e r M ed I I ii .
,
Wh e n I w as p ro
.
,
.

fess or at Pi s a I att e nd e d t h e n un s i n t h e conv e nt of S t

, .

Paul to t h e E ast Th e r e w as a lady abb e ss th e re and wh en

.
,

I gav e h er p i ll s s h e did not swallow t h e m but s qu eez e d ,

th em flat w ith h er finge r s like littl e cak es moist e n e d on e ,

s id e with s al iva and a p p li e d th e m to t h e r e gion o f h er

,

stom ach und e r a tight bandag e I n four or fi ve hour s h e r .

bow el s act e d j ust as i f s h e had t ak e n t h e p ill s I obs e rv e d .

t his in t h e re ve re nd abb es s during two y e ar s and it s ee m e d ,

”
to m e li ke a m iracl e (D e P ur g c ap . .

M e di e val s urg e on s r e lying on a mi s tran s lat e d a p hori s m of

,

H i pp ocrat es h e ld that wound s of c e rtain organ s es p e cially

, ,

t h e brain w e re al w ay s fatal S om e ca s es a ppe aring to d i s

.

p rov e thi s had alr e ady b ee n notic e d by s uch w rit e r s as

Th e odoric and H e n ry of M ond e vil l e and i t s com p l et e re
, ,

fu tat i o n in t h e s ixt ee nth c ent ury h e l p e d furth er to ov e rthrow

e xc es s iv e tru s t in authority B er e n gar of C arp i and N ichola s
.

M a s sa ( a famou s V e n e t ian s urg e on ) r e lat e n um e rou s i n ,

s tan c e s Oi brain inj ury w hich r e cov e r e d und e r th e ir han d s ,

callin g God and man to w it n es s that th e y ar e al l tru e w ith

what see m s to us quit e u nn e c es s ary v eh e m e nc e B ra s s avola .

( 1 50 0 p ro fes s or of m edi cin e at F e rrara com m e nting ,

“
on t h e above m e ntion e d a p hori s m s ay s : I s aw a s oldi e r ,
2 84 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

( 1 50 5 7 0
-
Ga s pe r Tagliacozzi ( 1 54 5 and Fabricius
H i l d an u s 1 560
Th e first o f th e s e j ust ly call e d t h e fath e r o f Fre n ch
,

s urg e ry ros e from t h e lo w es t ran k o f h i s p ro fes s ion to be

,

councillor of s t at e an d s urge on to fou r king s of Fran c e ,

and e nrich e d hi s art both by t h e r es toration of ol d an d t h e

inv ention o f n ew m od es of t r e atm e nt S om e thing of hi s .

charact e r and o n e of h i s most im p ortant i nnovations may

, ,

b e l e arn e d from t h e following s hort en e d story of h i s fi rs t

c am p aign I n 1 53 6 h i s tw e nti eth y e ar Par é w e nt as
.
, ,

surge on of in fant ry with t h e e x pe dition to Turin I n t h e .

fir s t engagem e nt a C a ptain l e Rat w as woun d e d I .

”
dress e d him G od cure d him s ay s Par é a p hras e which h e
, , ,

r ep e at s e l sew h e re and whi ch i s now e ngrav e d u p on his

,

s tat u e . O n e nt e ring S u s a h e found three badly wound ed

-

“ ”
m en in a barn C an th ese m e n l iv e ! a s k e d an old
“ ”
s oldi e r w h o fol low e d him and wh e n P ar e s aid N o h e
, , ,

we n t u p to th e m and cut all th e ir throat s s w eetly and

without wrath douc e m e nt et s an s c h ol é r e T h e young
s urg e on w as horrifi e d but s oon had oth e r things to thin k
,

o f for in t h e n e xt fight th e r e w e r e so many w oun d e d that

,

t h e boiling oil with which gun s hot inj uri es w e r e th e n tr e at ed ,

in t h e b e li ef that th e y w e r e p oi s on e d w as exhau s t e d and , ,

Pa r e w as oblige d to r es ort to a sim p l e dr es s ing H e de .

s crib e s h i s anxi ety during t h e n ight as to t h e fat e o f t ho s e

.

thu s t r e at e d and h i s am az e m e nt at t h e favourabl e r es ult

, ,

whi ch d e t e rmin e d him n e v e r to us e t h e old t r e atm e nt again .

’
Among Par é s oth e r s e rvi c es are t h e re int roduction of ligat ure
in am p utation an d of p odalic v e r s ion in ob s t e t ric s ; t h e i n
,

ve n t i o n o f im p rov e d form s o f s urgical in s t rum e nt s ; t h e dis

t in ction b etw een fract ure s of t h e n e c k and s ha ft o f t h e : high

bon e ; and his n otic e of t h e fact that sound t eeth accid e ntal ly
kn ock e d or p ul l e d out m ay b e succ e ss fu lly rep lac e d in th e ir
socke t s Par é li k e P arac e l s u s wrot e in his n ativ e tongu e
.
, , ,

but though a r eform e r h e was no revolutioni s t and o n e o f

, ,

“
hi s a p hori s m s A t ri e d r em e dy i s b ett e r than o n e n ewly
,

”
i nv e nt e d may s till b e r e m emb e re d with advant age
, .
 F R A N CO —TA GL I A C O ZZ I . 2 85

Th e arl i e s t known ac cou nt of what i s p e rha p s t h e

e , ,

m ost im p ortant of s urgical o p e rations ( t hat for t h e re li ef of

st rangul at e d h e rn ia ) was p ubli s h e d by P e t e r Fran co i n
,

A D 1 556
. . I t was rep e at e d by Par é in 1 57 5 an d by Rou s s e t
.
,

i n 1 58 1 n e it h e r of wh om con d es c e n ds to m e nt ion Fran co

, ,

fo r h e b e lon g e d to a C las s who w e r e con s id e re d un worthy

of t h e n am e o f s urge on s t h e t rav e l l ing lit hot omist s
,
P e t er .

b itt e rly l am e nt s t h e low es tat e of h i s frat e rnity : Th e

p hysi ci an s and surg e ons ev e n t h e a p oth e cari e s can d efe n d
, ,

t h e m s e lv e s wh e n t h e y ar e un fort un at e b ut i f w e h av e a ,

m ish a p w e m ust o ft e n run for our liv e s S o m e of h i s col

l e agu e s h e adm it s d es e rv e p uni s h m e nt as m uc h as high
, ,

waym e n “
for t h ey fe ar n e it h e r God nor man b ut p l un d e r
, ,

an d t ort ur e t h e ir p at i e nt s on p re t e n c e of b e n e fit ing t h e m
H i s s kil l how ev e r soon rai s e d him t o a high e r ran k an d
, , ,

h e b e cam e o n e o f t h e salari e d s urg e on s of t h e Rep ubli c of

B e rn . Franco i s most wid e ly kn own as t h e fi r s t p e rform e r
o f s u p ra p ubic lithotomy and h i s work s though writt e n in an
, ,

il l it e rat e s tyl e cont ain t h e cl e ar e st d e s cri p tion s of s urgi cal

,

ro c e d ur e s to b e m e t wit h sin c e cl a ss i cal tim e s H is d e

p .

“ ”
s cri p ti on of t h e sym p t om s of s ton e i s es p e cially good ,

“
b ut w e h av e on ly s p ac e t o giv e t h e C l assificat ion In
p h l e gm ati c p e rson s s ton e s are u s ually wh it e s mooth an d , ,

grow ra p idly ( p ho s p h at e s ) I n t h e m e lan choli c th ey are

.

b lac k rough hard an d grow s lowly ( oxalat e s )

, , ,
I n th e .

chol eric th e y ar e r e ddi s h an d o f ra p id growth but s om etim e s ,

so ft ( urat es )
T h e fam e of T agliacozzi p rofes s or of surg e ry at B ologna
, ,

re st s u p on a S ingl e o p e ration th at of r h i n op l as m or t h e , ,

m an ufact ur e of n ew no s es Thi s fe at origin ally ach i e v e d

.
,

by t h e H in du s h ad be e n ac com p lish e d in anoth e r mann e r

,

i n t h e p r e c e din g c e nt ury by c e rt ain S i ci lian and C alabrian

surge on s who p ract i se d it as a fam ily s e cre t
.
P e rh a p s t h e .

e arl i e st e xi sti ng noti c e of t h e o p e rat ion is t h e fol lowi ng l e tt e r

whi ch C al e nt i n o a N e a p olit an p o e t wrot e in 1 4 4 2 to his

, ,

“
fri e n d Or p h i an who had lost his nos e : I f you want a n ew
,

nos e p ay m e a visit B ranca a S icilian surge on has foun d

.
, ,
2 86 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

a way to res tore lost no s es H e eith er takes fl e sh from t h e

.

p ati e nt s arm or e ngra ft s on him a s l av e s nos e T h e thi ng

’ ’
.
,

i s truly marv e l lou s ! A s s oon a s I s aw it I mad e ha s t e to

se nd you t h e n e w s for to whom could it b e mor e i m p ort ant
,

Re ly u p on it i f you com e hith e r you can go a w ay with as

, ,

”
many no se s as you lik e To Tagliacozzi howe v e r b e long s
.
, ,

t h e cr e dit o f fir s t ful ly d es cribing t h e o p e ration of inv e sti ,

gating t h e natur e of t h e p roc ess and of carrying it out w ith ,

t h e mo s t bri lliant s ucc e s s H i s fam e as a r es tore r o f no se s

.

s p r e ad throughout E uro pe an d Bologn a w as fill e d with h i s

,

p ati e nt s. B ut thi s s ucc es s w as not w ithout alloy ; h e was

bitt erly attack e d by t h e s am e clas s of th e ologian s w h o
a ft e rward s o pp o se d as i m p iou s t h e introduction of inocul a
t ion fo r s mall po x an d t h e u s e of chloroform in ob s t etric s
-
, .

Th ey now accu s e d Ta g liacozzi of im p iou s ly p r es uming on

t h e fun ct ion o f t h e C r e ator an d attribut e d t h e s ucc e s s of his
,

o p e ration to t h e a s s i stan c e of t h e d e vil An d th e i r ho s til .

ity p ur s u e d him ev e n to t h e grav e For m any night s aft e r .

h i s burial t h e n uns o f a n e ighbouring conv e n t h eard a t er

ribl e voic e which cri e d
,
Tagliacozzi is damn e d ! and t h e
,

C l e rgy o f B ologn a th e r e u p on ord e r e d t h e gr e at s urge on s ’

body to b e ca s t out of t h e church and buri e d in un c o n se

crat e d e arth H i s c o l l eagu es h ow ev er rai s e d him a s t atu e
.
, ,

in t h e anatomy s chool wh e r e h e s t ands im mortali s e d a no s e

, ,

in h i s han d .

Wil liam Fabry of H ild e n n e ar D u s se ldorf who s e nam e

, , ,

i s re cord e d in m e dical hi s tory as Fabrici u s H i l d an u s was ,

worthy to hav e b ee n th e Par é or ev e n t h e J ohn H unt e r of

,

G e rmany ; but h e was un fortunat e in t h e tim e of hi s birth ,

for t h e good see d h e sow e d fe l l on fi e l d s al re ady p lant e d

with t h e tare s o f Parac e l s ic my s ti ci s m an d d es tin e d to be ,
’

p lough e d by t h e cannon of t h e t hirty y e ars war Though .

without a univ e r s ity education h e h ad gain e d an intimat e ,

knowl e dge both of G re ek an d L atin and it was t h e obj e ct ,

of his li fe to rai s e s urg e ry to t h e dign ity o f a sci e n c e and ,

t h e s urge on to t h e ran k o f t h e p hy s ician To thi s e n d h e .

contin ually urges t h e st ud ent to k eep abre a s t of t h e in cr e asing

2 88 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

hit on t h e ve ry thing I k ep t t h e ey e o pe n wit h bot h han d s

. ,

whil e sh e h e ld a magn e t as C lo s e as p o s s ibl e to it and aft e r ,

se v e ral trials ( for h e coul d not s tan d t h e n e c es s ary light long)

w e s aw t h e iron l e a p from t h e ey e to t h e ston e Thi s i n .

e n i o u s lady w as a Fr e nch S wi s s from G e n e va nam e d M ari e

g ,

C olin e t who i n h er hu s ban d s ab s e n c e coul d not on ly t re at

’

, , ,

di s e a ses o f h er ow n se x but e v e n cas es of fract ur e d ribs and

,

l egs .

Th e follo w ing i s an int e r es ting e xam p l e of no s e making

Wh e n t h e D u k e of S avoy wage d war again st G e n eva A D , . .

1 59 0 th e re fe l l into t h e han d s o f t h e soldi e r s a mod e s t an d

,

p ious maid en S u s ann ah N ,

q uam c um s t u p rare frustra
t ent ass ent et h ac d e re m axim e i r a exc i t i es se n t th ey c ut off
, ,

h er no se Two y e ars lat e r J ohn G r i ffo n i us a mo s t inge nious

.
,

s urg e on and v e ry fort unat e in h i s p ractic e cam e to L au s ann e

, ,

and und ertook to mak e h er a n ew nos e w hich h e did to t h e ,

gr e at es t admiration of all m en I mys el f hav e o ft en s ee n .

and examin ed it for s h e i s n ow l iving ( 1 6 1 1 ) at L ausann e

,

with a p iou s and honourabl e widow J udit h M ac e Th e , .

no se h as und e rgon e no C h ange and t h e marks of o p e ration ,

ar e h ardly vi s ibl e ; b ut in wint e r wh e n it i s v e ry cold t h e

t i p turn s a littl e blu e Th e inv e ntor of thi s nobl e o p e ration

.

w a s t h e famou s and l e arn e d C T agl i ac o tt i u s p ro fes sor of .

,

m e di cin e at Bologna M a s t e r G r i ffo n i u s h e ard of it from

.

an I talian who p ass e d t hrou gh L au s ann e an d who had b een ,

cure d by D r T an d h e p e rform e d t h e o pe ration b efor e t h e

. .
,

”
l att e r p ubli s h e d h i s w ork on t h e s ubj e c t .

Fabriciu s i s p robably mo s t wid e ly known through his

m e thod of am p utating with a r ed hot kni fe Thi s p lan had -
.

b ee n us e d or at l e a s t re comm e nd ed by Arabic and m e di e val

, ,

s urg e on s but Fabriciu s i m p rov e d it as h e con s id e re d by

, , ,

in cr e a s ing t h e thi ckn e s s o f t h e in strum e nt s o th at it could ,

r etain t h e h e at t hroughout t h e o p e ration Th e m ethod h as .

,

h e d e clar es thr ee gr eat advantage s : ( 1 ) I t i s l e ss p ain ful ( l ) ;

,

( 2 ) t h e m uscl e s are more com p l e t e ly re tract e d and t h e r efore ,

t h e bon e may b e divid e d high e r up ; ( 3 ) t h e lo s s o f bl ood

i s v ery much l es s than wh e n e ith e r a s eparat e caut ery or
 P R A C TI C E IN THE S I XT E E N T H C EN T U RY . 2 89

l igat ur e i s e m p loy e d ; an d h e n arrat e s how by m e an s of ,

t h is cauter i um cul tel l ar e h e suc c e s sfully am p ut at e d t h e l eg

abov e t h e kn ee i n a p ati e nt attac ke d by gangre n e fol lowin g
,

dys e nt e ry who was so p ro s trat e d that ev e n a mod e rat e loss

,
.

o f bl ood wo ul d h av e b ee n fat al .

NO TES .

I am i n d eb t e d fo r t h e r
r efe e n c e t o B as s a r v o l a s t ra c h e o t o m y t o
’
Dr .

H o l m es H i story of th e P r og ress of L ary ngol ogy P a r é A , Gi uvr es Com

’
. .

pl etes b y M a l ga i gn e, Par i s , 1 84 0 ( w it h v al uab l e i n t ro d uc ti o n an d bi o

gr ap h y)
F ran c o : wha t is kn o wn of his l i fe , an d a re p r i n t of th e x c e s s ive l y
e

ra re P eti t Tr a i té et c m ay b e fou nd i n Roh l fs A r ch i v 1 88 1

, ,
.
,
’

,
-
82 b y P ro f .

A l b ert o f Vi e n n a T ag li ac oz z i D e Ch i r urgi a Cur tor um Ven i c e 1 59 7 T h e

.
, , ,
.

s t o r y o f h i s e x h u m ati o n i
gi ve n b y H a es er I I 1 9 7 o n t h e au t h o r ity o f
s , .
,

C o rra d i C al en ti n o s l ett er i s p r i n t e d by G o ur m a l e n a l s o i n Ve l h age n

’
.
,

u n d K l as s i n g N eue M ona tsh e

, f te 1 889 p 60 4 ; F ab r i c i us H i l d an us Oper a
, ,
.
,

Om n i a F r a n k fo rt 1 64 6 ; M ii l l er D es B er ner S tad tar tz es Wi l h el m F abr i

, , ,

ci us H i ld an us L eben u nd Wi r ken Ro h l fs A r c h i v 1 88 3
’

, .
,

L .
—
M E D I CAL P RA C T I C E I N T H E S I XT E E N T H
C E N T U RY .

TH E n oisy cont rov ersi es n ew s y s t e m s and i m p ortant ana

, ,

t o m i c al di scov e ri es whic h mark t h e m e dic al hi story of t h e

Reformation age t e m p t t h e h i s torian to n e gl e ct what i s
,
.

a ft e r al l h i s m ain obj e ct t h e d e scri p tion o f t h e act ual p ra e

,

t i c e of t h e pe riod B ut h e h as littl e e xc u se for s o doin g

.
,

“ ”
for t h e H i pp ocrati c p hysician s j u s t ifi e d t h e ir t itl e by
com p o sing m any vol um e s o f clinical hi stori es an d ob s e rva
t ion s whi ch giv e us a vivid p i ct ur e of th e b es t as p e ct of our
,

art at th at ep och B e s id es t h es e t h e consi l i a or l e tt e rs of

.
, ,

advi c e st il l contin u e d though t h e writ e rs are careful t o

, ,

a s s e rt t hat a p hy s ician i s only j ustifi e d in exc ep tion al cas e s

in p r e scribing for a p at i e nt h e h as n e v e r s ee n As an i n .

I 9
2 90 M ED C I AL H S I T O RY .

t er e s t i n g e xam p l e of smay take t h e

uch a consi li um , w e
t w e nty fi r s t M edi c al Epi stl e o f t h e alr e ady m e ntion e d D r
- - .

“
J ohn L ange Y ou com p lain to m e as to a fait h ful
.
,

Achat e s that your e ld e st daught e r An n a i s now ma rriage

, , ,

abl e and h as many e ligibl e s uitors all o f whom you ar e

.

, ,

o blig e d to di s miss on a ccount o f h er i ll h e alt h t h e caus e of -

,

w hich no doctor can discov e r : fo r o n e cal ls it cardialgia ,

a se cond p al p itat ion a third dys p n oea a fourth hy s t e ria nor

, , ,

a re t h e r e wanting w h o s ay that h e r liv e r i s out o f ord e r .

Wh er efore you e nt re at m e by our an ci e nt fri e nd s hi p to giv e

a n o p inion on h e r ca s e wit h advic e as t o m arri ag e an d you
, ,

se nd m e an e xc e ll e nt account o f h er s ym tom s
p H er fac e .
,

w hich l a s t y e ar show e d ro s y ch ee k s an d l i p s h as b e com e ,

p al e and bloodl e ss h er h e art p al p itat e s at ev e ry mov e m ent

, ,

and t h e p ul se i s vi s ibl e in t h e t e m p oral art e ri es ; s h e lo s es

h er br e ath w h e n dancing or going u p s tair s S h e di s l ik es h er ,

food es p e cially m e at an d h er l eg s s w e l l toward s e v e ning

, , ,

p articul arly about t h e an kl es I m arv e l that your p hysician s

.

hav e not diagno s ed t h e ca se from s uch ty p ical s ym ptoms .

I t i s t h e affe ction whi ch t h e wom e n of B rabant cal l t h e

,

w hit e fe v e r or lov e s ic kn e ss for lov ers are al w ay s p al e

‘ ’

, , ,
”
b u t th e re i s v e ry rare ly any fe v e r H e t h e n di s cu s s e s t h e
.

p at hology o f t h e di s e a s e w ith co p iou s G ree k q uotat ion s from

t h e H i pp ocrati c tr e atis e D e M or bi s Vi r g i num p oints out
, ,

that H i pp ocrat e s r e com m e n d s marriage an d s ays that

’
:

, ,
’

with t h e addition of S im p l e p urgat iv es an d e mm e n agogu es ,

h e n ev e r k n e w it to fail
“
S o be of good ch ee r m arry
.
,

your daught e r an d I S hal l b e glad to com e to t h e w e dding

, .

Among t h e e arli e st writ e r s o f O bs ervation s was Antony ‘

B en i v i en i whos e work On th e H i dden Causes of D i seases and

,

C ur es quot e d in a p re c e ding cha p t e r though it s trictly

, ,

b elongs to t h e fi ft ee nth c e ntury may b es t b e co ns id er e d ,

h e r e O f t h e two fol lo w ing e xtract s t h e fir s t is t h e e arli es t

.
,

known d e s cri p tion of s en il e gangr e n e whil e th e s e con d i s a ,

ca se p e rh ap s uniqu e in m e di cal hi s tory .

“
(1 ) Thos e who s u ffe r from t h e black ul c e r whi ch th e ,

G ree ks call gangre n e i f it b eg in s from t h e t o e an d t h e

, ,
29 2 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

t erest i n g of t h e 7 0 0 cas e s an d are giv e n for t h e sake of

, ,

brevity without comm e nt

,
.

“
A girl whom I had c ure d of a p hth e or ulc e rs of t h e ,

tongu e fell down s tair s and h er s kul l ov e r t h e right t em pl e

, ,

was b ent inward s l e aving a large d ep re ssion but with n o

, ,

a pp are nt woun d or fract ure I s e nt for a surge on and .

ord ere d him to a pply a c up p in g glass ove r th e s pot and ,

mad e a p l a st e r of whit e of egg an d astringe n t p owd e rs on

lint an d i n a few days s h e w as we l l
,
I su pp os e al l know .

that t h e bon e s of c hild re n are t hin n e r and mor e full of blood

t han thos e of adults ( see H i p On H ead I nj ur i es) and .
,

th e refore ar e e asily b e nt but h ardly b roke n ; as a ppe ared

also in t h e son of a t ann e r w h o liv e d wit h M al am testa t h e
,

colourman who fe ll from a h e ight an d b ent in his skull but

, ,
”
was cur ed in t h e s am e way A boy swallow ed a brass .

c oin an d discharge d it a y e ar a ft e rwards so worn away by

, ,

t h e dig est iv e p o w e r t hat al l m arv e l l e d for t h e innat e h e at is ,

m u c h great e r in t h e young I kn ew a m an at Fe rrara who .

at e l eat h e r sh e l ls an d brok e n gla ss s o that t h ey call ed h i m

, , ,

t h e ost rich ; for nat ure h as giv e n that bird t h e p ow er of

”
dig esting everything as I s aw at Antw e r p , M e lan cholia .

Th e daught e r of Vi n c e n t i o t h e tann e r ag ed thirty us ed to , ,

wash h er h e ad and ex p o s e it i n t h e hot sun in ord e r to t urn

t h e hai r re d By so doing s h e fe l l into an arthriti s or
.
,

gen e ral p ai n of t h e j oint s which w e treat e d by bl eeding ,

from bot h arm s a pp lying oi l o f ro s es and ch amomil e to t h e

,

j oint s and p urgat iv e draught s

, B ut two months lat e r in .
,

t h e aut umn S h e wa s h ed h e rs e l f again p u t h er h e ad in th e

, ,

sun an d w e nt m ad
,
I ord e re d h er t o be bl e d from th e
.

c ep hali c v ein to six ounc e s cu pp ing glass e s to b e a ppli e d to

,

h er S houl d ers and fri ction to h er arm s and l e gs

, Th en .
,

aft er large do s e s of s e nn a I n dian e l e ct uary and oth er cath

, ,

arti c s t o p urge m e lan cholia s h e r e cov e re d ; for wh en I ,

ord ere d h er hair t o b e c ut off s h e said s h e would rat h er d i e ,

t han suffer it ; so we s e nt h er to s l ee p by p utti ng l ett uc e

and po ppy s eed i n h e r food Amat u s t h e n di stinguish es .

melan c holia and m an ia which are d ue h e says to exc essiv e

, , ,
 CL I N I CA L H I S T O R I ES . 29 3

h e at of t h e bl ack an d y e l low bi l e r e s pe ct iv e ly M e lan chol i a .

i s first d e scrib e d by H om er w he n h e p ict ur e s B el l e ro p hon

,

wan d e ring lon e ly on t h e Al e i an Plain e at ing h i s h e art an d ,

‘

avoidi ng t h e p at h s of m en ; but thi s was n ot a bad cas e ’

for w e e asi ly m ad e h er l augh .

“
I hav e p r e scrib ed m any and various com p ounds fo r
dy e i ng girl s h ai r auburn (fulvus ) fo r w e m u s t com p ly wit h
’

th e m ev e n again st our b e tt e r j udgm ent I r ec o r d t h e fo l .

lowi n g not on ly b e cau s e it i s t h e sim p l e st s a fes t an d mo s t , ,

effe ctiv e but also b e caus e my v e ry d e ar fri e nd M aria B ald

, ,

wi n a nobl e Flor entin e l ady n ev e r us e d any oth e r Tak e

, ,
.

Arabic alkann a ( h e nn a ) s uch as m e rchant s bring from Gr ee c e

or M orocco and mak e it into a p ast e with a litt l e warm
,

win e Th e n anoint t h e whol e hai r up to t h e root s th e rewith

. .

K eep t h e h e ad cov e r e d for tw e nty four hour s ; th en wa s h in -

warm w i n e an d comb with a lon g toot h e d ivory comb N o

,
-
.

t hi ng m or e is r e quired s o gr e at i s t h e p ow e r o f t his drug

,
.

“
A nob l e Fre n chm an p rocurator o f King H e n ry I I at
,
.

Ragusa got an a ffe ction not of h i s r eason b ut o f h i s im agi

, , ,

n a tion for h e fan ci e d h e had an absc e ss in his S i d e an d

, ,

offe r e d gre at r e ward s to w ho e v e r would cur e him I foun d .

him i n exc e ll e nt h e alth with a ro s y fac e and good p uls e

,
.

H e at e l i k e a bul l dran k l i k e a Fre n chm an an d s l ep t p ro

, ,

fo u n d l y but coul d in no wi s e b e cur e d o f h i s d e l usion an d

, ,

p roc ee d e d to m ak e hi s wil l an d to giv e al l h e had t o stran g ers ,

e xc e p t o n e fl ago n which h e hugg e d

,
non s e cu s ac e l egant e m ,

”
p u el l am fo r it wa s ful l of g e n e rous win e
,
’
Am at us ad .

min i st e r e d large do s es of h el l e bor e and s e nn a to n o p urp os e

’

t il l r e m emb e rin g how Al exand er of Tral l e s cur e d a p at i e nt

,

who t hought h e had a s er pent in s id e him h e d e t e rmin e d t o ,

do li k ewi se an d pe rform e d an im agin ary o p e ration w it h com

,

p l et e suc c e s s on 8t h M arch 1 557 t h e p u s b eing r ep re s e nt ed

, ,

by a mixt ure o f h e n s blood an d m il k Th e T urks t r eat

’
.

gout by b rin gi ng in a goat to t h e p ati e nt and m il king it ov e r

t h e p ain ful limb a r e m e dy whi ch if effe ct ual s houl d b e
, , ,

”
born e in min d by al l who se e k w e alth an d honour B ut .

di et i s t h e gre at thing “
At Rom e I t r e at e d C ami ll u s of
. ,
 2
q.
94 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

t h e p rin c e ly family ofgo ut O n t aking C harge

C olonna for ,
.

o f t h e cas e I gav e him ful l dir e ction s as to di e t which h e ,

s w or e to follow B ut D eus bon e ! hardly had h e t ake n h i s

.
,

s ixt h do s e o f p urgativ e m e dicin e t han h e at e a su p p e r o f

fri e d e gg s and al l s ort s o f s h e l l fi s h not wit hout p uni shm e nt , ,

for h e w as gri evo u s ly torm e nt e d all night A s soon as I .

di s mount e d from m y m ul e n e xt morni ng his s e rvant s ran up

-

an d told m e all about it ( Al w ay s fin d out as m uch as you

.

can from a p ati e nt s se rvant s ) S o w h e n h e com p lain e d I

’
.
, ,

”
accu se d him o f having brok e n h i s p romi s e e t c I n s hort ,
.

“
doctor an d p ati e nt had a r egul ar quarre l A nd I would .

not hav e gon e back to him again ; no not if h e had o ffer e d ,

m e o n e of his e stat e s .

“
Paul of Aquil a age d 2 0 a mon k of t h e O rd e r of C ruci
, ,

fe ri at P es aro fe ll in lov e wit h t h e gard e n e r s daught e r

’

, ,

C ath e rin e A r i m i n i an d wi s h e d h er to fl ee with him to

,

G e rm any wh e r e h e woul d throw o ff h i s vows an d marry

,

h er . And h e o ft e n b es ought h er on h i s kn ees to pity him ,

e l s e h e would d i e or kil l him s e l f Wh e n h e could b e ar it .

no longe r h e s e cret ly bought som e vit riol o f an a p ot h e cary

and dran k it H e n c e h e got erosion o f t h e s tomach wit h
.
,

vomiting diarrh oea an d bl ackn es s and swe lling of t h e

, ,

tongu e M edical aid w as u s e l es s and t h e good mon k gav e

.
,

hi s li fe for h i s lov e on t h e sam e day F e bruary 5t h , ,

A young Jew at S alonica fe l l so d es p erat e ly i n lov e th at h e

was quit e d em ent e d S o I und e rtook h i s cur e and p r e
.
,

sc rib ed t h e r e gim e n for m e l an ch oli a ( s ee p age togeth er

with a s yru p of h e ll e bore o f my o w n com p o s ition and a ,

p urgativ e containing la p i s lazuli B ut h e w e nt to t h e girl s

.
’

hous e and cli mb e d up to h er chamb e r with a ro p e ladd er .

Th e r e h e found h e r r e lation s an d p uni s h e d t h e m s e v e re ly

w it h h i s fi s t s ( eos pugni s pessi m c afii ci t) Th e w at ch was .

call e d in and h e w as t ak e n to p ri s on A ft e r s t ayi ng th e re

, .

”
som e day s h e p e rfe ct ly r e cov e red .

“
A boy of t w elv e w as s truc k on t h e l eft t e m p l e w h er e
w a s a s mal l m ark S ev e r e sym p toms s et in on t h e t hird
.

day an d h i s h ead w as s hav e d ; but b e c au s e of th e sym p toms

,
2 96 M ED I CA L H I STO RY .

1 -2 0 .
I stay ed at hom e for som e days though quit e w ell ,

for I was a s h am e d to go out with thos e s p ot s on t h e for e

h ead s erpiginous and vi s ibl e to all Fin ding t h ey got wors e
,
.

I rubb e d th e m twic e a day with my own s al iva an d so th ey ,

got w ell without any m edicin e Avic e nna r e comm en d s .

sal iva with c am p hor in im pe tigo I us ed no cam p hor but . ,

by t h e bl es sing of G od r ecov er ed and t h e Spot s n ev er re

,

t urn e d ( Obs Chi r ii

. .
, .

Th e E ngli s h sw e at : T hi s d e adly m alady i s o f n ew

“

ap p e aran c e ; it r e curs at int e rval s an d for n e arly forty y ears ,

h as b ee n pe c uliar to E n gl an d M e di cal aid avail s nothin g ; .

an d it h as sl ain such a m ultitud e t hat o n e woul d h ardly

s u pp os e t h e isl an d had s o m any in habit ant s N O dis e as e is .

m or e horribl e or contagiou s but it has thi s advant ag e t hat ,

it do e s n ot p lagu e m e n wit h p rol onged torm e nt s but kill s ,

t h em or p as s es ov er withi n tw e lv e hours T h e chi ef sym p tom .

i s a rapi d swe at fi e ry an d of mo s t un p l easant odour to

, , ,

g eth e r with pain s in t h e finge rs an d arm s so t hat t h e l att er ,

b ecom e pa ralys e d ( ut al as eti am si vel i s n on passi s attol l ere)

, , .

Th ey who w e re i m p at i ent of t h e h e at an d l et in air fr eely ,

usual ly di e d at on c e ; oth ers s eeing th ei r evil fat e w e nt to , ,

t h e o pp osit e extr e m e an d fe ll into a li k e p e rdition

,
For .

th ey s hut up all c ra c k s l ight e d big fir es cov er ed th em s elv es

, ,

with bl an k e t s that t h ey might sw e at t h e mor e an d wer e ,

suffocat ed by t h e h e at B ut on t h e whol e c old brought th e

.
,

most rap id d eath At l ength th ey fo un d th e m ean an d

.
,

t h e n more re c ov e r e d than di e d A ft e r so m any di ss e n s ion s .

,

w ar s slaught er s an d famin e s t h e di s ea s e p a s s e d in 1 52 9
, , ,

from E ngland to N orway and D enmark swe p t furiously ,

through Pol and cross e d G ermany t o t h e Rhin e an d a ft er

, ,

t h e dog day s d e s c e nd e d that riv er from C ologn e to B rabant

-

a n d Fland e rs invad e d H ol lan d an d e nt e r e d Am s t e rdam on

, ,

t h e a ft e rnoon of 2 7 t h S e pt e mb e r i n a thick fog Th er e it .

rage d mo s t cru e lly for thr ee or four days an d p a s s e d t hrough ,

Z eel and back t o E nglan d wh e r e it n ow holds qui et p oss es

sion As to t r e atm e nt p urgat ion an d v e n es e ct ion were
e mp loy e d at first till s w
.
,

eat brok e out wh e n barl ey wat e r and ,

 I N F LU E N Z A . 29 7

m il d c ardi a c di a p hor e ti c s w er e admini st e r e d Th e E ngl i s h .

p hysi c i an s u s e no drugs b u t wait fo r t h e sw eating for , ,

w h en it i s fr ee n e arly al l es ca p e b ut if i t i s su pp r e ss ed ,

m ost peri s h Wh er efor e t h ey ord e r absol ut e r est i n bed

.

for a whol e day an d thos e who ob e y ar e r eward ed by

,

r ec ov ery b ut t h ey who toss about an d d em an d fr esh ai r

, , ,

sto p t h e sw eat an d d i e by t h e ir own fault

, ( Obs M ed . .
,

vL 7)
‘

E p id e m i c
c atarrh at D e l ft 1 580 : At th e en d of J un e ,

an d th roughout J uly ep i d e m i c cat arrh s s p read publi ce ac

c ater vati m th roughout t h e n e ighbourhood Th ey w e r e of .

s u dd e n on s et v ery c ontagiou s accom p an i e d with fev e r an d

, , ,

inflam m at io n of t h e t hroat an d l ungs wit h hoars en ess an d ,

c o ughi n g so t hat whol e fami l i e s w e r e s udd enly st ruck down

,

t h er eby ; b ut t h e di s e as e w as not v e ry dangerous an d m any ,

e asily e s c a p ed by i m m ediat e b l e e din g an d g e nt l e p urgativ e s ,

though in so m e it p as se d on to p e ri pn e umonia an d ot h ers -

,

h ad s ev e r e p l euri sy Th i s fe bri l e e p id e mic rag ed not only

.

h ere but t hroughout Fran c e an d G e rmany an d cam e to us ,

afil atu quodam fro m t ho s e r e gion s A ft er J uly it d ec reas e d

‘
.
,

b ut reviv ed i n t h e aut umn w h e n m any r ecov e r ed without

bl ee din g ; b ut i n wint e r t h e catarrh s w e r e wors e wit h bloody ,

s p ut a and p l e urit i c p ain s an d v e n e s e ction t h e n s eem ed t o b e

,

u s eful I t i s v e ry im p ort ant t h e refor e t o r ecogni s e whi ch

.
, ,

p ati e n t s re quir e b l ee ding an d which do not A n d t h e sam e .

i s t h e cas e with drugs At t h e H agu e many treat ed t h e m

.

s elv e s a s I h e ar by taki ng th e riac with a l itt l e gold l eaf

, ,

a n d saffron wit hout call in g in m e dical aid B ut it is b ett er

, .

t o use rat ion al m et hod s an d n ot tre at eve ry c as e wit h on e

,

d rug I avoid e d win e for wh e n t ak e n largely it s eem ed to

.
,

c a us e d e li ri um an d mania I f you say win e shoul d be giv e n

.

b ec a us e of t h e w e akn e ss I s hal l r ep ly that wh en st ren gt h

,

c an b e su pp ort ed by oth e r an d s a fe r m e ans I p refer n ot to

u se it I am far from d enyin g that win e i s of val u e in
.

c at arr h al c as e s on ly wh e n th e r e i s vio l ent c o ugh sugar

,

c an dy (sacchar um candi ) as t h e y c al l it shoul d be ,

a dd ed .
29 8 M ED CI AL I T RY
H S O

N OT ES .

B en i v i e n i , D e A bd i ti s cl M i rand i s M or bo r um et S anati onum Cansi s,

Fl ore nc e 1 50 6 T h i s w o rk c o nt ai n s a n i n t eres ti n g ex am p l e o f li gat ure
,
.

i n a m p ut a ti o n a generati o n b e fo re Paré A y o un g m o n k h ad m u til at e d

.
-

h i m s e l f fro m r e li g i o us p r i n c i p l es “
I w as u n a b l e t o s t o p t h e b l ee d i n g
.

( ay s B e n i i e n i ) till I h ad s e i z ed eac h ve s s e l w it h t h e fo rc e p s an d ti e d
s v

it.

A m at u Lu i tan u Cur ati onum M ed i ci nal i um Centur i e i i B ur d i gal e

s s s, v , ,

1 62 0. A go o d b i ograp h y i s t h a t by M ax S o l om o n i n H i rs c h B i ogr a ,

ph i sch s L exi /eon H e vor r agend en A er te Vi e n na 1 884 et c

e r z , , ,
.

Fo r es t u P Obser va ti on um ch i r urg i ar um L i br i V F r an kfo rt 1 63 4 ;

s .
,
c ,
.
, ,

Obser vati on um et C u ati onum M ed i ci nali um L i br i xxxii

r L e y d e n 1 593 ,
.
, ,

1 60 6 . F o r e t s d es c r i p ti o n o f t h e s w e ati n g s i c kn es s s h o u l d b e c o m pared
s
’

w it h t h e fam o u ac c o u n t g i ven b y o ur o w n C a i us
s .

LI . H A RV E Y AN D T H E N E W P H Y S I O LO G Y .

I D R EA M T I was in a va s t catacomb t h e ai r was thick and ,

all w as pit chy dar k t h e voic e e cho e d an d swarm s of bat s

, ,

we re t h e only dw e l l e r s th e re in An d I thought Thi s i s no .

,

thing e l s e than th e Tomb of M e di cal Trut h an d managed ,

’

to mak e an o pe ning w hich l et i n s om e light T h en m e .

s eem e d that G al e n tri e d to e nt e r th e r e at w ith h i s s mall

lam p ; but h e w as fe arful and tott e r e d and fe ll ful l l e ngth , ,
-

on t h e thr es hold and u p s et h i s oil ; y et wh e n h e r ej oin e d

,

h i s com p anion s h e t old th e m wondrous tal es of t h e cav e

, ,

and th ey rep e at e d all h i s s t ori es nor car e d to inv e stigat e ,

th e m N e xt I s aw Avic e nna and a crowd with him H e

.
,
.

had l e arnt s om ewhat from G al e n y et got h e not muc h ,

furth e r for a giddin es s cam e u p on him and h e s t umbl e d

, ,

a g ai n s t a s ton e and fe l l p ro s trat e ; but wh en h e got out h e

boa s t e d non e t h e l es s in hi s st range tongu e that h e had , ,

s ee n m uch mor e than h i s p r e d e c e s s or s M any fol lowe d .

,

s om e in G al e n s fa s hion oth e r s in Avi c e n na s

’
but all fel l ;
,
’

s om e v e nt ur e d in with no light at all an d th ese s aw no ,

thi ng At l e ngth I b e h e ld Th e o p hra s t u s Parac e l s us e nt e r

. .
30 0 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

had rath e r r e tard e d than furth e r e d t h e p rogre s s of t h e h e al

i ng art .T h e p hy s iologi s t s woul d doubtl e s s hav e rep li ed
with H arv ey that t h e n ew doctrin e had l et in u p on t h e m a
flood o f l ight an d truth had ex p lain e d m any p robl e m s an d
,

r es olv e d many do ubt s and had sugge s t e d t h e caus es o f m any

,

di se a ses an d t h e b es t mod e o f t r e ating th e m Th e y might .

h av e add ed that it had giv e n i t s d e ath blow to t h e Gal e ni c -

tyranny had s ub s tit ut e d obs e rvation and e x p e rim e nt fo r

,

c u s tom and authority and had p ut a fin al e n d to s uch con

,

t r o v e r s i e s a s th at b etw ee n t h e D e rivationi s t s an d Rev u l

S i o n i s t s in w hi ch s o much tim e and m e ntal e n e rgy had b een

,

wa s t e d .C ould th e y h av e for es ee n t h e fut ur e th ey m ight

hav e finally p oint e d to t h e wor k of H arv e y as t h e mod el for
all lat er p hy s iologi s t s an d as t h e chi ef corn e r s ton e of that
,
-

s ur e foundation on wh i ch th e r e s houl d o n e day b e built a

“
ration al and p rogres s iv e sci en c e of m e dicin e B efore .

“
H arv e y say s a distingui s h e d F re n ch p hysi cian
,
t h e s ick ,

m an w as look e d u p on from wit hout —t h e s ym p tom s ; S in c e

H arv ey h e i s look ed u p on from within —t h e fun ction s
,
.

B ut w e m u s t admit t hat t h e n ew th e ory w as at fir s t a

light bringing rat h e r than a fruit b e aring di s cov e ry ; an d t h e
- -

s am e h as b ee n t h e ca s e with t h e count l e s s l e s se r di scov e ri es

w hich hav e follow e d an d r es ult ed from t hat o f t h e C ircula

t ion Th e y may b e com p are d to lam p s s et u p in variou s
.

p art s o f t h e abov e m ention e d cav e s om e tim es s h e dding light

-
,

on thing s imm edi at e ly u s eful to t h e p ractition e r but mor e ,

o ft e n r ev ealing hidd en p a s s ages t h e e x p loration of w hich

,

h as r es ult e d in in cre asing our knowl edg e o f di se a s e an d i t s

t re atm e nt in way s litt l e dr eamt o f by t h e original inv es ti ‘

gators .

O n e s uch l am p had al re ady b een s et u p i n 1 62 2 by

G as pe r A se lli Pro fes s or at Pavia who w hil e d emon s t rating
, , ,

by vivis e ction t h e action of t h e r e current n erv e s and dia

p h r agm notic e d n um e rou s w h i t e l i n es on t h e m es ent e ry
‘

.
,

S udd en ly th er e fl a s h ed acro s s h i s mind t h e t radition o f

p e culi ar m ese nt e ri c v e s s el s s ee n by t h e an ci ent anatomi s t s ,

an d h e cri e d out w it h Archim ed es E ur eka I hav e found

, ,
 THE L A C T E A LS AND L Y M PH ATI CS .
30 1

it l He h ad foun d t h e l act e als B ut whil e H arv ey l eft .

hi s di scov e ry com p l e t e so far as was p ossibl e wit hout t h e aid

o f t h e m i sc r osc o e t hat of A s e ll i had to b e fi nish e d and
p ,

corr e ct e d by two m e di cal st ud ent s P e cq u et t h e Fr e n c hm an , ,

an d Ru d b ec k t h e S w e d e According t o G al e n t h e p rod uct s

.

of dig e stion a re carri e d by t h e

p ort al v ein to t h e liv er and
t h e r e conv e rt e d into b lood ; an d As e l li con cl ud e d as a ,

m att e r of cour s e t hat t h e lact e al s also w e nt t o t h e l iv er

,
.

I n 1 6 47 how ev er P e cqu et a s t ud e nt at M ont p e l li er tire d

, , , ,

“
of t h e d umb an d col d sci e n c e o f an at omy took t o vivi ,

s e ction , an d im m e diat e ly discov e re d t h e r e c ep tac l e of t h e

c hyl e an d t h e t horac i c duct whic h h e t rac ed t o i t s t e rmi
,

nation i n t h e v e in s Thr ee y e ars lat e r Ru d b ec k a god s on

.
,

o f t h e gr e at G u s tavu s Adol hu s whi l e s t udying m e dicin e at

p ,

L e yd e n com p l et e d t h e inv es t igat ion by fin di ng t h e lym p ha

t ic s an d h e d e mon st rat e d t h es e an d t h e t horacic du ct w hic h
, ,

h e had discov e re d ind ep e n d e nt ly of P e cqu et b efore Q u een ,

C hri sti n a o f S w e d e n an d a di s t ingui s h e d com p any in 1 6 52 .

Bot h P ecq u et an d Ru d bec k w er e gr eat ad mir e r s of H arve y ,

whom t h e y imit at e d e v e n in t h e tit l es o f t h e t r e ati s es ,

N ew A n atomi cal E xper i m en ts an d A N ew A n atomi cal E xer ci se ,

in whi ch t h e y an noun c e d t h e ir di scov e ri e s .

Fin al ly i n 1 66 1 fo ur ye ars aft e r H arv e y s d e ath ocul ar

, ,
’

p roo f o f t h e circ ulat ion was giv e n by M al p ighi of B ologna .

H e t e l l s u s t hat whil e examin ing t h e l ung an d m es e nt e ry o f

a frog w it h a l en s h e n oti c e d t h e cont rary mot ion o f t h e
,

b lood in t h e v e in s an d art e ri e s b ut co ul d not at fir s t trac e

, , ,

t h e con n ection b e tw e e n t h e two ; til l on exam ining a p i e c e ,

of dri e d l ung by t ran s mitt e d l ight wit h a m or e p ow e r ful l e n s

h e di s tin ct ly saw a n etwork of fi n e v e ss el s ful l of blood con

n ec t i n g t h e art e ri e s with t h e v e in s Aid e d by thi s h e .
,

b e h e l d t h e won d e rful s pe ct acl e of t h e circulation first i n ,

t h e l ung of a t ortoi s e an d aft e rward s i n t h e l un g and bladd e r

:

of a frog ; b ut it s ee m s n ev e r to h av e occurr e d to him to

e xam in e t h e w e b o f a frog s foot
’
.

Th u s i n a S ingl e gen erat ion t h e whol e as pe ct of p hysio

, ,

logy had b ee n e nt ir e ly alt e r e d an d t h e work was carri e d on

,
30 2 M ED I C A L H I ST O RY .

with vigour for t h e re st o f t h e c e nt ury W e n eed on ly

m ention t h e E ngl ishm en —C ow p er G li sson H av er s H igh
.

more L ow er Willis and Wharton ; t h e D an es —S t e no

, , ,

B ar t h o l i n u s and Worm ; t h e G e rmans —K e rkring M e i b o m

, , , ,

and Wirsung ; t h e Fre n ch —Vi e u ss e n s an d

, , ,

S chn ei d e r
D uv e rn e y ; t h e S wiss—P e ye r and B run n e r ; t h e D ut ch
,

D e G raa f and N uck ; al l cont e m p orary p hysi cian s w ho s e

n am es ar e im mortalis ed in variou s p art s of t h e h uman b ody .

T h e work of som e of th e m will b e refe rr e d to h er e aft e r b ut ,

w e mu s t conclud e for t h e p rese nt by not icing two di s cov e ri e s ,

t h e gr e at im p ortanc e o f which was long ov e rlook e d .

D r Ri chard L ow er had p rov e d by ex p erim e nt s on

.
,

anim al s that th e change from v e nous to art e rial blood t ak e s

,

p lac e on ly in t h e l ungs and only in t h e p r es en c e o f atmo s

,

p h er i c air ; as in d ee d S e rv e t u s had ass ert e d a c e nt ury

, ,

e arli e r . B ut his fri e nd J ohn M ayo w ( 1 64 5 o n e of t h e

gr e at es t p hy s iologist s of t h e s ev e nt eenth c e nt ury carri e d t h e ,

inv e s tigation a st ep farth e r an d s how ed th at t h e a ge nt of

,

t hi s chang e is a p arti cular con s tit u ent of t h e air w hich ,

al s o s u pp ort s combustion and is contain e d in ni t r e an d ,

“ ”
whi ch h e th erefor e call e d nitro a e ri al s pirit I n s hort -
.
,

h e had di s cov er ed oxygen t hough it had to be re di s cov e r e d

,

a c e nt ury lat e r .

I n S ept emb e r 1 683 Antony van L eeuw enho e k wrot e from

, ,

D e l ft to t h e s ec r etary o f t h e Royal S oci ety announ cing hi s

d i s cov ery in t h e whit e matt e r b e tw ee n hi s t eeth o f micro
“
s co p ic animals moving in t h e most d elight fu l m ann er
,

a n d h e add e d a sk etch in whi ch w e may C l early r e cogni s e

t h e four chi ef forms of microb e t h e longer and short e r rods ,

o f bacill i and bact e ria t h e min ut e s p h er es of t h e mi crococci

, ,

and t h e corks c r ew like s piril l um H e ex p ress e s h i s wond e r

-
.

t hat in S p it e of hi s c are in cl e aning his t eeth

, hi s mouth ,

“
s houl d contain more animal s than th e re are h um an
b e ings in t h e unit ed N eth erl ands an d says h e had t ri e d i n ,

vain to get rid of th em by washing his t eet h with vin egar .

S om etim e a ft erwards h e b egan to t ak e hot coffee an d t h e ,

m icrob es disa ppear e d but th ey soon r eturn ed in s p it e of

, ,
304 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

se mbl e s in many res pe ct s though h e s urp a s s e d h im bot h i n

,

ge niu s and l e arning H i s charact e r i s so clo s e ly conn e ct e d

.

wit h h i s doctrin e s t hat it w ill b e n e c e s s ary to giv e a few

,

biogra phical d etail s T h e younge st s on of a nobl e Fl em ish

.

family V an H e lmont lo s t h i s fa t h e r i n chil dhood an d r e

, ,

c ei v e d a p iou s and s trict ly C atholic ed ucation from his

moth e r H e t h e n w e nt t hrough t h e univ ersity co ur s e at
.

Louvain b ut refu s e d t h e d e gr ee o f M A
,
d e cl aring that . .
,

so far from b e in g M a s t e r o f t h e s ev en l ib e ra l A rt s h e ,

w as not e v e n a di s ci p l e i n o n e and that h i s knowl e dg e l i k e

, ,
’
Adam s h ad s e rv e d only to s how hi s n ake dn es s A ft e r dab
,
.

bling in magic h e b e took him s e l f to t h e s t udy o f e t hi c s as

, ,

t h e on ly worthy form of knowl e dge and r e ad e s p e cially t h e ,

w ork s o f S e n e ca E p ict e t u s Thoma s a K e m p i s an d J ohn

, , ,

Taul e r a mixt ure of S toic p hilo s o p hy and C hri s tian m y st i

,

c i s m which did not fail t o

p roduc e a moral n ightmar e He .

dr e amt h e s aw him s el f li k e a h uge e m p ty bladd e r r e aching

from e arth to h e av e n but abov e him in st e ad of h e a v en w as
, , ,

a co ffin and b e low him t h e bl ac kn e s s o f t h e aby s s S o h e

, .

s aw that S t oici s m i s but a form o f p rid e and man w ithout , ,

t h e in s p iration o f God a t hing of nought and a vain s hadow

, .

A rich living w as o ffer e d him i f h e took ord er s b ut h e w as ,

fright en e d by t h e s ayin g o f St B e rnard that h e w oul d liv e .

,

from t h e sin s of t h e p e o p l e Th e n h e thought of law but

.
,

s oon found that it s ordin an c e s w e r e o ft e n far r e mov e d from

t ruth and j usti c e an d how s hould h e guid e an d r es t rain oth e rs

,

w h o fo u nd it hard e nough to gov e rn and di r e ct him se l f !

S o h e t urn e d to D io s corid es an d M atth iol i to st udy t h e
goodn e s s of God in t h e virtu es of h e rb s an d thi s l e d him to ,

m e dicin e H e re h e thought w as a sci en c e in which a

.
, ,

st ud e nt b e nt u pon r e li e vin g t h e mi s e ri e s of h i s fe l low s coul d

not fail to re c eiv e D ivin e a s s i s t an c e an d t h e gre at t e ach ers ,

o f whi ch mu s t b e m e n in s p ir e d of G od e v e n as w e r e B e zal ee l ,

and Aholiab t h e b uild e r s o f t h e Tab e rnacl e H e carefu lly

,
.

s tudi e d al l t h e a pp rov e d m e dical aut hor s t aking n ot e s o f ,

e v e rything that s ee m e d val uabl e ; t h e n h e r e ad t h e not e s

and was ov e rwh elm ed with di sa ppoint m ent and d es p ai r .

 THE A R CH EU S .
30 5

I s aid in my h e art : O m e rcifu l God how long wilt Tho u ,

b e angry wit h m an t hat Thou ha s t not r ev eal e d on e t rut h

,

t o Thy st ud e nt s in h ealing ! I s t hi s M oloch sac rific e p l e as

ing t o Th ee an d wi lt Thou t hat t h e l iv e s of t h e p oor of
, ,

widow s an d o f childre n b e contin ual ly o ffe r e d up to Th ee in

, ,

mi s e rabl e torm e n t s of in c urabl e dis ea s es or t h rough t h e

c ar e l e s s n es s and ignoran c e of physician s ! Th e n I fe ll on ’

my fac e an d cri e d : L ord h av e m e rcy ! p ardon p ardon m e , ,

O L ord i f lov e of my n e ighbour h a s l ed m e b eyond bound

, ,

fo r Th ou art t h e root of al l goodn e s s Thou knowe s t my ,

sigh ing an d t hat I con fe ss I am e m p ty ignorant p oo r an d

, , , ,

n ak e d an d hav e n ot hing am n ot hing an d can do

, , ,

B ut h e was e n courage d by a dr e am to p e rs e v e r e in h i s w ork ,

an d h avin g t a ke n t h e d e gr ee of M D at L ouvain s et him . .

,

“
s e l f n o l e s s a t ask t han t o ov e rthrow t h e e ntir e p hi loso p h y
Of t h e an ci e nt s an d e s tablish a n e w s ci e n c e of N at ur e Th e .

e xi s ting m e di c i n e h e says i s ba s e d on that o f t h e p agan

, ,

G r ee ks an d con s i d ers on ly t h e out s id e of things b ut C hri s

, ,

t ian sci e n c e l ik e C hristi an morality m u s t b e gin from within .

To V an H e lmont al l n at ur e i s aliv e ; t h e r e is n o su ch
t hing as d ead matt e r b ut in an i mal s thi s m at e rial l i fe as
, ,
.

w e m ay t e rm it a s s um e s an almo s t p e r s on al form which h e

, ,

call s Arch e us a word alr eady us ed though m or e vagu e ly

, , ,

by Parac e l s u s an d B asil V al e ntin e E v ery bodi ly struct ur e .

“
h as it s local Arch e us i n s i t u s an d t h e whol e organ i s m i s
,

“ ”
gov e rn e d an d dir ect e d by an A rch e u s i n fl u u s who builds
up t h e body and su pp ort s i t s act ivity working always ao ,

”
cording to a fix e d p l an or s e m inal i d e a im p r es s e d by t h e
,

C r eat or .Thi s Arch e u s r e sid es in t h e stom ach an d i s clos el y ,

con n e ct e d wit h t h e s e n s itiv e an d rati onal s oul t h e two t o ,

geth er formi ng a sort of hu s k or sh e ll for t h e high e r i nt uitiv e

or int e ll e ctual s p i rit For Van H e lmont di s ti ngui sh e s b e
.

tween int e l l e ct an d r eason an d d e cl ar e s t hat t h e latt er i s an

,

infe rior quality ac quire d by an d n e c e ssary to man sinc e t h e

, , ,

Fal l b ut l eadin g n e arly as o ft en to e rror as to t rut h T h e

,
.

h eat h en A rist ot l e in his blin dn e s s bow ed down t o r e ason ,

an d set it up as an idol i n t h e form o f L ogi c a vain sc i e n c e ,

, ,

20
3 06 MED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

w hi ch d e al s on ly w ith ext e rnal s and d e finition s O n e d e .

fi n i t i o n ind eed i s im p ortant i n m e dicin e—that o f di s ea s e

, , ,

for it i s not a m e re matt e r of w ord s but a ffe ct s t h e liv e s of ,

m en ; an d h er e t h e p agan s and t h e ir C h ri s tian di s ci p l e s

hav e gon e ho p e l es sly astray in s p it e of th e ir logi c For .

th e y call dis ea s e a l es ion of s truct ur e or fun ction s and ,

d eclar e that i t s cau s e i s a C hang e in t h e fluid s or h umours ,

t h e di s e as e it se l f b eing in t h e s olid s w hil e t h e s p irit or ,

p n e uma dir e ct s t h e s ym p tom s T h e r e v e r s e i s t h e t ruth

.
,

fo r di s e a se affe ct s t h e li fe and mu s t th e refor e hav e i t s s e at

, , ,

i n t h e li fe or Arch e u s through w hos e action it p roduc es

, ,

changes in t h e s olid s and fl uid s H ow can an organ ic l es ion .

b e a di s e a s e for it p e r s i s t s in d e ad bodi e s an d t h e d e ad can

, ,

“
hav e no dis e a s e ! What ev er p roduc es h ealt hy action s in
”
t h e s oun d t h e s am e cau s es vitiat e d action s in di s e as es
, .

( Qu i d q u i d in s ani s e dit action es s ana s i d i p s u m in m or b i s ,

e dit action e s v i t i at as ) D i se a se i s a morbid id e a con c eiv e d

.

b y t h e Arch eu s eit h er through h i s own infirmity or from

, ,

t h e action o f s om e harm ful age nt whi ch caus e s him to d e ,

v i at e from h i s normal cours e and act in anoth e r w a

y but ,

al w ay s aft e r s om e fix e d an d s pecific p lan Th e r e ar e thu s .

two gr e at divi s ion s innat e di se a s e s und e r w hich h e ad ,

h e cla s ses inh erit e d and lat e nt a ffe ction s s u ch as ep il ep s y , ,

a n d ( 2 ) thos e d u e to ext e rnal ag e n ci e s among w hi ch t h e ,

r es ult s of w itch craft i nj ec ta a sagi s p lay a l arge p art

, , .

H e a pp li es t h es e doctrin es to s p e cial in s t an c e s with much

inge nuity F ev er s s ay t h e G al e ni st s are e ith e r s im p l e and
.
, , ,

d ue to p r e t e rnat ural h e at origin ating in t h e h eart or p utrid , ,

c aus e d by a corru p tion o f t h e humour s es e cial ly t h e blood

p ,

and th ey tre at th em by bl ee ding p urgation and cooling , ,

m edicin es Thi s according to H e lmont i s fal s e fo r h eat i s

.
, , ,

m e r e ly a s ym p tom and t h e blood n ev e r p ut r efi e s during

,

li fe F ev e r i s t h e effort of t h e chi ef Arch e u s t o get rid of

.

s om e i rrit ant j u s t a s local inflammation i s t h e r e action o f

,

t h e local Arch e us to s om e inj ury T h e h e at is cau s e d by

.

t h e ange r o f t h e Arch e u s who tri es t o s hak e o ff h i s e n e my by

,

c all ing u p cold an d hot fi t s a bi as fr i g or i s and bl as cal o r i s an d

,
30 8 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

H e w as dir ect e d to ch e mi s try by h i s e arly admiration for

Parac e l su s but s oon b e cam e di s s ati sfi e d with h i s m ast e r
, ,

an d h i s r efutation of t h e latt e r s mo s t charact e ri s tic t h eori e s

’

i s not t h e l e ast im p ortant p art o f his work T h e doctrin e of .

s ignat ur e s s ay s H e l mont i s fal s e and r es t s on t h e p agan

, , ,

“
d e lu s ion o f t h e microco s m I b e l i ev e th at God r ev eal s
.

r e m e di e s to whom H e will by s p e cial grac e not per si gna ,

N a tur e for man i s not t h e imag e of N at ure but o f God

, ,

“
H e s imilarly attack s t h e Parac e l s i c doct rin e o f t artar
an d of t h e my s tic e l e m e nt s salt sul p hur an d m e rcury B ut , ,
.
,

on t h e oth e r han d h e strongly u p h e l d th e virt u e of t h e

,

s ym p ath eti c ointm e nt and h i s w ork s abound in ab s urditi e s

,

s urp a s s ing e v e n tho s e o f Parac e l sus W e hav e on ly s pac e .

fo r o n e e xam p l e D ro p s y i s h e s ays not d u e to an organic

.
, ,

l e sion of t h e liv e r but to t h e ange r o f t h e re nal Arch e u s

, ,

w h o h a s lo s t h i s t e m p e r an d r efu s es to work , O n e way of .

r e ducin g him to ord e r i s to t erri fy him and thi s may b e don e ,

by tyin g a s nak e roun d t h e p at i e nt s wai st an d a pplying live ’

toads to t h e r egion of t h e kidn eys

Th e rul e s o f contr ar i a con tr ar i i s and si m i l i a si mi li bus ar e
e q ual ly fal s e bot h b e ing m e re ly t r e at m e nt of sym p toms
, .

T h e tru e p rin ci p l es o f t h e ra p e ut ic s are t o re mov e t h e harm ful

p roduct s o f di s e as e and abov e all to p aci fy t h e Arch e u s and
, ,

bring hi m back t o hi s normal cours e o f action by t h e u se of

s p e cific r em e di e s For Van H e l mont l ik e Parac e l s us holds
.
, ,

t hat s p e cial m e dicin e s exi s t fo r t h e c ur e o f ev e ry di s e as e ,

and th at e ach country p rod uc e s i t s own s o t hat it i s n e e dl es s ,

to bring n ew drugs from t h e e nd s of t h e e art h H e would .

,

t h e re for e p robably hav e rej e ct e d quinin e whi ch was intro

, ,

“
d u c e d s hortly b efor e h i s d e ath fo r h e d e clare s that it i s ,

in conc e ivabl e that t h e m e rci ful Fath e r of man kin d should

h av e b ee n l e s s m e rci ful to his E uro p e an childr e n b efore ,

t h e di s cov e ry o f t h e I ndi e s than a ft e rward s

N OT E S .

Van H e l m o nt s b i o gr ap h y i s der ived c h i e fl y fr o m t h e p r e fac e t o h i s

’

c h i ef w o r k Or tus M ed i ci ne
,
Oper a Omni a F ra n kfort 1 7 9 7
, T h ere i s a n , , .
 THE CHEM C I AL SC H OO L .
30 9

E ng li s h t ran s l ati on of m o s t of th e t reati s es b y J C Lon d o n 1 664 V e ry . .

, ,
.

c o m p l e t e cr iti c i s m s o f h i s w o rk m a
y b e fo u n d i n S p i es s an H el ,
v

mon t s Sy stem der M ed i ci n etc F ran kfort 1 84 0 an d t h e p ri z e e s ay s o f

’
.
, , ,
s

D r s Ro m m e l e
. re an d M an d o n ( i n t h e M émoi res d e Concour s d e l A cad émi e
’

Roy al e d e M ed eci ne B elg i que, ru s s e l s fo r m e r ic h

'

B , 1 868 ) to th e of wh I am

m uc h i n d eb t e d .

LI I I . T H E C H E M I C A L S C H OO L O F M E D I C I N E .

TH E origin of t h e s o cal l ed iat ro ch e mi cal s chool i s o ft e n

- -

trac e d t o V an H e l mont but it s doct rin e s m ay b e rath e r con

,

t r a s t e d t han com p ar e d wit h t h os e of t h e Fl e mi s h p hy s ician ,

whi ch ar e far m or e C los e ly alli e d to th e lat e r vitali stic th e o

ri e s T h e s ev e nt ee nt h c e nt ury li k e o ur own was an age
.
, ,

o f p hysi cal s ci e n c e a ch aract e r d u e

, p art ly t o a re action from
t h e my s t ici sm of t h e p r e c e ding p e riod b ut e s p e cially t o t h e ,

influ e n c e of t h e di s cov e ri e s o f H arv e y an d G ali l e o an d t h e ,

t e aching of B aco n an d D e scart es Bacon by formul atin g .

,

t h e p rin ci p l e s of in ductiv e s ci e n c e had p oint e d out t h e t ru e ,

p at h o f p rogr e ss b etw ee n t h e barr en d es e rt of Ari s tot e l ean

dial e cti c s on t h e o n e sid e an d t h e mi st env elo p e d s wam p o f
,
-

N e o p l atoni c t h e oso p hy on t h e oth e r ; b ut hi s infl u en c e on

m e dicin e is p robably l es s im p ortant than t hat of D es cart es .

I t see m e d t o t h e Fr e n ch p hil o s o p h e r t hat t h e un iv e r s e con

t ain s two d ist in ct t hin g s— m att e r with t h e C haract e ri s tic ,

p ro p e rty of ext e n sion ; an d min d wit h t h e charact e ri s ti c ,

p ro pe rt y of th ought b e tw e e n whi ch h e h el d t hat t h er e can

,

b e no con c e ivabl e con n e ct ion ; and h e d e clar e d that t h e only

p roo f o f t h e e xi s t e n c e of m in d i s con scious t hought — Cogi to ,

er o sum B ut all t h e p roc e s s e s o f li fe m ay go on wit hout

g .

con s ciou s thought th e r efor e vit al act ivity i s of a p ur e ly ma

,

t er i al charact e r ; an d D es cart es bol dly a s s e rt e d t hat an imal s

ar e m e r e ly s e l f actin g m achin e s or automata whi l e m an i s a

-
,

simil ar m achin e wit h a mi n d b e hin d it an d s om e t im es acting

u p on it T hi s C art es ian dual i sm as it may b e cal l e d domi
.
, ,

n at e s t h e m e di cal t h e ori es of t h e s ev e nt ee nt h an d p art of t h e

3 10 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

e ight eenth c ent uri e s as w ell as th o s e of our own day b ut it

, ,

i s t h e v ery r ev e r se of t h e doct rin e o f Parac e l s u s an d Van

H el mont who h e ld that matt e r and m ind ar e intim at ely
,

con n e ct e d an d that al l t h e p roc es s es o f n at ure ar e low e r or

,

high e r l e ss or mor e s e l f con s ciou s man i fes t ation s o f on e

,
-

univ e r s al li fe T h e p hy s ician s o f t h e s e v ent ee nt h c e nt ury

.

mad e two att e m pt s to s olv e t h e p robl e m s o f l i fe an d dis

e a se o u p ur e ly mat e riali s tic p rin ci p l es o n e by t h e aid of ,

C h emi s t ry t h e oth e r by t h e aid o f m e ch anic s

,
an d thus ,

aro s e tw o s chool s or sy s t e m s of m e di ci n e known r es p e ctiv e ly

a s t h e i at ro ch e mical and t h e iatro m e chani cal
- -
.

T h e fore mo s t and mo s t ty p ical r ep res e ntativ e o f t h e fo r

m er s chool i s Fran ci s d e la B o e ( S ylvi u s ) ( 1 6 1 4 whose
ch emi s t ry ho w ev e r is ba se d not u p on t hat of t h e Parac el
, ,

s i s t s w ith i t s arcan a an d quint es s e n c es but u p on t h e mor e ,

s ob er obs e rvat ion s an d e x p e rim e nt s o f t h e ir gr e at o pp on e nt s ,

L i b av i u s an d S en n er t An d h e cont rast s w it h h i s p re d e
.

c es s o r s in h i s p ur p o se a s w e ll a s in h i s m e t hod Parac e l s us .

an d Van H e lmont h ad att e m p t ed to ov e rthrow G al eni s m '

,

an d to r ep l ac e it by n ew sy s t e m s e v ol v ed larg ely from th e ir

o w n inn e r conscio usn e s s ; S ylvi us on t h e contrary s t rov e , ,

t o re es tabl i s h t h e humoral p athology on a fi rm basis of

-

ch e mical fact s an d h e may n ot in a pp ro p riat e ly be call ed

,

“
t h e l a s t o f t h e Gal e ni s t s
S ylvi u s comm e n c es with p rin ci p l es w orthy of a di sci p l e
o f H arv ey Bacon an d D e scart es
,
N othing h e s ay s i s t o
.
, ,

b e admitt e d as tru e in m e dicin e or nat ural s ci e nc e un l es s

e x p e ri e n c e h as confirm e d and s hown it to b e t ru e As re .

gard s m e dicin e thi s ex p e ri e nc e may b e cl a s s e d und e r three

,

h ead s : ( 1 ) anatomical ( 2 ) ch e mical ( 3 ) clin ical ; but h e

, ,

w arn s h i s p u p il s again s t fal ling into t h e e rror o f t h e old E m

p i r i c s that o f dra w ing con cl u s ion s t oo ha s t ily and p ro p os e s

, ,

t o divid e h i s re s ult s into conj e ct ur es s u s p i cion s o p in ion s , , ,

and concl u s ion s according to th e ir r el ativ e sci e ntific val u e

, .

M e dicin e h e d e clar es s till re s t s m ainly u p on evid e n c e of

, ,

t h e fi r s t kin d an d though a p rogr es s iv e art do e s n ot

, ,
y et ,

d e s erv e t h e nam e of s ci enc e I t s fi r m es t p il l ar s ar e anatomy

.
,
3 12 M ED I CA L H I S T O RY .

four in n umb e r—vit al curativ e p re s ervativ e and sy m pt oma , , ,

ti c or in oth e r word s to s u s tai n t h e vitality to c ur e th e

‘

, , , ,

dis eas e to re mov e t h e p r edi s p o s ing caus e and to count era c t

, ,

a ny urge nt s ym p toms B ut in p ra c tic e h e r educ e s t h em t o

.

two to s u p p re ss by t h e u s e of nar c otic s any viol e nt

-
, ,

s ym p tom s w hich t end to exhau s t t h e p ati e nt and to c ount er ,

ac t t h e e xc es siv e a c idity o r alkalinity by t h e u s e o f contrari e s .

“ ”
T h e mo s t common caus e of di s e a s e h e c on sid e r s i s a c idity ; , ,

t h er efore wh e n in doubt giv e an alkali

, ,
.

A sy s t e m which th u s combin ed t h e p res tige of t h e

h umoral p at hology with t h e sim p l icity of t h e an ci e nt m ethod
i sm and t h e int er e st of t h e n ew ch emi st ry w as sur e to be
, ,

wid ely acc ep t ed and t rac es n ot on ly of t h e th eori es but

, ,

e v e n of t h e p r e s cri tion s o f S ylviu s surviv e d almost to our

p
own t im e s T h e mo st famou s of t h e latt e r w as th e E l i xi r
.

P r opr i etati s which w as large ly us e d up to t h e mi ddl e of

,

“
thi s c e nt ury an d whi c h clo s e ly r e s embl e d t h e aro m ati c
,

”
sul p h uri c acid or e lixir of vi t riol of our p re s e nt p har ma
,

c op oei a .

B ut Sylvi us has ot h er an d b e tt er c lai m s to r em embran c e

than that of b e in g foun d e r o f a su perfi cial an d o n e sid ed -

m edical sy s t e m H i s n am e i s j ust ly i mmortali s e d in t h e

.

hum an brain t h e stru c ture o f which h e did m uch to el uc i

,

dat e and abov e al l it i s fro m hi m th at w e dat e t h e perm a

, , ,

n ent establi s hm e nt of c l in ical t e a c h ing in p ublic hos pitals .

B e dsid e in s t ruct ion had b ee n given as w e have s een in , ,

c lassi c al tim es in th e an c i ent N e s t orian an d Arabi c school s

, ,

an d by m e di e val p ractit ion e r s s u c h as Lan fran c ; an d th e

syst e m had b ee n revive d fo r a S hort pe riod during t h e re nais
s anc e at Padua wh e n stud ent s from ev ery p art o f E uro pe
,

fl o c k e d t o that famou s univ e r s ity B ut it i s t o t h e l itt l e .

i n fi rm ary of L eyd en with i t s tw elv e b ed s t hat w e m ust , ,

look for th e tru e origin of t h e mod e rn p ractic e o f “ wal king

”
t h e ho s p ital s Writing in 1 6 64 S ylviu s ob s e rv e s “ I
.
,
:

hav e l ed my p u p il s by t h e han d to m edi cal p ractic e using a ,

m ethod unknown at L eyd e n or p erha p s e l s ewh er e i e , , . .

,

t aking t h e m daily to visit t h e s ick at t h e p ubl ic h os pit a l .

 T H O M A S W I LL I S .
3 13

T h e re I h av e put t h e sy m p tom s of di s e as e b efor e th e ir e y es ;

hav e l et t h e m h e ar t h e com pl aints of t h e p ati ent s an d hav e ,

ask e d t h e m t h e ir o p inion s as t o t h e caus e s an d ration al

t r e at m ent of e ach cas e and t h e r e ason s for t ho s e o pinion s
,
.

Th e n I hav e giv e n my own j udgm e nt on ev e ry p oint To .

geth e r with m e t h e y hav e s ee n t h e h app y r e su lt s of t re atm e nt

wh e n God has grant e d to o ur car es a r e st oration o f h ealth ;
or t h ey h av e assist e d in e xam in ing t h e body wh e n t h e
p ati e nt ha s p aid t h e in evit abl e t rib ut e to d e at h .

T h e E nglish r ep r e s e nt at iv e of t h e ch e m ical s chool of

m e di cin e wa s Thoma s Wil l i s ( 1 6 2 2 whos e n am e lik e ,

t hat of S ylviu s i s b e s t known from hi s r e s e arch e s on t h e

,

s t ru ct u r e an d blood su
pp ly o f t h e brain B ut h e is su p e rior
.

in many ways t o h i s Fl e mi s h cont e m p orary H i s ob s e rva .

t ion s on t h e p h en om e n a of di s e a s e an d t h e act ion of drugs

ar e s e con d on ly ( in t hat age) t o thos e o f S yd e nh am ; his

s pe cu lation s on t h e p art p lay e d in p at hology by t h e n e rvous

“
sy s t e m or an imal s p irit s anti ci p at e som e of t h e b e st
r es u lt s of t h e V itali s t i c s chool an d h i s ch emical th eori es
, ,

tho ugh n e c e ssarily i m pe rfe ct ar e l e s s s hal l ow and o n e s id ed

,
-

t han t ho s e o f S ylvi us A ccording to Wil li s t h e p roc es s es

.
,

whi ch t ak e p lac e in t h e an im al organ i s m ar e form s o f

“ “
fe rm e nt ation w h ich h e d efi n e s a s
,
an int e rn al motion of
t h e p arti cl es o f any body t e nding e it h e r to t h e p e rfe ction of
,
”
t h e sam e body or b e cau s e of it s chan g e into anot h e r in ,

”
short wh at w e n o w cal l
,
m et abolism H e alt h an d .

dis e a s e d ep e n d u p on t h e normal or abnormal cour s e of t h es e

ferm entation s an d t h e p hy s i ci an may b e com p ar e d to a
,

br e w e r or vint n e r who s e bu s in es s i s t o wat ch t h e p roc e s s

, ,

and to p r e v e nt or corr e ct any irr egu larit i e s B ut Wi lli s .

an d hi s w ritin gs h ardly r e c e iv e d t h e att e ntion th ey d e s e rv e d ,

for t h e co unt rym e n o f H arv ey an d N e wton w e r e l e s s at

t ract e d by ch e m ical th eori e s than by t h e rival doct rin es of
t h e so c all e d m ath e m at ical or m e ch anical s chool of whi ch
-

w e m ust now giv e a bri ef outlin e .

TES
NO .

S yl i us
v , Oper a M ed i ca , E d i ti o N ova T r ag
,
. ad R h en .
,
1 69 5 . Hi s l e tt er
3 14 M ED C L I A HI S T O RY .

on c li n i c a l t eac h i n g i s fro m D ar e m b er g H i stoi re des S ci ences M edi cal es 1

, ,
.

W illi R m i ni n- m ed i ca l wor ks of E n g li s h e d b y S P L on d o n
57 1 ; s e a g , ,
. .
, ,

1 68 1 . Fo r h i s b i o grap h y s ee t h e A scl epi ad 1 89 2 ,

.

LI V .
—T H E I AT RO -
M E C H A N I C A L S C H OO L .

W H I LE t h e doct rin e o f t h e I atro ch e mi s t s st arting from it s -

,

c e nt r e in t h e N e th e rlan d s bl e nd e d i n t h e s chool s o f Franc e

,

an d G e rmany w ith t h e r e main s of G al en ic an d Parac el sic

th eori e s th e re aro s e in I t aly an d E n glan d a rival m edical
,

sy s t em ba se d u p on t h e more ad van c e d and e xact s ci e nc e s

,

o f m e chani c s and m at h e matic s This school variou s ly call e d

.
,

th e i atro math e m at ical iat ro m e chanical i atro p hy s ical

-
,
-
,
-
,

or p hy s iatric w as a di re ct p roduct of t h e n ew s ci e ntific s p irit

, ,

and i t s mo s t im p ort ant p r ecur s or was S antoro S an ctorius ,

p ro fe s s or at Padu a and t h e fri e nd an d coll eagu e of Galil eo

,
.

S an ctoriu s p a s se d m uch o f h i s life s e at e d in a chair like -

w e ighing m achin e of h i s o w n inv e ntion by m ean s of which ,

“ ”
h e di s cov e r ed t h e s o call e d in se n s ibl e p e r s p iration and
-
,

found t o h i s amaz e m e nt that thi s im p e rc ep tibl e los s e xc eeds

in amount all t h e oth er excr e tion s com bin e d He p ubli s h ed .

t h e r es ult s o f countl es s ex p e ri m e nt s on him se l f in hi s

M edi ci n a S tati ca a w ork which though it n aturally ,

attribut es an exc es s iv e val u e to t h e n ew di scov e ry w as of ,

gre at u s e in p ointi ng out t h e hygi e nic im p ort an c e o f t h e

s k in in e n couraging t h e int rod uct ion o f dia p hore tic m edi
,

cin es and abov e all in s h o w ing that t h e rul es of exact

, ,

s ci e nc e might b e a p p li e d t o s om e d ep artm e nt s o f
p hy s iology .

H e ex p re s s es a wi s h that e v e ry o n e or at l e a s t e v e ry p hysi ,

c i an could hav e a simi lar machin e fo r not on ly ar e chang es

, ,

i n w e ight among t h e e arl i es t s ign s of a pp roaching il ln es s ,

b ut by t aking h i s m eal s in s uch a chai r a p e r s on w ould be

guard e d again s t irr e gul arity i n t h e q uantity of h i s food ,

w hi ch i s o n e o f t h e mo s t fe rti l e ca u s e s o f di se a s e .

S an ctoriu s furth e r inv ent e d many ingen ious in s t rum e nt s ,

3 16 M E D I C A L H S O RY I T .

hy s iological an d m e di cal q u e stion s h e i s l e s s fort un at e

p , ,

an d li k e S ylviu s bas es h i s whol e s yst e m u pon an e rror

, ,
.

Bor e lli d e clare s that mu s cl e s wh e n i n act ion are in cre a s e d , ,

in bul k and that th e i r activity i s d ue to a ra p id fe rm e ntation

,

or e x p lo s ion cau s e d by t h e mixt ur e o f a dro p of n erve fluid

“
with t h e blood in t h e mu s cl e For Willi s has sho w n that
.

an efferv e sc e nc e occur s wh e n fre sh blood i s mix e d with

”
variou s liquid s T h e h e art act s in t h e s am e w ay and
. ,

ex p e l s t h e blood not s o much by cont raction as by a s w e l ling

u p o f t h e wall s o f t h e v entricl e s j u s t a s a b ul l et i s s hot from

,

a gun by t h e e x p an s ion of t h e p owd e r an d t h e forc e s ,

e m p loy e d are not dissimilar fo r Bor e lli cal cul at e s t hat e ach
,

h e art b e at ov e rcom e s a res i s tanc e e qual to I 80 0 0 0 1b ! He

-
,
.

th e n app li es t h e th e ory to t h e e x p lan ation o f fev e r s S uch .

a ffe ctions are not d u e as t h e ch em i s t s a s se rt to an acid

, , ,

al kalin e s alin e or s ul p hurou s s t at e of t h e humours for w e

, , ,

may drin k liquid s of tho se kind s to any amount without

“
causing fe v er ; b e s id e s I s aw at Pisa oil of sul p hur
,

inj e ct e d into a dog s v e in s and h e was non e t h e wor se fo r

’

it N o r i s abnormal h e at t h e p rimary s ym p tom as t h e ,

G al eni st s s ay for it i s it se l f a re s ult of t h e in cr e a se d cardiac

,

activity an d mor e ra p id circulation o f t h e blood Thi s .

Bor e l li att ribut e s to s om e change in t h e n e rvous fl uid to ,

e x p lain w hich h e ado t s Wharton s th e ory that t h e glands

’

p
are t h e excr e tory organ s of t h e n e rvou s s yst e m an d so ,

finally con clud es that t h e p roximat e cau se o f fev er is a block

ing u p of t h e min ut e pores o f t h es e gl an d s by s om e vi s cid
s ub s t an c e F e v e r s ar e to som e ext ent se l f limit e d di s e a s es
.
-
,

for t h e incr e a s e d blood fl ow t en d s to wa s h away t h e vi s cid

matt e r and t hu s fr ee t h e gl and s ; and t h e alt e rnat e accumul a
tion and re moval e x p lain s t h e int e rmitt e n c es so com mon in
febril e di s ord e rs T h e rul e s o f t r e atm ent ar e r e adi ly d e
.

d u c i b l e from t h e th e ory T h e p hy s ician s houl d fo r t h e mo s t

.

p art wait u p on N at ure but h e may do s om e good by giving

,

fl uid di et t o dilut e t h e h umour s and by admini st e ring drugs ,

s uch as nitr e which a ppe ar t o di s s olv e gl uti nou s s ub s tan c e s

, ,
“ ”
or bark to r es tor e t h e ton e o f t h e s olid s
,
B l ee ding .
,
 B EL L I N I —PI TC AI RN E .
3I7

though so o ft e n e m p loy e d i s cont ra in di cat e d for t h e mater i es

,
-
,

mor bi i s not i n t h e blood b ut i n t h e n e rvou s s y s t e m an d ,

Bore l li con cl ud e s : I f t hi s th e ory of fev e r i s n ot fal s e an d

utt e rly out of t h e way I doubt not t hat inge nious p hysi cian s
,

”
wil l soon di scov e r mor e c e rtain r e m e di es .

O n e of t h e most famous fol lowe rs o f B or e l li w as L or e nzo

B e llini fo r t hirty y e ars ( 1 6 63 9 3 ) p ro fess or at Pi s a durin g
,
-
,

which pe riod h e p ub lish e d n um e rou s work s ex p oun din g and

d efen din g t h e doct rin e s of t h e m e chan ical school of m e di cin e .

P e rha p s t h e mo s t int e r es t ing and origin al p art o f hi s t e ach

i ng i s his th eory o f local sti m ulu s or as w e n ow call it “

, , ,

count e r — irrit ation T h e iat ro m e chani c s h e ld that t h e gre at

.
-

“ ”
cau s es of di s e as e are alt e rat ion s in t h e e lasticity or t on e
o f t h e sol id s or in t h e d e n s ity o f t h e fl uid s whi ch hind e r t h e
, ,

fr ee mov e m e nt o f t h e l att e r an d giv e ri s e to local cong e stion s

,

or s t agn at ion O n e way of d e al ing with such a s tat e i s by

.

bl ee ding e s pe cially from an art ery which as B e l lin i i s at

, , ,

g re at p ai n s t o p rov e t e n d s to in cre as e t h e v e locity o f t h e

,

circul ation B ut h e con si d e r s that t h e s am e en d may o ft en

.

b e attain e d by loc al sti mul u s by caut er y bli s t e r s rub efaci ent , , ,

lot ion s fl agel l ati on et c Th e s e age nt s p roduc e a lo cal con

, ,
.

traction of t h e fib re s wh e r e by t h e fluid s ar e ex p re ss e d from

,

o n e p art to an ot h e r whi l e at t h e s am e t im e t h e local blood

,

fl o w i s acc e l e rat e d an d t e n d s to wa s h out any morbid m att e r

, .

H ow com p l e t e ly t h e mind s o f t h e m echan i cal p hy s ician s

’
w e re domin at e d by H arv e y s di s cov e ry may b e s ee n in t h e
works of t h e chi ef B riti s h r ep r e s entativ e of t h e s chool ,

Archibal d P i t c ai r n e t h e fri e n d of B e ll in i and t utor of

, ,

Bo e rhaav e T h e foll owing are t h e fun dam e nt al d efinition s

.

wit h which h e comm e n c e s h i s E l emen m M edi ci na! Phy si c a

M ech c mi ca . L i fe is t h e circulation o f t h e blood H ealt h is .

i t s fr ee an d p ain l e s s circ ul at ion D i s eas e i s an abnormal .

mot ion of t h e blood e ith e r ge n e ral or local L i k e t h e

,
.

E n gli sh schoo l g en e ral ly h e i s far mo re e xcl u s iv e ly m ec h an i

,

cal t han ar e t h e I t alian s an d wi ll h e ar nothi ng o f fe rm e nt s

,

or aci d s e v e n i n dige st ion Thi s h e d e clare s i s a p ur e ly .

, ,

m e chani cal p roc e s s d ue to h e at an d p re s s ure th e wond erfu l ,

3I8 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

e ffe ct s o f w hi ch may b e s ee n in Pap i n s r e c e ntly i nv e nt e d

“ ”
dige st er That t h e s tomach i s fully abl e to commin ut e
.

t h e food m ay b e p rov e d by t h e follo w ing cal cul ation Bor ell i .

e s timat es t h e p ow e r o f t h e fl exo r s o f t h e thumb at 3 7 2 0 l b .

,

th e ir av e rage w e ight b e ing grain s N ow t h e av e rage .

,

w e ight o f t h e s tomach i s 8 o z th e refor e it can d ev e lo p a

.
,

forc e of 1 1 7 0 8 8 1b ,
. and thi s m ay b e furth e r assi s t e d by
,

t h e dia p hragm and abdom in al mu s cl e s t h e p ow e r o f which , ,

es timat e d in t h e s am e way e qual s ,

lb W e l l may .

Pi t c ai r n e add that thi s forc e i s n ot in fe rior to th at of any

m ill s ton e .I ndige stion i s d ue e ith e r to p araly s is of t h e
s tomach , w hi ch i s v e ry rar e 0 r to t h e p r es en c e o f a vi s cid
,
‘

s ub s tan c e on i t s s ur fac e and b e t w ee n i t s fibr e s p r ev e nting ,

t h e ir p ro pe r contraction Th e tr e atm e nt in dicat e d is to giv e

.

p urgativ es or dru g s whi ch w il l re mov e this vi s cosity and h e ,

r e comm e nd s among oth e r t hing s t h e E l i xi r P r opr i etati s of

, ,

S ylvi us .

Th e calcul ation s of t h e B riti s h iatro mat h e maticians -

,

howev er w e r e not al w ay s s o w il d as t ho se of B ore l li and

,

Pi t c ai r n e Thus Re il l es timat e d t h e forc e of t h e h eart b e at

.

at from fi v e to nin e oun c e s w hil e h e al s o r e pe at e d and

,

c orr e ct e d s om e o f t h e ob s e rvation s o f S anctoriu s Anoth er .

m e mb e r o f t h e s chool D r E d w ard B arry t hou ght t hat t h e

,
.
,

p robabl e l e ngth of li fe might b e cal c ulat e d math e matically ,

o n t h e s u p p osition that t h e h e art i s a cl ock lik e m achin e s et -

t o b e at so many tim es S u p po se for exam p l e a p e rson b e

.
, ,

endow e d with an organ which w il l la s t s e v e nty y e ar s at an ,

a v e rage rat e o f s ixty b e ats p er mi n ut e t h e n i f by e xc es s e s , ,

a n d excit e m e nt s h e in cr e as es t h e rat e t o se v enty fi v e b eats -

,

h e wil l liv e excl udin g accid e nt s e xact ly fift y s i x y ear s

, ,
-
.

But w ith all th e ir lov e of cal culation t h e disci p l es of

, ,

Bore l li s oon s aw that it w as absurd t o a pp ly t h e s trict rul e s

o f math e matic s to t h e vari e d an d com p licat e d p h e nom e na of

di s e a s e and s o b e gan t o s ep arat e th e ir th e ory from th eir

,

p racti c e following in t h e l att e r t h e p rin ci p l e s o f a rational

,

e m p irici s m ; and so mark e d i s thi s di stin ction in t h e work s

o f t h e t w o gr e at es t m e mb e rs o f t h e school Baglivi an d ,
3 20 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

air and v e n es e ct ion as b eing mo s t in accordan c e with

,

N at ur e and e x pe ri e n c e Th e p rogr es s o f m e dicin e may h e

.
,

think s b e furth ere d in thr ee way s : ( I ) By ac curat e d e

,

sc r i p t i o n s or nat ural hi s tori e s o f di s e a s e s writt e n without ,

any p r e conc e iv ed i d ea s ep arating th e m into th e ir various

-
,

s pe ci es and di s tingui s hing t h e e s se ntial from t h e accid e ntal

,

s ym p tom s ; ( 2 ) by es tabl i s hing a fi x e d p ri nci p l e or m ethod

o f tr eatm ent ,
found e d u p on e x peri e n c e ; ( 3 ) by se arching
fo r s pe cific r e m e di e s w hich h e b e li e v e s m u s t exi st in con
,

s i d er ab l e numb er s though h e admit s that t h e only o n e y et

,

di s cov e re d i s P eruvian bark S yd e n ham hold s that di s eas e s

.

are as ty p ical and di s tinc t from e ach ot h e r a s t h e various

s p e ci e s o f
p lant s and ani mal s which th e y re s embl e in ap ,

p e aring and di s a pp e aring w ith t h e s eason s ; and though h e

b e li e v es w ith H i pp ocrat es that t h e y ar e effort s of N at ure
to w ards a cure by t h e e limin at ion o f m o r b i fi c matt e r , h e
com p ar es th e m at t h e s am e tim e to p ara s it e s which d e v e lo p
in man owin g to som e change in hi s humour s j u s t as to , ,

u s e h i s own sim il e mo s s e s m ushroom s and mi st l e to e grow

'

, ,

on t r ees t h e j uic es of w hich hav e b ee n corru pt e d by s om e

,

int ernal or e xt ernal ag e ncy T h e p rogr es s of m e dical know

.

l e dge h as s hown that h e e xagge rat e d both t h e n umb e r of

s p ecific r e m e di e s and t h e s e cific n at ur e of di s e as e and thi s
p ,

is s till mor e t h e ca s e wit h his favourit e doctrin e of t h e

“ ”
e p id e mic con s tit ution w hich h e borrow ed dire ctly from
,

H i pp ocrat es According to S yd e n ham acut e dis e as e s es

.
, ,

p ec i al l y tho s e o f an ep id e mi c charact e r whil e di ffe ring from ,

o n e anoth e r i n s p e cial
p ro p e rti e s p re s e nt a g en eral ty pe ,

which vari e s from tim e to ti m e not th rough change of ,

“
climat e or s e ason but b e cau s e of c e rtain s e cr e t an d i n ex
,

p licabl e alt e ration s in t h e b o we l s o f t h e earth an d a ,

kno w l e dge of t h e e xi s ting typ e i s o f fun dam e ntal im p ort an c e

“ ”
in t re atm e nt Th u s in 1 66 1 4 t h e ep id e mic con s t it ution
.
-

had agu e as i t s ba s i s I n 1 66 5 6 cam e t h e p lagu e duri ng

.
-

whi ch all febril e di s e a ses p l e uri s y p n e umonia et c as s um e d

, , , .
,

a p l agu e lik e charact e r T h e y e ar s 1 66 6 9 w er e m ark e d by

-
.
-

a Consti tuti o var i ol osa wh e n s mall po x gave what w e m ay -

 BA GL IVI .
32 I

cal l th e k ey not e Thi s was fol low e d by t h e C onsti tuti o

-
.

dy sen ter i ca an d so on
, .

Th e abov e t h eory t ho ugh p e rha p s not e nt ir e ly fal s e di d

, ,

gre at h arm fo r it b e cam e t h e fa s hion to ascrib e e xc es s iv e

,

”
mort al ity o f any kin d to a ge ni us ep i d em i c us cosmo ,
”
t e ll uric mi a s m o r my s t e riou s influ e n c e s om e ti m es confin e d
, ,

to a s i ngl e ho s p it al ward at oth e r ti m es s p re adin g it s e l f

,

ov e r whol e countri e s a do ct rin e which n ot on ly s av e d t h e

,

p hy s ician t h e t roubl e o f furth e r i nv es t igat ion but al so ,

e xcu s e d h i s want o f s uc c e s s for what can m e r e mortal s d o ,

again s t co s mo t e ll uric infl u e n c es an d ep i d e mic ge nii ! B ut

-

w e n ee d not dw e l l on t h e un avoidabl e e rror s of a gr e at man ,

and t h e influ e n c e of S yd e nham s t e achin g as a W hol e was as ’

b en e ficial as it w as e xt e n s iv e .

C hi ef amon g h i s p u p il s in s p irit i f not in fact w er e

, , ,

B aglivi ( 1 668 1 7 0 7 ) an d Bo e rhaav e ( 1 668

-
T h e form e r ,

w h o fla s h e s li k e a b right m e t e or acro s s t he horizon of

medical hi s tory h as b ee n cal l e d an I t alian S yd e n ham an d
, ,

had h e liv e d w oul d doubt l ess hav e m e rit e d t h e t itl e ; b ut h e

,

may b e b e tt e r com p are d with B ichat whom h e clos e ly ,

i

re se m bl e d in h i s w ond e rful ac t i v i t y an d e arly d e ath as w el l ,

as in t h e styl e an d n at ur e o f h i s t e aching H aving s t udi e d .

at N a p l es an d graduat e d p erha p s at t h e an ci e nt U n iv e rsity

, , ,

o f S al e rno B aglivi w e nt ro un d t h e s chool s and ho s p it al s o f

,

I taly to ob s e rve t h e st at e o f m e dical t e achi ng an d p ractic e ,

l inge ri ng es p e cial ly at Bologn a wh e r e h e att en d e d t h e ,

l ect ures o f M al p ighi th e n t h e gr e at e st of livin g an atomi s t s

, .

H e p ubli s h e d t h e r es ult s o f h i s ob s er vation s an d e x p e ri e n c e

in his m i s M edi ca and was s oon a ft e rward s el e ct e d
,

p ro fe s s or o f an atomy at Rom e and what h e consid e r e d a , ,

s til l high e r honou r for e ign m e mb e r of t h e Royal S oci e ty in

, ,

succ e s s i on to M al p ighi 1 6 9 7 H i s few re maining y e ar s

,
.

we r e s p e nt in t h e cont in uou s labour s of t e aching res e arch , ,

and p racti c e H e l e ct u r e d twi c e daily in anatomy b es id e s

.
,

giving in s t ructi on i n ch e m i s t ry and m e dicin e H e d evot e d .

much t im e t o e x pe rim e nt al p hy s iology which h e d eclar e d ,

was t h e s ourc e o f all t h e chi ef di s cov e ri e s of t h e age and h e ,

21
3 22 I AL
M ED C H S I T O RY .

n ev e r w ent t o b e d unt il h e had writt e n an exact ac co unt o f

t h e condition o f e a ch o f h i s num e rous p ati e nt s Thi s e x .

c es s i v e activity gav e ri s e to s e v e ral i lln es se s and p robably ,

hast e n ed h i s d e ath ( j un e 1 7 th at t h e e arly age of

,

thirty e ight
-
.

Baglivi has l eft u s two im p ortant w ork s t h e P r axi s ,

M edi c a and t h e D e F i bm M oni c e d e vot e d r es p e ctiv ely to

/
,

t h e art and sci e nc e o f m e dicin e T h e latt e r i s o f much

.

val u e and gav e origin to t h e so cal l e d s olidar p at hology

,
-
,

but s p ac e only p e rmit s s om e bri ef extract s from t h e form er ,

o n e o f t h e mo s t int e r es tin g book s o f t h e s ev e nt ee nth c e nt ury .

“
H e re ar e a few of t h e a p hori s m s in which it aboun d s : T h e
p hy s ician i s t h e se rvant and int er p ret e r o f N at ure M edi
cin e con s i s t s e ntir e ly i n ob s e rvation s T h e h e alin g art
.

i s not a p roduct of h uman s p e cul ation but i s t h e daught e r ,

o f Tim e . I f any w h e r e c e r t ainly in m e dicin e i s i t re quir ed

, ,

to know much and t o do littl e es p e cially in ac ut e and com

, ,

p licat ed ca s e s an d w e s hould try t o re mov e t h e p rej udic e of

,

many p ati e nt s who think th e ir cur e d e p e nds on t h e amount

” “
and vari ty e o f t h e dru gs giv e n t h e m T h e old p rov e rb
.

O rd e r t h e brick s to t h e lin e an d not t h e lin e to t h e brick s

, ,

a pp li es e xactly to
p hy s i cian s w h o m ust ada p t th e i r th e ori es
,

to that imm utabl e p l umb lin e s u s p e n d e d in t h e univ e r se by

-

t h e han d o f G od e v e n t h e law s o f N at ur e which w ill not

, ,

d eviat e a hair s br e adth to suit our fal laci es

’

T h e fol lowing show s what a chang e had com e ov er t h e

“
a s p e ct o f m e dicin e s in c e t h e tim e o f H arv ey : M o s t writ er s
o n m e dicin e fo r t h e l a s t forty y e ar s follow Parac e l s us and

Van H e lmont in d e ri ding t h e work s o f t h e an ci e nt s ; and

e s p e cially do t h e y abu s e G al en as t hough h e w e r e t h e mo s t
,

abandon e d villain that ev e r liv ed B ut at t h e s am e tim e .

t h ey imitat e t h e chi ef e rror of t h e G al en i s t s in s e tting up

n ew idol s in t h e form o f s y s t e m s which t h ey d e clar e ar e t h e
,

o nly tru e on e s and as much harm i s lik e ly to b e don e by

,

a s cribing in fal libility t o Van H e lmont s a s se rt ion that bl ee d

’

ing an d p urgatives ar e alway s inj uriou s as t h e old H umor ,

”
a l i s t s did by th e ir e xc es s iv e e m p loym e nt .
3 24. M ED C I AL H S I T O RY .

p l e thora and a liability to inflammatory di s ord e r s an d ap o

l xy wh e nc e p e rha p s t h e fr e qu e n cy o f t ho s e di s e a s e s in
o ur
e
p , , ,

day s ” B a glivi a pp li es t h e Baconian a p ologu e of t h e ant

'

.
,

“
t h e s p id e r an d t h e b ee to t h e variou s m edi cal s e ct s Th e .

ant w h o gath e r s food at random and u s es it im m e diat e ly

,
,

i s a typ e o f t h e e m p iri c w h o go es hith e r and t hith e r coll e ct

i n g fact s and a pp l i es th e m at on c e unt es t e d ei t h e r by t h e
, ,

touch s ton e o f e x p e ri e n c e or t h e crucibl e of re a s on Th e .

spi der w h o s p in s h er w hol e w e b out o f h e rs e l f r e p r ese nt s

,
,

t h e th e ori s ing doctor s t h e p ur e dial e ct ici an s o f sci e nc e

,
.

T h e b ee do e s b e tt e r than e it h e r fo r s h e gath e rs t h e crud e ,

hon e y from t h e flow e r s int roduc es it into h er own organi s m

, ,

and th e r e bring s it to al l t h e p e rfe ction o f w hi ch it i s cap abl e .

B ut i f you look for p hy s ician s w h o act lik e h er you wil l find

non e .T h e m e dical hi s torian ho w e v e r may fairly p oint t o, ,

B a g livi him s e l f as an e xam p l e of thi s b e s t typ e o f p hy s ician s ,

fo r h e h as not on ly l eft u s t h e n utritiou s hon ey o f h i s t e ach

i ng both p ractical an d th e or e ti c b ut h e im p rov e d t h e few
, ,

b right hour s allott ed to him with a dilige n c e worthy of o ur

high e st admiration .

H e rm ann Bo e rhaav e though born only a few months ,

a ft e r Baglivi s urviv e d him thirty y e ar s d uring mo s t of

, ,

whi ch h e h e ld an un rivall e d p o s ition as t h e m edi cal t e ach er

o f all E uro p e T h e b e auty o f h i s p e r s on al charact er which
.

m ad e him t h e idol of h i s p u p il s t h e n umb e r of t h e l att e r ,

which n e c e s s it at e d p u lling down t h e w al l s of L eyd e n to

m ake room for th e m h i s fam e w hi ch s p r e ad from C hina t o
,

P e ru and h i s r e c ei pt of a l ett e r from a C e l es ti al c or r es p o n

,

d e nt ad dre s s e d to B o e rhaav e in E uro p e are among t h e

, ,

common p lac es of m e dical hi s tory B ut w e m ust h e r e con .

fi n e our s e lv es to a s hor t account o f h i s t e ach ing an d i t s ,

.

infl u e n c e u p on t h e p ro g re s s of t h e h e alin g art Bo e rhaave s .

’

A ph or i s ms and I nsti tu tes onc e t h e un iv e r s al t es t book s of

,
-

m e dicin e are now utt e rly forgott e n an d t h e cau s e of th eir

, ,

form e r s ucc es s m u s t b e s ought not in any n ew and im p or ,

t ant di s cov e ri e s or th eori es th e y contain b ut in t h e p r es t ig e ,

o f t h e writ e r s nam e
’
i n t h e cl e arn es s and s i m p li city w ith
,
 BO E R H AA V E .
3 25

w hich t h ey ar e writt e n an d i n t h e e c l e cti c charact e r of th ei r

,

t eachin g in which t h e do ctrin es o f t h e m e chanical s chool

,

“ ”
a r e mingl e d wit h t h e solid ar p at hology of B aglivi t o ,

ge th e r with s mal l e r p ro p ortion s o f t h e ch e mi cal an d humoral

th eori e s A c cordi ng to B o e rh aav e t h e body i s com p o s e d o f
.

“ ”
s olids in t h e sha p e o f fibr e s an d v e ss e l s an d of fl ui d s ,

c ontain ed i n t h e l att e r an d act e d u on by t h e m according t o

, p
t h e laws o f hyd ro st ati c s H e alt h con s i s t s i n t h e n orm al
.

action and re action b etw een t h e solids and fl ui ds ; in di s e as e

t h e fi bre s m ay e ith e r b e r e lax e d givin g ri s e to p assiv e con
,

ge stion s or con s trict e d so as to p roduc e ob st ruction an d s u p

, ,

p re ssio n o f s ec r etion s whil e in t h e oth e r ca s e s t h e r e may b e

,

an abnormal acridity o f t h e hu mour s or t h e ir circ ul at ion ,

may b e im p e d e d by an exc e s siv e vi s co sity Re s p iration h e .

,

con sid e rs i s a p ur e ly p hy s i cal p ro c es s t h e p r es s ur e of t h e

, ,

air in t h e p ul mon ary v es i cl es s erving to com p l et e t h e m ixt ure

o f t h e blood wit h t h e chyl e an d s o to p r e s e rv e it s p ro p er
,

fluidity . H e i s p uzzl e d ho w e v er by t h e fact t hat d eat h

, ,

occurs i f t h e air i s not contin ual ly r en ew e d and a s k s D o es ,

t h e e la s t ic p art o f t h e at mo s p h e r e get absorb ed or i s it t h e ,

hidd e n alim e nt o f li fe as t h e al ch emi s t s s u pp o s e ! Thi s i s a

”
v ery di ffi cult qu e stion O n e o f Bo e rhaav e s chi ef s e rvi c e s
’
.

to m e di cin e w as h i s e m p ha s i s of i t s p ositiv e or s ci e ntific

s id e in cont ra s t to t h e ab s t ract
, p hilo s o p hi c th e ori e s w hich
s o aboun d e d in t h e e ight ee nt h c e nt ur y E v e ry vital action .

( h e s ays ) d e pe n d s on c e rt ain bodily con dition s and re lat ion s ;

e v e ry chang e in t h es e bodily con dition s and re lation s i s
n ec es sarily fol low e d by a corr es p on ding chan ge in t h e vital
act ivity ; m e di cin e th e r efor e m ust b e ba s e d u p on p hysio
, ,

logy . Thi s doctrin e w as furth er d ev elo pe d by his i ll u s t riou s

p u p il Vo n H al l e r an d a ft e rward s by B ich at an d p roduc e d
, , ,

as w e shal l see mo s t im p ortant r e s ult s E qually val uabl e

,
.

was hi s cl in ical t e ach ing in whi ch h e carri ed on and ex

,

t en d e d t h e work oi S ylvius an d which w as aft e rwards t ran s

,

p lant ed to a wid e r th eatr e by h i s p u p il s Van S w i et en and ,

”
D e H a en t h e found e r s o f t h e s o cal l e d
,
first V i e n na school
- .

U n fort unat e ly only h i s mor e t h e ore tical l e ct ur e s hav e s u r

,
3 26 I AL
M ED C H I S T O RY .

e ry im p e r fe ct and un s at i s factory ve r
v i v ed , g an d in v
th o se
sion s ; but H all e r h as coll e ct e d an d e dit e d a fe w C on sulta
tion s w hi ch giv e u s a s om ew hat b e tt e r id e a both of h i s
,

clin ical s kil l and o f h i s n ev e r failing k indlin e ss an d court e s y

- .

Th e follo w ing i s t h e fi r s t o f th es e s lightly con d e n se d : ,

“
L e tt e r from t h e local p ractition e r Y our aid Vi r . ,

s ec t at i s s i m e i s i m p lor e d by M r s
p ,
W ag e d thirty o n e .
-
,

o f a family v e ry liabl e to p hthi s i s H er e xtr e m e thinn ess .

,

ge n e ral p ro s t ration fee t s w oll e n in t h e e v e n ing e t c cl e arly

, ,
.
,

s how that t h e fibr e s ar e too r e lax e d Till h er twe nti eth .

y e ar s h e enj oy e d good h e alth wh e n an acut e fev e r gav e ,

ris e to chloro s i s and all t hat h e a p o f hy s t e ric s ym p tom s

,

to w hich p oor w om e n ar e liabl e e s p eci ally h e adach e and ,

m enta l d e pr es sion O v e r se dulou s doctor s did n ot h e sitat e

.
-

to t re at thi s by large v e n e s e ction s at l e a s t s i x tim es re ,

p e at ed H e nc e s h e got a cough w hich h as in cr e as ed durin g

.
,

t h e la s t s e v e n y e ar s and which s h e h a s innoc e ntly but

im p rud ently e n courage d by l at e hou r s and noct urnal danc es .

S h e i s not gl uttonou s nor addi ct e d to s p irit uou s liquor s .

S h e com p l ain s o f occa s ional con s t riction o f t h e ch es t w ith

s l ight
p ain Th e re i s a litt l e e x p e ctoration w it h t h e cough
.
,

incr e a s ing on s u pp r e s s ion o f t h e n at ural p er s p iration S h e .

h as had o n e or two h e ctic fl u s h e s an d i s grad ual ly lo s ing ,

fl es h S h e marri e d at t w e nty s i x an d had a daught e r three

.
-
,

y e ar s l at e r D uring p re gnancy h e r fac e w as cov e re d w ith

.

blot ch es w hich hav e not y et e ntir ely di s a ppe ar e d Adi e u .

,

mo s t l e arn e d s i r and h uman e ly i m p art t h e m e thod of tr eat

,

m e nt you con sid e r mo s t p rom i s ing which w il l doubt l e s s ,

re s ult in t h e b e n efit o f thi s p oor l ady an d t h e in cr e a se of ,

your o w n re p ut ation .

B o e rhaav e s rep ly ’
I hav e con sid e r e d t hi s ca s e which
.
,

h as b een w i s e ly ob se rv e d e xactly d es crib e d an d h ith ert o

, ,

p rud e nt ly t re at e d by y o u I am com p e l l e d t o thin k that

.

t h e cau s e o f t h e evil mu s t b e sou g ht in t h e e xc e s s iv e feebl e

n e s s o f h er bodily s truct ure and es pecially in a w e akn e s s ,

o f t h e p ulmonary ti s s u e Wh e re for e I con s id e r th at all

.
,

e vacuativ e and d e bilita t in g t r e atm ent s houl d b e avoid e d I .

 3 28 M ED C I AL H S I T O RY .

four main s ourc es of di s e a se s p a s m atony alt e r ed h umours , , ,

an d d e fici e nt e xcre tion to b e m et r es pe ctiv e ly by four kin d s of ,

m e dicin e s s edativ es tonic s alt e rativ e s and e vac uants

, , ,
.

Pure w at e r i s an exc ell e nt m e dicin e it r e li ev e s s p a s m an d ,

favour s t h e motion o f t h e humour s ; but t h e g re at anti

s a s modi c i s cam p hor thou g h not w ithou t dan g e r a s ev i
p , ,

d en c ed by t h e follo w ing cas e A p er s on took two s cru p l es o f .

cam p hor by acci d ent H e w as s eiz e d w it h e xtre m e an d con .

t i n u e d v e rtigo coldn es s o f t h e lim b s an d d e liri um

,
H o ffmann .

admini s t e r ed arom atic s and amm onia ; but t h e p at i e nt got

w or s e with ri g or of t h e lim bs an d s p a s m o f t h e oes o p hagu s .

Finally h e r e cov e re d by t h e us e o f e n e mata al cohol and .

”
s p irit s o f e th e r which last form ed t h e famou s H o ffmann s
'

”
an odyn e s till
, in u s e H i s favourit e t oni c s w e re w in e .
,

q uinin e and p r ep aration s o f iron whil e among alt e rativ es ,

and e vacuant s p romin e nt p lac e w as h e ld by min e ral w at e rs ,

t h e com p o s ition o f which h e mad e laudabl e effort s to an aly s e

and i m it at e T h e s im p l icity and p lau s ibility of th ese

.

doctrin e s mad e th e m v e ry p o p ul ar an d th ey form ed t h e ,

ba s i s of mo s t of t h e more p ractical syst em s of th e

e ight ee nth c e nt ury .

N OT ES .

Sy d e n h am s w o r k s w er e p ub li s h e d i n L a ti n a n d E n gli h b y t h e
’

S y d e n h a m S oc i e ty 1 844 a n d 1 849 re s p ec tiv e ly

, T h e l att e r c o n t a i n s a .

b i o grap h y b y D r L at h am A m o ng t h e very n um ero u es ti m a t e s f

. . s o

h i s e r i e s t o m e d i c i n e t h e l at e D J o h n B r o w n
s v c
, L ocke and Sy d enham r .
‘

( i n h i s H ome S ubsec i vce) i s e p ec i ally n o ti c eab l e s .

B agli v i Oper a O mni a M ed i co P m cti ca ( by P i n e l ) P a r i s 1 88 ; D r -

,
7 , ,
.

M ax S al o m o n G i org i o B ag l i v i und S i n Z ei t B e rli n 1 8 8 B oer h aave e e

,
9 , , .
,

I ns ti tuti on s M ed i a L eyd e n 1 7 1 3 ; Aphor i s ms L ey d e n 1 1

7 5 ; P i cel e t i n
e c ,
'
r o es
, , ,

A ca d emi cmG Ott i n ge n 1 73 9 ; Cons ul tati ones M ed i w G tt i n

g n 1 7 52 T h ere
'

, c ,
o e , .

a r e n u m e ro u s E n li s h b i o r a h i e fr o m t h a t by D r j o h n o n t o t h e o n e
g g p s, . s

by Si r B W Ri c h ard s o n A scl epi ad 1 88 5

. .
H o ffm ann Op
, O mn i a , . er a
, ,

G e n eva 1 7 4 8 e pe c i ally t h e “ C o m m e n t ar y o n t h e d i ffer e n c e b t w ee n

, ,
s e

h i s o w n s y s t e m a n d t h at o f S t ah l ( Conunenta r i a d e
‘

et c .
,

F ran kfo r t , w h i c h c o n t a i n a v e ry c l e a r a nd i m a r ti a l o utli n e o f

p s

t h e r iva l d o c t r i n e s .
 W ISEM A N .
3 29

L VI .
-
S E VE N T E E N T H C E N T U RY S U RG E RY .

T HE s urge ry of t h e s e v e nt ee nt h c e nt ury i s m uc h l es s i m
portant th an t hat which cam e b e fore or a ft e r it for t h e ,

wond e r ful p rogr es s o f p hysiology s ee m s t o hav e att ract e d

t h e abl e st m in d s t o t h e s t udy o f m e di cal p robl e m s j u s t as ,

t h e anatomi cal di s cov e ri e s o f t h e p r e c e din g age gav e birth

to t h e gr e at surge on s w ho s e work h as al re ady b ee n con

s i d e re d S til l t h er e a r e s om e n am es w hi ch can n ot b e e ntir e ly
.

o mitt e d .

Richard Wi s e man tho ugh s carc e ly an Am bro s e Par é

, ,

i s in s om e s e n s e t h e fath e r o f E n gli s h s urg e ry A ft er .

gainin g m uch ex peri en c e in t h e naval s ervi c e h e j oin e d t h e ,

Royali st army in t h e W es t about 1 6 4 5 and found t h e ,

soldi e r s m u ch t roubl e d by an ep id e mi c of scabie s I .

c ommonly l e t th e m blood whi ch fe ll und e r my car e and ,

a dvi s e d th e m to drin k fo r th e ir morn ing draught s brim s ton e

a n d mil k an d t o anoint t h e m s e lv es with brim s ton e and

, .

butt er B ut in warm w e ath e r fr e q u ent bathin g in t h e riv e r s

.

was th eir c ur e H e a ft e rw ard s b ecam e s erg e ant s urge on

.
-

to Charl e s I I But Wi s e m an s l i fe an d w orks hav e b ee n so

.
’

rec e nt ly and fully di sc u s s e d by two di s tingui s h ed m emb e r s

of our p ro fe ssion t hat w e may h er e dismiss him w ith
H all e r s es tim at e : A m an o f m uch e x p eri e n c e s in c e r e and
’

not a s ham e d to con fe ss h i s mi s t ak es n ot car eful about t h e

,

s ubtl eti e s o f t h e art rath e r too fon d o f m e di cam e nt s and

, ,

too sp aring o f o p e ration s

Th e chi e f I t alian s urg e on s o f t h e c e nt ury we r e P et e r
M ar c h et t i s ( 1 589 p ro fes s or at Padua and M arcus ,

Aure li us S ev e rin us of N a p l es ( 1 580 T h e following

c a se ,
tak e n from t h e Obser vati ons o f t h e form e r s hows t h e ,

e xagg e rat e d i d e as as t o t h e dange r o f sut uring divid e d

’
t endon s a dr e ad w hi ch was fin al ly re mov e d by H all e r s
“

e x e rim e nt s on an im al s in t h e fol l owing c e nt ury

p .

“
N e rv e s and t e ndons m u s t n e v er b e s ut ure d fo r t his ,

p ractic e is o ft e n fol l ow e d by fat al t etan u s T h e ing e nio us

.

s urg eon s ho uld rat h e r r e m edy d eformit i es by a pp ro p riat e

3 30 M ED C I AL H S O I T RY .

sp l int s as I did in t h e ca s e o f a di s tin g ui s h e d mars hal o f

,

Fran c e of t h e family of M ontmore ncy H e r e c eiv e d a s w ord

,
.

cut on t h e right w ri s t dividing t h e e xt e n s or t e ndon s o f t h e

,

thumb Wh e n t h e wound h e al e d t h e thumb w as drawn

.

acro s s t h e fp al m o f t h e hand so t hat h e could not hold ,

s w ord ,
dagg er or lan c e and w as e nti re ly in cap acit at e d for
,

t h e p ro fe s s ion o f arm s a p art from whi ch h e d e cl ar e d li fe

,

w as not w orth living S o h e con s ult e d m e about am p utatin g

.

h i s hand t o w hich I could in no w i se con s e nt but d evi s ed

, ,

an iron ca s e to hold t h e thumb out fix e d by t w o c o r d s t o

'

brac e l et s roun d t h e w ri s t an d s o h e w as abl e to hold and

,

u se al l k in ds o f w ea p on s .

“
Traumatic ep il e p s y cure d by tr ep hin in g : I w as onc e
call e d in con s ultation with D r j uliu s S al a p ro fe ssor at .
,

Padua to a p ati e nt who had b ee n s truck on t h e h e ad w ith a

,

da gge r w ith l es ion of t h e s kul l m embran es and brain

, , .

it s e l f T h e woun d h e al e d e xt ernal ly but w as follo w e d in

.
,

three or four month s by r e curr e nt epil ep tic attack s O n .

i ntroducing a p rob e I foun d t h e abov e m ention e d p e n e tratin g -

wou nd I th e refor e e n large d t h e o p e n ing w ith a tr ep hin e

.
,

l etting out m uch y el lo w i chor an d in t hirty day s both th e ,

wound and t h e ep il ep s y w e re com p l e t e ly c ur e d .

M A S e v e rin u s i s es p e cial ly int e r es ting a s t h e la s t

. .

im p ortant rep r es entat iv e of t h e s chool of S al e rno H e be .

cam e s u pe rint e nd e nt of t h e ho s p ital for inc urabl es at N a p l e s ,

and achi ev e d s uch p o p ularity t hat wh e n obl ige d to fl ee from .

t h e to w n owing to s om e di s p ut e w it h t h e H oly I nqui s ition

, ,

h e was r e call e d by t h e unanimous voic e of t h e citiz e n s In .

“ ”
h i s work on s urge ry or as h e call s it
, , efficaciou s m e dicin e , ,

h e bl am es h i s coll e agu es fo r th e i r timidity an d fo r s ub s tit ut ,

ing drug s and bal s am s fo r o pe ration s a d e ge n eration which ,

( h e say s ) i s larg e ly du e t o t h e influ e n c e o f t h e Parac e l si s t s .

E v e n m ed i azv al s urge on s w e r e bold e r t han t h ey ; P et e r o f

Ar ge l l at a fo r in s tan c e r e s e ct e d t h e whol e of t h e radiu s fo r
, ,

n e cro s i s a fe at w hich few w ould att e m pt i n h i s tim e

,
.

“
Anoth er int e r es ting t r e ati s e d e al s wit h t h e nat ur e oi
'

”
ab s c es s e s C old or ch ronic ab s c es s es w hich ar e s om eti m es
.
3 32 M ED C I AL H S I T O RY .

h ou s e and from h er ninth y e ar h as labour e d un d e r m any

,

i n fi r m i t i e s accom p an i e d by gr eat s w ell in g o f t h e abdom en

,
.

About h er fi ft eenth y e ar w h e n youth ful wildn e s s i s mo s t ,

ram pant s h e fright en e d anoth e r girl w ith a cat and t h e

, ,

latt e r in re v eng e got a s p id e r o f w hich animal s h e had a ,

p e culiar horror and so t errifi e d h er t h e r ewit h that s h e fel l

,

do w n in a fit la s ting nin e day s L ib e ral v e n es ect ion w as

,
.

e m p loy e d and forty —

,
fi v e cu pp ing gl ass e s a p p l i e d to h e r
s p in e and l eg s thirty — s i x w it h s c ar ifi c at i o n
,
according to t h e ,

“
H i pp ocratic rul e e xtr em e di se as e s d e m and ext re m e r e m edi es
O n t h e advi c e o f an old woman s kil l e d in di s ord e rs o f ,

fe mal e s h er fee t w e r e al s o s c ar i fi e d
,
S o s h e r e cov e re d but .
,

h as ev er s inc e b ee n li abl e to a hy s t e ric a ffe ction w hich ,

tak e s h er s udd e nly e v e n wh e n e at ing or s ingi ng an d l e av e s

, ,

h er w ith e qual ra p idity To pr es e rv e h er h e alth and cure

.
,

th es e fit s s h e h as b ee n bl e d during h er li fe mor e t han 7 0 0

,

t im es not to 3 0 2 or 4 oz on ly but to 1 2 o z 1 6 oz or more

,
.
, .
, .
, ,

and that daily th o ugh n o w on account of h er age it i s don e

,

l es s fre qu e ntly
-
Th e cau s e of s uch a p l e thora o f blood i s pro
.

bably hy pe rtro p hy of t h e liv e r b ut w e may b e abl e to ,

inv es tigat e it more d ee p ly post mor tem .

T h e figure of N ichol a s T ul p ( 1 59 3 1 6 7 8 ) i s wid ely kno w n -

from Rembrandt s famou s p ict ure T h e A nat omi s ts

'

he
hold s an honourabl e p lac e in ge n e ral hi s tory as t h e aged
burgoma s t e r who s e int r ep id p at rioti s m p re v e nt e d t h e s ur
r e n d e r of Am s t e rdam to t h e Fre n ch 1 6 7 2 and h e d es e rve s , ,

m e ntion h e re as a s kil ful s urg e on who s e s m all volum e of ,

M ed i c al O bser v ati ons h as b ee n cal l e d by H all e r a gold en .

”
w ork ( aar ea i n opus) T h e follo w ing ar e ext ract s th er e
.

from
“
A di s tingui s h e d p aint e r troubl e d by m e lan cholia , ,

t hou ght that all h i s bon es w e re s o ft li k e wax and t hat h i s ,

body would roll u p in a bal l i f h e mov e d s o h e s tay e d in b ed ,

fo r a whol e wint e r I d e t e rmin ed n ot to cont radict his d e

.

l u s i o n but to u s e a s tratag e m and told him t h e di s e a s e was

, ,

w e l l kn o w n to p hy s i cian s and could re adily b e cure d so ,

,

that i f h e took t h e m e di cin e s p res cri b e d h i s bon e s would

, ,
 THE A N I M I STS .
333

b ec o m e hard in thr ee days an d h e wo uld wal k in a w ee k ,

.

Th en I gav e hi m som e sim p l e p urgativ e an d on t h e th ird ,

day al low ed him t o sit up b ut by no m e an s t o wal k doi n g , ,

it gradually so t h at h e might n ot s u s p e ct t h e st rat agem By .

t h e sixt h day h e was p e rfe ct ly w e l l ; h e ov erwh elm e d m e

wit h grat it ud e an d e v e r a ft e r h ad t h e gr eat est c on fid en c e
,

in m edi c in e For h e n ev e r discov e re d t h e t rick t ho ugh n o

.
,

fool in oth e r m att e rs an d h ardly s e con d to any in his art .

On anoth e r p age h e t e ll s t h e story of a bl acksmit h who p er

form e d t h e o pe rat ion of p er i n ae al lithotomy on him s e lf an d ,

su cc essfully ext ract e d a s ton e w e ighi n g 4 oz an d l arge r than .

a h en s egg wit h no oth e r in st rum e nt s t han a c o m mon kn ife

’

and hi s fi n ge rs a d ee d whic h say s Tul p m ay c om p are with , ,

t h e m ost val iant a c t s re cord e d in hi s to r y Tul p st rongly .

disa pp rov es of t h e in cr e as i n g hab it of writin g m e di c al books

in t h e vulgar tongu e in s t e ad o f in L atin I t will h e t hin ks .
, ,

c aus e a m ark ed inc r e a s e both o f r e al an d imagin ary di s eas es ,

and as an exam p l e of t hi s h e r e lat e s how a p ati ent of his own

who had fra c t ur ed an d di sloc at e d hi s fibula got hold of t h e ,

works of Amb ros e Par e and a pp li e d his d e scri ption of t h e

,

various disast e rs whi ch m ay fol low a fra c t ur e of t h e t high

bon e to his own c a s e B y p e rp e t ual anxi ety and brooding
.

th ereu pon h e b e c am e sl e ep l es s and fin al ly w ent out of hi s ,

mind .

NO TE .

W i s em an E i ght chi r urgi ca l

,
tr eati ses , L o n d o n, 1 73 4 ; L o ngm ore, S i r
T .
, R Wi seman L o n d o n 1 89 1
.
, Ri c h ard s o n, S i r B , Wi seman and the
, ; .

S urgery of the Commonw eal th , As c l e p i a d, 1 886 M arc h ett i s, Obser vati ones .

M edi co Ch i r urgi eal , P ad ua, 1 66 4

- S ever i n u s , D e A bscessnnm N atal y a,
.

Frankfo rt , 1 643 ; Se ve r i n u s D e Efli caci M ed i ci na, Frankfo rt 1 67 1 Sc ul

' '

.
, ,

tet us , A r mamentar i um Ch i r ur gi cum, L ey de n, 1 69 3 ; T u l p Obser vati ones

,

M edi ca , Am s t erd am 1 685 .

LvI I f —T H E A N I M I ST S .

THE ight eenth or ph iloso p hi c c e nt u ry as it has b ee n call ed

e , ,

is m a rk ed in m edi cal history by t h e ris e an d fall of a n umb er

3 34 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

of p hi lo s o p hic t h e ori es an d s y s t em s an d by a r e vival of that ,

Pla t oni c my s t ici s m w hi ch w e hav e m ore than on c e notic e d

as t h e e vil g e ni u s o f t h e h e ali ng art W e find ab s t ract e x .

p res s ion s t re at e d as though th e y w e r e re al e xi st e n c es and ,

att em pt s mad e to s olv e t h e p robl em s o f li fe an d di se a se

“ ” “
by s uch t e rm s as vital p rin ci p l e e xcitability and , ,

p olarity e x p lanation s no mor e s ci e ntifi c and

,
m uch l e s s
p o e tical than that of thund e r a s t h e voic e o f j ov e or di s ea s es ,

as t h e arrow s o f A p ol lo .

T h e chi ef ex p on e nts of t h e s o cal l e d vit ali s ti c s y s t e m s o f

-

m e dicin e may b e divid e d into two C lass es a m et a p hy s ical ,

a n d a s ci e ntific T h e form e r h e ld that t h e body i s com p o sed

.

o f p a s s iv e or d e ad m att e r and i s in habit e d by a my s t eriou s

,
”
immat e rial b e ing call e d li fe which act s u p on t h e body as ,

it w e r e from without an d s ep arat e s from it at d e at h And

, .

th ey may b e s u b divid e d into two s e ction s : ( 1 ) t h e animi s t s

-

w h o id en t ifi e d t hi s li fe w ith t h e s oul an d ( 2 ) t h e p ure ,

vitali s t s w h o maint ain e d t h e e xi s t en c e of a se con d m y s ter i

,

“ ”
o u s e ntity th e , vit al p rin ci p l e I n cont rast to both o f
th es e t h e organici s t s ( as th e y may b e cal l e d ) t aught that
,

vital activity i s t h e re s ult of t h e intimat e s tructure of

org anic matt e r —that l i fe in s hort i s t h e effe c t not t h e
, ,

c au se o f organi s ation ; b ut th e y di ffe r e d from t h e mat e riali s t s

o f t h e p r e c e ding a ge in hol ding that vit al forc es ar e e ntire ly

s e p arat e from and in a s e n se s u p e rior to tho s e o f

, p hy s ic s ,

a n d ch e mi s try S p ac e only p e rmit s u s to con s id e r in t h e

.
,

p r ese nt cha p t e r t h e ty p ical r e p r esen t at at i v e o f t h e fir s t s u b

,

divi s ion of t h e form e r clas s G eorge E rn e st S tah l p ro fess or

, ,

at H all e a nam e e qual ly famous in t h e hi s tory o f m e dicin e

,

a n d o f C h e mi s t ry .

S tahl ( 1 66 0 1 7 3 4 ) w ho s e d eep p i e ty an d con s id e rabl e

-

g eniu s w e r e cloud ed by an un fortun at e t e m pe r and an

ob s cur e s tyl e t e ll s u s that wh e n h e b e gan to t e ach th e re
,

“
w er e no doctor s fo r m e dicin e i s t h e s ci e n c e of li fe and w e
, ,

hav e now on ly m e chani c s an d ch e mi s t s I d e ny ( h e say s )

that ch emi s try h as anything to do with m e di cin e Wh e re
”
t h e p hy s i ci s t e nd s t h e p hy s i cian
, b e gin s and h e e v e n ,
3 36 M ED C I AL H I S I O RY
' ’

p utr e faction incr e a ses with age and may finally b e com e
,

irres i s tibl e .

As a rul e t h e s oul t ri es to p rese rv e t h e body as long as

,

os s ibl e and mo s t s o call e d di s e a se s are m e r e ly m an i fes ta

p
-
,

tion s of i t s effort s in t hi s di rection S uc h i s t h e cas e for . ,

in s t an c e w ith t h e w hol e cla s s o f fev e r s T h e nat ural t end

,
.

e ncy o f t h e blood to p ut r e fy h as s om e how b e com e in cr e a s ed ;

t h e s oul p e rc eiving thi s at onc e count e ract s it by mor e ra pid

,

C irculation an d e xcr e tion ; and S t ahl ob s e rv es t hat man i s

more liabl e to febril e di se a s es t han are animal s b e cau se hi s ,

mor e int e lli ge nt s oul s ees an d guard s again s t a pp roachin g

dange rs w hich t h e s t u p id ani m a of brut es do not p er
,

c e i v e ; th e r efor e th ey hav e fe w e r illn es s e s but s hort e r liv e s .

T h e mo s t fe rtil e cau s e o f di s ea s e i s p l ethora w hich t h e s oul ,

r e li ev es by n at ural lo s ses o f blood by t h e no se in chil dhood , ,

by t h e lung s in youth and by t h e h aemorrhoidal or ut e rin e

,

v e in s in adult s Th e s u pp res s ion o f t his natural lo s s cau s es

.

h e adach e im p e tigo and ot h e r h e ad affe ction s in children

, , ,

p ul mon ary di s e as es in t h e young and hy s t e ria h y po c h o n , ,

dria re nal an d v e si cal affe ction s i n ol d e r p e r s on s T h e chi ef

,
.

sourc e of chronic di s e a s e i s t h e p ortal s y s t e m wh e re t h e cir ,

culation i s mo s t s luggi s h and th e refor e t h e nat ural t e nd ency

,

to p ut r efaction l e a s t count e ract e d an d S tahl w rot e a s pe cial ,

t re ati se D e ven as pat tee por ta i nal or mn on t h e m ulti fariou s

,
/
,

“ ”
e vil s o f long a ft e r w ard s a favourit e
p ortal cong es tion ,

p hra s e w ith p hy s i cian s at a loss for a diagno s i s B ut t h e .

s oul i s liabl e to e rror in i t s sub con s ciou s a s w e l l a s in i t s

-

con s ciou s act ivit i e s and s om e di s e a ses ar e d u e t o a fal s e

,

id ea or irre gular motion ( mot u s at axi ae) on i t s p art I t may .

,

fo r in st anc e se nd an exc es s of blood t o t h e l ungs and so

, ,

p roduc e cong es tion s tagnat ion an d th e i r in fallibl e r es ult s

, , .

p ut r efaction and d es t ruction of ti s s u e i n s hort p ul monary

, , ,

p hthi s i s a doct rin e w hich r emind s u s o f t h e cu s t o s e r r an s

o f Van H e l mont .

’
S t ahl s t h e ra pe utic s as might b e ex p e ct e d w e re o f t h e
, ,

s im p l es t charact e r T h e s oul i n s p it e o f i t s mi s t ak es
.
, ,

knows m uch mor e about t h e body it h as bui lt up th an do e s

 A N I M ISM .
337

th e m o st skilful p hy s ician T h e l att e r s c hi ef duty t h e re

’
.

fore is t o wat c h an d as sist i t s effort s

, Ven e s ec t ion an d .

p urgat ion are t h e gr e at r e m e di es for t h e n u m erou s il l s of

pl et h ora ; c o p io us wat e r dri n king di l ut e s t h e blood an d
favours it s fr ee circ ulation an d s om e aromati c subst an c es
,

m ay ex ert an ant is ep ti c infl u e n c e an d so a ssi st t h e soul i n

,

its c hi ef obj ec t of wardin g o ff corru p tion B ut i n h i s o l d .

'

age S tahl gav e up e v e n t h i s si m p l e m e dication Fev ers h e .

,

d ec lared are not t o b e tre at e d at all unl e ss w e can dis c ove r

,

and remov e t h ei r c aus e s H e t h e r efore rej ec t ed quinin e

. .

Opium al so is a most harm ful drug for it t e nds to d ep riv e

t h e soul of it s c ont rol ov e r t h e body ; an d h e fin al ly c on
t ent ed him s elf wit h dosin g al l h i s p ati e nt s with salt an d
wat e r whi ch coul d not do m u ch harm an d might h el p t o
, ,

c ount era c t p utr efa c t ion .

S uch in bri efest o ut lin e w e re t h e doct rin e s of ani mi sm

, , ,

a syst em originat ing p artly in a re action again st t h e mat erial

i sm of th e p r e c e din g age p art ly in t h e att e m p t of a p iou s
,

and philoso p hi c p hy s ic ian t o r e concil e m e dic in e an d th eo

logy . B ut St ahl li ke mo s t conciliat ors sat isfi ed n eith e r
, ,

par ty . Th e t h e ologian s obj e ct e d to t h e soul b eing d e grad e d

into a sort of s an it ary i n s p e ct or who go e s about t h e body
, ,

c l eaning o ut drai ns re moving r efus e et c and som etim es

, , .
,

p erform s ev e n thos e humb l e fun ction s i m pe rfe ct ly An d .

th ey obj ec te d stil l more t o his th e ory of n at ural d eath I n ‘ ’

.

old age th ere i s c e rtain ly a d e cay of vital for c e an d w e ,

so metim e s s eem ab l e t o trac e it s gradual and com p l e t e

extinction To admit t hat t hi s vit al for c e i s t h e so ul woul d
.

la c a dang e rou s w e a on in t h e hands o f t h os e w h o d e ny

p e p
its im mortality an d t h e th e olo g ian s t h e refore t reat e d S tahl
,

as a Phili sti n e an d s e nt o ut th e i r cham p ion philoso p h e r

, ,

Leibnitz t o s m it e him To t h e more mat eriali sti c p hysi c i an s

,
. ,

Sta h l s do c tri n e of a s o ul im m at e ri al an d indivi sibl e wi thout

’
, ,

ext en sion i n s p ac e y e t p r e s e nt i n an d acting u p on ev ery

,

art of t h body at t h e s am e t im e s e e m ed t h e v e ry ne pl us
p e ,

ul tr a of non s e n s e w hil e t ho se who car e d l e ss for th eory t han

r ac ti c f oun d littl e to att ract t h e m in a syst e m t h e t h e ra
p e
22
3 38 M ED C I AL H S I T O RY .

art f hich bord e re d u p on ab s olut e nihili s m S till

p e ut i c p o w .

t h e doctrin e o f S tahl i s im p ortant i f only a s marking t h e cl o s e

o f a m at e rial i s tic and t h e b e ginning o f a m e t a p hy s ical e p och

i n m e dical history and t h e an imi s t s an d s e mi animi s t s i n

,
-

cl ud e d many abl e p hy s ician s s om e o f whom may be m e n ,

t i o n e d in t h e se q u e l .

N OT ES .

S t a h l Observati ones Cl i ni o P r a cti cee L e i p i g 1 7 1 8 ; Th i a M ed i a

,
c -
,
z ,
eo r c ,

( n ew e d iti o n) L e i pz i g 1 82 7 ; L e m o i n e L e Vi tal i s m et I A u i m i m d e
’

,
s
, ,

S tah l P ar i s 1 864 ; S ai s s e t L A n e et l a Vi e P a i s 1 864 D r P a ge l giv es

’
i ,
r ,
. .
, , ,

a g o o d L if o f S t a h l i n H i rs c h s B i og aph i s h s L ex i /eon b ut i s p rh a p
’
e r e e , e s

a l ittl e h ard o n h i sfo ll o w ers w h o m h e d s c r i b e s as b e i n g a l l o f t h e m

,
e

fo r t h e m o s t p ar t m e t ap h y s i c i an s p i o us G o d fe ar i n g m n o f ext ra
, ,
- e .

o r d i n a r y l o w i n t e lli ge n c e

LVI I I . T H E V I TA L I S T S .

IN ord e r to bring togeth e r t w o clo se ly al li e d m e dical s y s t e m s ,

w e mu s t d eviat e a l itt l e from t h e s t rict ly chronological ord er ,

fo r Paul j o sep h B ar t h ez t h e for e mo s t e x p on ent o f w hat

,

may b e call e d p ure vitali s m w as born in t h e y e ar S tahl ,

di e d Though s o s imilar in doct rin e h e p rese nt s a ,

s triking cont ra s t to h i s p re d e c es s or in e v e rything e l se .

S tahl i s t h e mo s t ob s cur e B ar t h ez o n e o f t h e cl e ar es t o f
,

m e dical writ e r s S tahl w as a m e ta p hy s ician ; B ar t h ez

.
,

though h e r ep res e nt s a m eta p hy s ical s y s t em w as a man of ,

a d e cid e dly p ract ical and s ci e nt ific m ind T h e famou s .

chan c e llor o f M ont p el li e r liv e d du ring t h e p e riod of t h e

s o call e d
-
Anglo m ania in Fran c e and h e p rid ed him s e l f
-
,

u p on b e ing a di s ci p l e o f th e gr e at E ngli s h p hilo s o p h er s

B acon L ock e and N e wton
, S ci e n c e h e d e cl are s h a s .
, ,

nothin g to do with t h e es s e n c e of thing s b ut i s t h e s t udy of ,

p h enom e n a and m e dical s ci e n c e s tudi es t h e p h enom en a

,

p re se nt e d by t h e human body in h e alth an d di s e a s e S om e .

3 40 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

b ecom e r ein carnat e in s om e oth e r body or b e ab s orb e d int o ,

s om e univ e r s al vital p rin ci p l e .

T h e B ar t h ez i an or vitali s t ic p athology n e e d not d e tain

u s fo r it i s s im p ly that o f S tahl an d Van H e lm ont w ith a
,

di ffe r e nt set o f nam es D i s e a s e i s t h e effort o f t h e vital

.

p rin ci p l e t o r e s i s t s om e harm ful ag e n cy or it i s d u e to a ,

morbid i d e a mani fe s ting it se l f by alt e ration s in se n s ibility

'

abn ormal mov e m e nt s or an ab e rrat ion i n t ho se act s which

,

”
r e gul at e t h e ch em ical con s titution o f t h e h umour s or , ,

finally it may b e cau s e d by e xc es s or d efe ct o f g e n e ral vital

,

activity B ut it i s charact e ri s tic of B ar th ez that h e allo w s

.

h i s th eory to hav e v e ry littl e influ en c e u p on h i s p ractic e an d ,

h i s t h e ra p e utic doct rin es p r ese nt s e v e ral i nt e r es ting and

original fe at ure s Th e r e are h e s ay s t hree ways o f t re at
.
, ,

ing di s e a s e —a natural an analyti cal an d an e m p iric Th e

,
.

fi r s t bi d s u s a s s i s t N at ur e ( or t h e vit a l p rinci p l e) in h er
effort s a s for in s tanc e by givin g an e m e tic i n nau s e a or a
, , , ,

p urgat iv e in s om e form s o f diarrhoea and t h e cautiou s ,

p hy s ician wi ll alway s e m p loy t hi s mod e o f t re at m e nt in

ca s es wh er e t h e t e rmination o f t h e di se a s e i s n aturally
favourabl e B ut it i s on t h e an alyti c m e thod that B ar th ez
.

lay s gre at es t s t r e s s H e ob s e rv e s that t h e s am e affe ction i s

.

o ft e n b e n efit e d by di ffe r e n t dru g s and that t h e s am e r e m e dy

,

i s u s eful in many form s of illn es s and h e con cl ud es from ,

t hi s that mo s t di s ord e r s are co m p ou nd e d o f s ev e ral el e

m entary a ffe ction s I n s uch ca s es i t s hould b e t h e p hy s ician s
.
’

obj e ct to di s tinguish t h e s e an d to attack t h em s e p arat e ly

,

“
by m e an s pro p ortionat e to t h e ir forc e and infl u e nc e
.

Thirdly w e may fall back u p on t h e e m p iric m e thod of

,
-
,

w hich th e r e are thr ee vari e ti e s : ( 1 ) A i n éth ode per tur batr i ce

which att e m p t s to di s s i p at e an e xi s ting chroni c affe ction by
s ubstit uting a mor e acut e o n e as S yd e nham and Bo e rhaav e
, ,

a ft e r him w e re w ont to cur e obst in at e agu e s by e xcitin g

,

di a p hor es i s or p urgation a litt l e b efor e t h e attac k (2) a

i n eth ode i mi ta ti ve by whi ch t h e vital p rin ci p l e i s dire ct e d
’

into t h e p ath by whi c h N at ure u s ually cu res s imil ar dis e as e s ;

and ( 3 ) t h e e m p loym e nt o f r e m e di e s which h av e b ee n found
 V ITA L I S M .
34 1

to hav e a s p e cific r e lat ion t o t h e di s e a s e i n qu e s t ion or in , ,

o th e r words whi ch s ee m t o c ur e t h e di s ord e r wit hout any

,

int erm e diat e action .

Though B ar th ez w as far t h e abl es t o f t h e p ure vitali st s ,

t h e want of any clo se con n e ction b etw ee n h i s th e ory an d

p ractic e mak e s hi m a som ewhat i m p e r fect re p r es e nt ativ e .

He rep eat e dly p rot es t s t hat h e do e s not m ean to ex p l ain

“
anything by hi s vit al p rin ci p l e whi ch i s s im p ly a s hort
,

way of exp re s s in g h i s b e li ef t hat li fe i s n ot t h e r e s ult of

e ith e r bodily or m e ntal act ion ; an d h e p oint s out th at
“
Newton had s im il arly u s e d t h e ab s t ract t e rm gravitat ion
as a short way o f sayin g that al l m at e rial p artic l e s t e n d to

approach on e an oth e r with a d e fin it e acc e l erat ion .

I t i s said that wh e n an anci e nt s orc e r er c al l e d up h i s

att endant d e mon t h e l att e r was wont t o d e m an d imm e diat e
,

work failing which h e carri e d off t h e s orc e r e r S o now it

,
.

was with th at dens ex machi ne! t h e vital p rin ci p l e T h e .

di s ci p l es of t h e Fr en ch p hysician n ot un r ea s on ably a s k e d
what was t h e u se of assu ming a vit al p rin ci p l e at al l i f it -

ex p lain e d not hing an d j ust as t h e s uc c es s or s o f N e wton

,

“
conv ert ed gravit at ion int o an act ual forc e inh e r e nt i n
matt er an d dir ect e d it s mov e m ent s s o t h e adh e r e nt s o f
,

B ar th ez exalt e d hi s vital p rin ci p l e int o a s p irit ual b e in g

which r e sid e s in t h e body and e n dow s it w ith li fe Th ey .

thus a pp roach s t il l mor e clo s e ly to t h e animi s t s for though

,

it may b e of gr e at im p ort p hilo s o p hi cal ly wh eth er w e

su ppos e t hat li fe i s t h e soul or s om e oth e r s p irit ual e ntity ,

t h e r e sult s from t h e Vi ew o f p ractical m e dicin e ar e n e arly

id entical A min d di s e as e d or a di s ord e r e d vit al p rin ci p l e
.
, ,

see m s e qual ly in ac c e s s ibl e to dir e ct t re atm e nt by m er ely

mat erial drugs an d both animi st s and vit ali s t s thu s t e nd e d
,

eith e r to r e duc e t h e ir th e ra pe ut ic s with in t h e narrow est

limits a s was t h e ca s e with S tahl or to as s um e t hat m e di
, ,

“
cin es contain p ec uli ar s e mi s p irit ual or dyn amic p ow e rs
-
,

e nabling t h e m t o com e i nt o dir e ct contact w ith t h e i m

m at e rial so urc e o i li fe an d di s e a se T h e mo s t stri king

.

exam l e o f t hi s latt e r t e n d en c v i s s e e n in t h e do c trin e s o f

p
34 2 M E D I C A L H S O RY I T .

H ahn e man n who se s y s t e m m ay be con s id e re d hi s torically

,

as a union o f t h e e xt r em e vit ali s tic th e ori e s with t h e m y s t i

c i s m o f t h e s ixt e e nth c e ntury Parac e l s u s t e l l s us that ev e ry

.

s ub s tan c e cont ain s a hidd e n quint e s se n c e or s p irit o f li fe .

I n man and animal s thi s s p irit cannot b e i s ol at e d for th ey ,

d i e i n t h e p roc e s s Wh e r e for e no quint es s e n c e can b e got

.

from fl e s h and blood I f w e could dra w out t h e li fe o f t h e

.

h e art w ithout d es troying it w e could maint ain our l iv es for

,

e v e r w ithout di s e a s e by m e an s o f t hi s q uint e s s e n c e
,
B ut
t h e s p irit s or quint e s se n c es o f p lant s and min e ral s m ay be
s e p arat e d by t h e art o f t h e alch e mist and t h e s e are t h e ,

P ar ac c l s i c arcan a or s p e cific m edi cin e s

, S imilarly H ahn e
mann ho l d s t hat al l drugs contai n dyn am ic s p iritual
p ow e r s w hich a re a w ake d and brought to l i fe not by
, ,

” “
ch e mi s try but by dynami s ation
, a p roc e s s un known ,

b efore my t im e and con s i s ting in rubbing t h e dry s ub

,

“
s t an c e s i n a mortar an d s haking t h e fluids which i s a
,

”
kind o f rubbin g Thi s i s not a m e r e att e n uation though
.
,

“
r ep e at e d att e nuation s are n e c e s s ary t hat t h e rubbing or
shaking may pe n e t rat e mor e fully into t h e es s e nc e o f t h e
drug an d so se t free i t s more d ee ply s e at e d m e dical p owe rs
, ,

which can th e n act u p on our li fe in an al mo s t s p i ritual

”
mann e r and s o cure di se a s e s fo r
, di se a s es ar e s ol ely
,

s irit ual
p d e range m e nt s o f t h e s p irit ual vit al forc e w hich
anim at e s t h e human body
N OT ES .

B ar t h e z , N ou vea ux E l ements d e l a S c i ence d e I H omme, P ar s 1 8 8 ;

, 5
'
i
t lli r
O r ati o A r ad cm i ca d c P r i nc ipi o Vi tal i , M o n p e e , 1 77 4 ; L o r d a , E x os i
p t
ti on d e l a D oc tr i n e Mr‘d i cal e d e P B a r th ez , P a s , 1 8 1 8
. ri
T h e uo a o n s .
q t ti
fro m H a h n e m a nn m ay be fo u n d i n h i s Ch r on i sch e If r a nkhei tm D es d e n
,
r ,

1 83 5 ( i v 347)
. an d Organon , pre fa c e, p . 10 ( D ud ge o n
’

s t ran s l ati o n ) .

LI X .
—T H E O RGA N I C I S T S .

W E hav e now con s id e re d t wo of t hr ee form s of m edical

the
t h e ory whi ch replac ed th e ch e mical and m echanic al s y s t e m s
344 M ED C I AL H S I TO RY .

sha pe s e p arabl e from it at d e ath an d t h e s pe cial se at o f t h e

, ,

i mmortal s oul I t i s thu s v e ry lik e t h e ort hodox id e a of an

.

ange l and G li s s on p oint s out that our conc e p tion s o f thos e

,

myst e riou s b e ings ar e cl os e ly al li e d t o our id e a s o f li fe ,

“
fo r w h o can im agin e a d e ad ang e l
B ut Gli s s on s th e ory w as s o vagu e an d cont radictory
’
,

and s o mix e d u p w ith p hilo s o p hic s ubtl e ti es th at it att ract e d ,

l ittl e att e ntion ti ll t h e doctrin e o f irrit ability was revive d in

modifi e d form by t h e gr e at e s t p hy s ician of t h e e ight ee nth
c e nt ury Alb e rt von H all e r H all e r mad e val uabl e contri
,
.

bution s to al mo s t e v e ry d ep artm e nt of m e dicin e as we ll as

t o oth e r s ci e nc es but w e can on ly con s id e r h e r e hi s two
,

p a pe r s O n th e S enti en t an d I r r i ta bl e P a r ts of A n i ma l s re ad ,

b efor e t h e Royal S oci ety of G ottinge n A p ril 2 2 n d an d M ay ,

6 th ,
1 7 52 t h e mo s t im p ortant p hy s iological p roduction s
,

s inc e H arv e y s A n atomi c a l E xerci se

’
Re lying u p on n um e rou s .

vivi s e ction s und e rtak e n w ith gre at r e luctanc e in t h e ho pe

,

”
o f b en e fiting t h e human rac e H all e r s ay s that h e h as ,

arriv e d at a n e w cl a s s ification o f animal s t ruct ures into

i rritabl e se nti e nt and n e ut ral H e p oint s out that t h e two
, .

form e r p ro p e rti es ar e di s tin ct from o n e anot h e r and t hat

-
,

i rritability t h e chi ef obj e ctiv e mani fes tat ion of li fe i s not

, ,

on ly i nd epe nd e nt of se n s ibility but s urvive s fo r a tim e t h e ,

d e ath of t h e animal an d i s s ho w n in p art s s ep arat e d from

,

t h e r es t o f t h e body Thi s w as an att ack both on t h e old

.

“
t h e ory o f animal s p irit s an d t h e mod e rn doct rin e s o f t h e
animi st s and vitali s t s and o pp on e nt s s p rang u p on all s id es
, .

t h e abl es t of whom w as t h e s e mi ani m i s t Whytt o f E din -

, ,

burgh B ut ev e n Whytt con fe s s e s that t h e e x pe ri me nt s of

.

H all e r forc e u s to b e l i e v e e ith e r t hat th e h ead body and ,

ot h e r p art s o f a frog m ay ret ain t h e i r ani ma or s e nti e nt

p rin ci p l e wh en s e p arat e d from e ach oth e r or that t h e ,

activ e pow e rs o f animal s are m e r e ly p ro pe rti es o f t h e k ind

"
o f matt e r o f which th e y ar e mad e H e p r efe r s t h e form e r .

a lt e rnativ e as b e in g m ore in accordan c e w ith th e ology but ,

a di s se ct e d s oul or cho ppe d up se nt i e n t p rinci p l e i s e v e n

,
-
,

hard e r to imagin e t han a d e ad ange l an d Whytt i s driv e n ,

 C U LL E N .
34 5

at l ast t o t h e u s ual r e s ort of t h e mystic What ar e w e ,

t hat w e s hou l d p r es um e t o l imit by our narrow an d i mad e

”
q uat e c a p aciti e s t h e p ow e rs o f in cor p ore al nat ur es ! H al l e r ,

h owe v e r st u ck man ful ly to h i s fact s an d hi s final t ri um p h

, ,

not on ly s e t tl e d t h e q u e s tion as to w h e t h e r t h e h e aling art

w as to be bas e d on m et a p hy s i cal th eory or s ci e ntific o b s er
vation an d ex perim e nt b ut t hro ugh t h e l abou r s o f Bich at
, ,

w hich w e r e i t s dire ct r e s ult cont ribut e d larg e ly to that

,

r evol ut ion i n m e di cin e which m arks t h e b e gin n ing o f t h e

p r es e nt c e nt ury .

Practical p hy s ician s we r e n at urally more att ract e d by t h e

doctrin e of t h e organi ci s t s t han by vagu e t h e ori e s whi ch
,

c onv e rt e d dis e a s e s into unknown d e ran ge m e nt s of som e

“ ” “
e q ual ly un known
p rin ci p l e and t h e n e uro p at hology
,

o f C ull e n an d B ord e u m ay b e look e d u on as an att e m t t o

p p
c ombin e t h e t e a chin g of H all e r with t h e ol d e r vi e w s o f t h e
“
solidi s t s B agl ivi an d H o ffmann C ul l e n t ho ught that
, .

t h e di s ti nction o f irritability an d s en s ibility might be

r emov e d by con s id e ring m u s c l e as t h e dir e ct contin uat ion o f
n erv e L i fe coul d t h e n be d e fin e d as a p ro p erty o f t h e
.

n e rvou s sy s t e m or n e rvou s e n e rgy Th e cau s es of dis e a s e .

act by in cr e asing or dim ini s hing t h e e xcit ability o f t hi s n e rve

forc e and t h e r e by p rod uc e chan ge s in t h e body e s p e cially ,

in t h e form of s p a s m or at ony Th e t h e rap e uti c in dicat ion s

.

are to r e m ov e t h e e xcit ing c aus e to tr e at t h e l e s ion p rod uc ed

, ,

and to m aint ain t h e n e rvou s e n ergy or in more ge n e ral , ,

language t o obviat e t h e t e n d e n cy t o d e at h
,

W e m ust p a s s ov e r C ul l e n s many ot h er se rvic e s to

’

m edi cin e to s pe ak fo r a mom e nt o f on e who w as fir s t h i s

p u p il and a ft e rward s his o pp on e nt I t see m e d to j ohn .

Brown M D S t An dr e ws ab s urd to t ro ubl e on es e l f e it h e r

,
. .
,
.
,

with t h e ob s e rvat ion s of C ull e n or t h e e x p e rim e nt s of H al l e r

wh en t h e gr e at word e xcit ability if pro pe rly mani p ulat e d ,
’

will not on ly e x p lain al l t h e p h e nom e n a o f li fe an d di se a s e ,

but al so afford a s i m p l e and un iv e r s al rul e of t re at m e nt an d

h e p roc e e d e d to p ro p oun d a m e di cal s yst e m of s uch p e culi ,

a r i t y an d int e r e st th at w e m u s t di s c us s it in a s e p arat e
34 6 I
M ED C A L H S I T O RY .

cha pt e r S tat e d in t h e few es t p o s s ibl e w ord s t h e th e ory

.

w as thi s T h e animal body p o s s e sse s a p ro p e rty call e d

.

e xcitability which wh e n act ed on by s tim uli giv e s ri se t o

,

e xcit e m e nt or in oth e r w ord s li fe

,
M od e rat e e xcit e m ent i s
. .

h e alt h too much or too littl e e xcit e m e nt i s di se a se wh ich i s

,
.

to be t re at e d by re gulating t h e s t im uli .

M e an w hil e t h e p rogres s of s ci e n c e e s pe cially t h e dis ,

c ov ery o f oxyg e n and in cre a s e d knowl e dge o f e l e ctricity

, ,

th re w n ew light u p on t h e ca p aciti e s o f s o call e d d e ad matt e r -

Th e ch e mi s t s and p hy s ici s t s r e turn e d to t h e att ack with

im p rov e d w e a p on s and unit e d forc e s an d th e y found an un ,

e x pe ct e d ally in j ohn C hri s t ian Re il a p u p il of H all e r ,

who s e nam e i s immortali se d in t h e human brain Re il not .

only h e ld that t h e activ e p owe r s of t h e body ar e p ro pe rti es

o f i t s s ub s t an c e but furth e r a s se rt e d that t h e di s tin ction of
,

a s pe cial se t o f vit al or org an ic forc e s and an oth e r in fe rio r ,

s e t o f p hy s ical and ch e mical forc e s i s unt e nabl e Volt a had

,
.

s ho w n that by arranging m e tallic

p l at e s in a c e rt ain ord er
t h e marv e llou s forc e call e d e l e ct ricity w a s d e v e l o pe d Why .

s hould not t h e infinit e ly more com p l e x arrange m e nt o f

'

matt e r in t h e human body giv e ri se to y et mor e marv e llo u s

act iviti e s ! I n d ee d m ay not t h e body or at any rat e t h e
, , , ,

n e rvou s s y s t e m con s i s t of an infinit e n umb e r of voltaic pil es

,
.

or galvanic batt eri es and Re il carri e d away by t h e clo s e n e s s .

o f t h e analogy finally d e clar e d t hat li fe i s e l e ct ricity .

H i s fol lo w e r s w e nt s till farth e r T h e d ev e lo p m e nt o f .

p o s itiv e and n e gativ e e l e ct riciti es at t h e o pp o s it e e n ds o f a

,

volt aic p il e or batt e ry i s e x p r e s se d by t h e t e rm p olarity

H e re w as a s till fin e r word than B rown s e xcit ability fo r '

it mi ght b e a pp li e d not on ly to t h e body but to t h e whol e

univ e r s e I rrit ability i s p o s it iv e s e n s ibi lity n egat iv e ;
.
,

h ealth i s p o s it ive di se a se n e gativ e ; man i s p o s itiv e woman

, ,

n eg ative ; mind p ositiv e matt e r n egat iv e ; and Pol arity w it h

,

a big p in s om e way h e l p s t o ex p lain it all .

NO TE .

In a tt e m pti ng t o gi v e a c ea l r ac c o u n t of t h e s c h oo l o f m e d i c al
s

t h o ug h t d i s c us se d i n t h 1s an d the tw o p r e v i o us c h a p t er 1 h ave
s
3 43 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

H un t e r may b e s aid to hav e com p ri se d an acad e my in

,

h im se l f.

T h e mo s t r ep res e ntativ e Fre n ch s urg eon s we re i n t h e ,

first hal f o f t h e c e ntury An e l an d P e tit and in t h e s e con d

, ,

hal f D es ault and C ho p art An e l w h o j oin e d t h e army in .

,

e arly youth and att ain e d t h e rank o f s urg e on m aj or giv es u s -

,

an int e re s ting s ketch of military m e di cin e during t h e w ar s

o f L oui s X I V E d ucat e d s urg eons w e re few th e ir p lac e
.
,

” “
b e ing s u pp li e d by w ound s uc k er s s om e o f whom ar e or , ,

have b ee n s oldi e r s w hil e oth e r s hav e n e v e r s erv e d and are

, , ,

e ntir e ly ignorant o f s urg e ry Th es e all p r et e n d t o c u re

.

w oun d s by s ucking th e m a ft e r which th ey p our in a littl e ,

o il mutt e ring c e rt ain charm s and th e n cov e r t h e w hol e

, ,

w ith a com p re s s s ha p e lik e a S t An dre w s cro s s Th e

’

. .

c harm s s ay s An e l ar e non s e n se ; t h e oil do es n e ith e r harm

, ,

nor good ; t h e s uc k in g how eve r i s s om e tim e s of gre at u s e

, ,

in re moving blood clo t s and for e ign bodi es whi ch p re v e nt,

dir e ct un ion B ut it i s di s gu s tin g and dange rou s to do thi s

.

with t h e mouth and An e l th e r efor e inv e nt e d an inge niou s

,

s uction syring e w hich form ed t h e g e rm o f t h e com p licat e d

,

m od e rn a s p i rator s H i s n ext achi ev e m e n t Was t h e wel l

.

kno w n o pe ration fo r curing an e uri s m by ligature of t h e

a rt e ry imm e diat e ly abov e t h e s ac w hich b e s ucc es s ful ly ,

p e r form e d on a mon k at Rom e 3 ot h j an uary 1 7 1 0 Thr ee

'

.
, ,

y e ar s lat e r h e p a s se d t h e fir s t p rob e throu g h t h e lachrymal

d uct o f a living b e ing and inv e nt e d a min ut e syringe to
,

inj e ct fl uid s into t h e s ac by which m e an s h e w as abl e to ,

c ur e ca s es o f lachrymal ab s c e s s or m ucoc el e without t h e u s e

o f kni fe or caut e ry .

j L P etit ( 1 67 4
. . li k e An e l b e gan as an army ,

s urg e on and h i s ex pe ri e n c es in that ca p acity doubtl es s

,

aid ed him in t h e inv e ntion of t h e famou s s crew tourniqu et ,

w hich p res e rv es his nam e H e al s o im p rov e d t h e circ ular

.

m ethod of am p utation by dividing t h e s o ft p arts in two

i n ci s ion s in s t e ad o f o n e an d h e
p oint ed out t h e gre at i m
,

p ortan c e o f re moving al l sus p iciou s gland s in t h e o p eration

fo r canc e r Finally h e b e cam e dir ector o f t h e Acad e my o f
.
,
 C H E S ELD E N .
34 9

S urg ery , whi ch was fo u nd e d in 1 7 3 1 for t h e p ur p o s e o f

p utting an e n d to t h e cont in ual quarr e l s b et w ee n t h e
barb e r s m a s t e r s urge on s an d p hy s ician s an d w hich on
, , , ,

i t s di ssol ution in 1 7 9 2 had fairly e arn e d t h e p rais e of b ein g

,

t h e mo s t us eful o f al l acad e mi es I t s M em oi r s cont ain

.

t h e b es t r e su lt s o f t h e contin e ntal surg e ry o f t h e age ; it

o ffer e d an n u al p riz es fo r t h e inv e stigati on of di s p ut e d q u es
t ion s an d mon archs s uch as Fr e d e ri ck t h e G re at s o ught
, , ,

i t s r e com m en dation in a pp ointi ng s urg e on s for t h em s e lv e s

and th e ir armi es .

O n e of i t s gr e at e st m e mb e r s w as Pi e rr e D es ault ( 1 7 4 4
whos e n am e i s still con n e ct e d with a b andage for
fract ure d coll ar bon e b ut who di d b e tt e r s e rvi c e by t h e
-
,

introducti on o f t h e gum e l asti c cat h et e r t h e s t raight am p u

-
,
’

t ating kni fe an d t h e mod e rn form o f wir e s n ar e or ecr aseu r

, ,

but abov e al l by t h e d e v e lo p m e nt o f c li ni cal in s t ruct ion i n

,

surge ry in which h e w as ai d e d by h i s fri e n d Fran ci s

,

C ho p art ( 1 7 4 3 a p ract it ion e r kn own to ev e ry s t ud ent

from hi s o pe rat ion on t h e foot .

T h e gran d p roc e s s ion of B riti sh s urge on s of t h e e ight ee nth

c e nt ury i s o pe n ed by Willi am C h es e l d en ( 1 688
,
of S t .

Thomas s who was t h e fir s t to m an u fact ur e an artificial

’

u il by makin g a s lit i n t h e i ri s ( i r i d e n t o m y ) an d dis

p p ,

cov er e d ind ep e nd e ntly o f P e tit t h e m e thod of circ ula r

, ,

“ ”
am p ut ation by t w o in ci s i on s B ut h e ow e s hi s fam e
.

chi e fly t o hi s im p rov e m e nt s in lithotomy an o p e ration ,

whi ch h e re s cu e d from t h e hand s o f t h e s pe ci ali st s an d ,

brought to s uch p e rfe ction t hat h e is s ai d t o hav e g on e

through t h e whol e p roc e s s in fifty four se cond s at t h e s am e
-
,

tim e r e d uci ng t h e mortality t o 7 p e r c e nt a marv e ll ou s .

,

achi ev e m e nt in t h at age H ad h e s urviv e d anoth e r y e ar h e

. ,

might hav e brok e n hi s r e cord fo r in 1 7 53 C aes ar H a w kin s

, ,

of S t G e org e s inv e nt e d t h e c uttin g gorg e t a t e rrific i m p l e

’
.
, ,

m ent n ow aban don e d but m uch val u e d at t h e ti m e sinc e it

, ,

e n abl e d t h e s urg e on t o o p e rat e wit h gre at e r ra p idity and ,

w ith l e s s dang e r o f woun ding t h e re ct u m or p udi c art e ry .

T h e i n st rum e nt w as ado pt e d and i m p rov e d by t h e g re at

 3 50 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

D es ault w h o
,
mad e it th e s ubj e ct of his i naugural t h es i s at
the acad e my .

To att e m pt to criti ci s e t h e work o f j ohn H unt e r ( 1 7 2 8 93 ) -

in a p ara gra p h w ould be e qual ly ab s urd and p re s u m pt uou s

, ,

and t h e r ead e r m u s t refe r t o t h e m a s t e rly d es cri ption s g iv e n

b y t h e l ead e r s of our p ro fes s ion in t h e ir ann ual oration s .

W e n ee d only notic e h e re ( 1 ) t h e ext e nt and vari e ty o f h i s

r es e arch es which giv e him a p lac e in t h e hi story o f Briti sh
,

s urge ry analogou s to t h e o n e h e ld by t h e acad e my in that

o f our n e ighbour s ; ( 2 ) t h e z e al with w hich h e sought for

p rinci p l es w it hout n e gl e ct ing fact s th e r eby e l evat ing surge ry ,

to t h e ran k o f a s ci e n c e and accom p li s hing fo r that division

,

o f t h e h e aling art w hat t h e unit e d labours o f s uch m e n a s

M orga gni B ichat and L a en n e c a ft e rward s did for m e dici n e ;

,

and ( 3 ) h i s t w o chi e f s pe cial s e rvic es to t h e art t h e im p rove ,

’
m e nt of An e l s o p e ration fo r an e uri s m and h i s s t udy o f t h e ,

nat ure of infl ammation .

P e rcival Pott o f S t B art s and B e nj amin B e ll of

, . .
’

, ,

E dinburgh though ali k e in t h e al lit e ration o f th e i r nam es

, ,

di ffe re d w id e ly in th e ir mod e of work for whil e t h e form er ,

d e vot e d hi m s e l f t o t h e s t udy of a fe w s p e cial di s eas es on

w hich h e p ubli s h e d monogra p h s t h e latt e r e mbrac e d t h e ,

whol e com p a s s o f t h e art and h i s Sy s tem of S urgery re

main e d a re cogn i s ed t e xt book far into t h e p r e s e nt c entury
-
.

But w hil e t h e nam e o f Pott wil l p robably l ast as long as t h e

s we l ling ,t h e di s e a s e and t h e fract ur e with w hich it i s
,

c on n e ct e d t h e work of B e ll i s utt e rly forgott e n or con

,

found e d with tho s e of h i s lat e r nam es ak e s ohn and

j ,

C harl e s .

As alr e ady noti c ed it i s charact e ri s tic of E n gli sh s urgery

,

t hat it i s not conn e ct e d with any d efinit e c e ntre and s om e ,

o f t h e gr e at es t im p rove m e nt s i n t h e art w e re mad e by

p rovincial p ractit ion e r s Thu s in 1 6 7 8 L owdham of E x e t e r
.
,

had reviv e d t h e m ethod o f am p ut ating by fl ap s p ract is e d by ,

t h e G r ee k s urge on s o f t h e fir s t c e nt ury ; and about a hu ndr e d

y e ars lat e r anoth e r im p ortant o pe ration t hat o f excising ,

d is e a se d bon es and j oint s was res tor e d almost s im ultan e ou s ly

,
3 52 M E D I CA L H I S T O RY .

to ob s e rvation and p r efe r s p hilo s o p hy t o t h e p hy s ica l

,

s ci e nc e s . T h e induct iv e mind on t h e cont rary re l i e s l e s s o n

, ,

intuition than u p on t h e s t udy of nature d e vot e s it se l f to t h e ,

inv es tigation o f fact s b efore att e m p t ing to ex p l ain th e m and ,

p refe r s t o s u s p e nd i t s j udgm e nt rath e r than risk a hasty

ge n e rali s ation Th ese two t e nd e nci es t h e s ci e ntific and t h e
.
,

sys t e matic may b e trac ed t hrough t h e hi s tory o f m e dicin e

, ,

and s t and out in s t riking contra s t at t h e C lo s e of la s t

c ent ury O n t h e o n e s id e p athologi st s and clini cian s w e re
.

es tabli s hing t h e ba s i s for that p rogre s s iv e inv e s tigation whic h

h a s re volutioni se d t h e h e aling art w hil e on t h e oth e r , ,

att e m p t s w e re mad e to giv e imm e diat e e x p lanation s of li fe

and di se a se and to lay do w n unive r s al l aw s of tre atm ent i n
,

“
t h e inge niou s s y s t em s o f Brown and H ahn e m an n

L i fe according to B rown i s a forc ed s tat e p roduc e d by

, ,

t h e ac t io no f s tim uli on t h e
”
e xcitability o f t h e body Th e .

st im uli ar e e xt e rnal and int e rnal w armth food t h e fl uid s , , ,

of t h e body mu s cular motion t h e se n s es p a s s ion s et c

, , , , .

E xcitabil ity i s a my s t e riou s s om ething p os ses s e d by al l

livin g b e ings w hich i s continually b e in g u s e d u p and re ne we d
,

during li fe and w hi ch vari es inv e r se ly with t h e s ti mulu s

, .

To tak e an illu s tration giv en by o n e o f h i s p u p il s S u pp os e .

a furnac e cont in ually s u pp li e d w it h coal w hich will onl y

burn s o long as it i s blo w n Th e n t h e fi r e will rep rese nt
.

li fe t h e coal e xcit abil ity and t h e b e llow s t h e s tim ul u s Th e

, , .

fi r e m ay b e p u t out in t w o way s by c e a s ing to blow or by , ,

bl ow ing so hard that t h e coal i s con s um e d more ra p idl y

than it i s s u pp li e d S imilarly d e at h occur s e it h e r w h e n t h e
.
,

stimul u s s in k s b e lo w a c e rtain l e v el or w h e n it i s s o viol e nt ,

as to e xhau s t t h e excit ability ; and on t h e oth e r hand li fe , ,

i s mo s t s tabl e an d vigorous wh e n both s timul u s and e xcit a

b i l i ty ar e of m edi um amount .

’
B rown s p athology i s e xact ly p arall e l w ith hi s p hy s iology .

D is e a se s are d u e e ith e r to exc es s iv e or d e fici e nt e xcit e m ent

li fe) an d ar e t e rm e d s th e n ic or a s th e nic according as
, ,

th ey ari se from t h e form e r or latt e r cau s e A s th e nic di s .

e as e s ar e far t h e mo s t common forming

9 7 per c e nt o f t h e
, .
 B R OW N ’
S P AT H O LO G Y .
3 53

wh ol e an d th ey may b e p rod uc e d e ith e r by d e fici e nt sti m ul u s

,

( dire ct d e bi lity ) or d e fici e nt e xc it abil ity fol lowin g e xc es s iv e

, ,

st im ul u s ( i n dire ct d e bility) This may b e mad e cl e ar e r by

.

an i ll u s t rat ion giv e n by B rown hi ms e l f an d accordin g to h i s , ,

bi o gra p h e rs fr e q u e nt ly ex e m p lifi e d by hi m A m an slight ly

, .

b e low p ar or with a t e n d e n cy to di re ct d e bility drin k s fi v e

, ,

glass e s of win e Thi s by t aking off t h e e xc e s s of e xcit a

.
,

b i l i t y an d adding t o t h e s t im ul u s brin gs hi m to t h e normal

, ,

stat e of h e alt h H e t h e n drin k s fiv e mo re gl ass e s and h i s

.
,

origin al s t at e i s now r ev e rs e d t h e s tim ul us b e in g i n exc e s s,

and t h e excit abil ity d efici e nt B ut s ays t h e j ovial B rown .

, ,

w e ar e n o t s o fli m s i l y m ad e as not to s t an d a litt l e e xc e s s
.

and t h e m an i s s t il l i n p e r fe ct h e alth t hough wit h a t e n ,

d en c y t o s t h e n i c di s e as e which i s in cr e as e d on his takin g

,

fi v e furt h e r glass e s Fin ally s hould h e drin k tw e nty ( l )

.
,

glass e s o f win e t h e e xcitab ility b e com e s e xhau s t e d t h e ,

excit e m e nt s in k s with it and t h e m an fal ls int o a com ato se

,

stat e from indire ct d e b il ity H e r e main s th us fo r s om e

.

hour s and t h e s t im ul u s b e in g r e duc e d to it s low e s t p oint

, , ,

excit abi lity ra p idly r e ac c um ulat es so t hat on awakin g h e ,

find s him s e l f in t h e o pp o s it e con dition o f dir e ct d e bility wit h ,

h eadach e s h aky han d s e t c s ym p t oms whi ch m ay b e

, ,
.
,

re adily r e m ov e d by t aking a slight sti m ulant to get rid o f

t h e e xc e s s of e xcit ability I t fol lows from t hi s p at hology
.

that di s e as e s di ffe r from o n e an ot h e r and from t h e s t at e o f

he alth not in n at ur e b ut on ly in d e gree an d B rown d e cl ar e s
, , ,

that t h e h uge vol um e s on diagno s i s of t h e “ ol d s chool

“

ar e now unn e c e s s ary fo r wh e n a p hysi cian i s call e d to a ca s e

,

h e h as m e re ly t o d e cid e t hr ee q u es t ion s : I s t h e dis e a se

ge n e ral or loc al ! I s it s t h e n ic or ast h e n i c ! What i s i t s
d egree !
I f t h e abov e t h e ory b e t ru e t h e rul e of t re at m e nt i s a s ,

sim p l e as it i s obviou s —w e m u s t re s t ore t h e normal d e gr ee

of e xcit e m e nt by r e gulating t h e s tim ulu s A ccording t o .

Brown al l mod es of m e di cal t re atm e nt are form s of s t imul u s

, ,

diffe ring on ly i n d e gr ee and h e arranges t h e chi ef of th e m

,

i n t h e fol lowing ord e r of re lat iv e efficacy : Op i um cam p hor , ,

23
3 54 M ED I C A L H I S T O R Y .

ammoni a mu s k alcohol activ e ex ercis e stim ul an t food

, . , , ,

warmth p assiv e ex er c is e l ow di e t cold p urgativ es bl ee di ng

, , , , , .

T h e la s t fi ve of t h es e may conv e ni ent ly be t erm e d d eh ili

tants s i nc e t h e excit e m e nt th e y p roduc e i s b e low t h e normal
, ,

and it i s by th e m that t h e com parativ e ly rare s th e ni c

di se a ses in cluding smal l p ox me a s l e s and p n e umon ia must
,
-
,

b e t re at e d Thus wh e n B rown s s o n aged si x had m e asl e s

.
’

, , ,

h e s tri p t him hal f n ak ed r e duc e d h i s di et to , fl uid ve ge tabl e

matt e r and l et him run about as h e p l eas ed wh e r e u p on h e
, ,

ra pidly r e cov er ed Op ium i s t h e gr eat e st of stim ul ant s and

.
,

i s th e s h ee t an chor in tr eatin g al l di s e as es of d e bility dir ect

-

or indir e c t I n t h e form e r t h e exc es s iv e excitability s hould

.

b e re mov e d by sm all do s es g radually in cre as e d whil e cas es ,

o f i ndire ct d e bility m u s t b e m e t by a st im ul us s light ly l e ss

than that which h as p roduc e d t h e exhau s t ion To u se .

B ro w n s own word s
’
I n dir e ct d e bility wh e r e t h e re
'

d un d an c y o f excitability do es n ot for a t im e admit o f much

stim ul u s t en or twe lv e dro p s of laudan um s hould b e giv en
,

e v e ry quart e r of an hour till t h e pati ent s l ee p s A ft er, .

s l ee p w h e n som e of t h e e xc es s iv e e xcitability i s worn off a

, ,

doubl e quantity should be add e d and gradual ly in cre as ed ,

till t h e h e althy st at e i s r egain e d I n indir ect d e bil ity 1 50 .

d ro p s ( i ) s hould be forthwith thrown in and t h e s uper ,

addition s mad e l e ss and l e ss L ocal di s e as es are com .

p ar at i v el y rar e ; t h ey are charact e ri s e d by t h e ab s e n c e o f

any pre monitory stage which i s always pres ent in ge n eral
‘

a ffe ction s an d th ey are t o b e tr eat ed on t h e sam e p rin ci p l e s

, .

S uch ar e t h e e ss ential p oint s of what i s p robably th e

sim p l es t mo s t origin al an d mo st p hilo so phi c s y s t e m of
, ,

m e dicin e e v e r inv ent e d C om p are d with it t h e an ci ent

.

m ethodi s m and t h e lat e r hom oeo p athy are littl e more than
rul e s o f t r eatm e nt ; an d i f it b e t h e obj ec t of m e dicin e to
dis co v e r a p hiloso p hic th e ory on whi ch may b e b a s ed a
sim p l e and univ ersal law of p ractic e th en j ohn B rown m u s t ,

b e p lac e d abov e H i pp ocrat es H i s d efin ition of li fe s hows .

st riking re se mblan c es to t h e vi ew s now acc ep t ed and was ,

c om p are d at t h e ti m e with t h e doctrin e of j ohn L ocke ; for

3 56
A
M E D I C L H S O RY I T .

NO TE .

B ro w n , E l men ts
e f Me
o d i c i ne ( w it h L ife b y B ed d o es) , Lo n d o n , 1 7 95 .

S ee a l s o A scl epi ad 1 887 a n

,
d G a i r d n
,
e r ,
The P hy s i ci an as N atur al i st,
1 889 .

Fo r t h e m o d i fi c ati o n w h i c h t h e s y t e m un d e r w e n t i n I t a ly an d G e r many
s

c o n s u lt W e i kar d Gesch i ch te der B owni schen Leh re F rankfo rt 1 7 96 ;

,
r , ,

H i r s c h e l Gesch i h tc d er B row ni schen Sy stems L e i pz i g 1 8 50

,
c , , .

L XI I .
—T H E O RI G I N O F M O D E RN M E D I C I N E .

W H E N L anci s i found t h e anatomical draw ings o f E u s tach ius ,

which had b ee n hidd e n away at Rom e fo r 1 50 y e ars h e ,

s e nt th e m to a young fri e nd of hi s th e n p ro fe ssor of th eo ,

reti o m edi c in e at Padua r equ es ting him to p o i nt out what ,

discov e ri e s th ey contain e d w hi ch had b ee n r edi scov ere d

during t hat int erval Th e answe r which was ret urn e d .
,

within eight d ays w as p ubli s h e d with t h e p l at e s in 1 7 1 4

, ,

and so in cr ea se d it s a uthor s rep utation alre ady e stablish ed ’

by c e rtain A d ver sar i a A natomi ca that h e r e c e iv e d what ,

might b e cal l e d t h e bl u e ribbon of th e m edical p rofe s s orat e ,

t h e chair of anatomy at Padua ill ustriou s t hrough t h e labours ,

of Ve s alius C ol umbu s F al l op i u s Fabrici us G asser i u s

, ,
and , , ,

S p ige lius I t was now d estin e d to r e c e iv e a furth er acc e s

.

sion of r enown for t h e nam e o f t h e n ew pro fe ssor w as j ohn

,

B apti s t M orgagni ( 1 68 2
Th e gr eat E u s tachiu s r egrett ed in hi s old age t hat h e
“
had not d evot e d hims elf t o that more obsc ure sid e of
an atomy t hat fi eld s o littl e c ultivat e d y et s o fertil e in
, ,
”
dis c ov e ri es im p ort ant to th e h ealing art t h e st udy of ,

morbid st ruct ur e s and thi s p o s s ibly d e t e rmin e d t h e dire ction

,

of M orgagni s work re sulting aft e r forty six y e ars in t h e

’
-
,

p roduction of hi s famous S eats and Ca uses of D i sease I n vesti ,

gated by A u atonzy o n e o f t h e gr e at books of m e dicin e ,

”
which gain ed fo r it s author t h e t itl e of Fath e r of Pathology
N ot t hat M orgagni w as t h e fi r s t p athologi s t any m ore than ,

H i ppocrat e s w as t h e first phy s ician but h e c ombin e d in ,

 M O R G AG N I .
3 57

h ims el f all th e knowl e dge of h i s p r e d e c e s s or s i n t hat d e

p ar t m en t whil e avoidi ng t h ei r e rrors
, Th u s hi s per fe ct .

acquai nt an c e with ordi nary an atomy p r e v e nt e d hi m from

mistaking norm al fo r abnorm al s t ruct ure s or vi ce ver sa , ,

a s t h e old er p at hol ogi st s h ad o ft e n don e H i s p r e d ec e ssor s .

had u sual ly confin e d th e m s e lv e s to n oticing ext raordin ary

c as e s ; b ut M orgagni li ke H all e r h e ld t hat t h e comm on es t
, ,

di s e as es are t h e mo s t im p ortant an d d e mand t h e most ,

car eful inv es t igation Abov e al l h e was not cont e nt t o

.
,

notic e t h e morbid chan ge s only but sought in ev e ry ca se t o

,

conn e ct t h e m w it h t h e hi story o f t h e p ati e nt s di s ord e r t hu s ’

avoiding t h e error — n ot e ntir e ly un known among hi s suc

c es so r s
—of con fo undin g p athology with morbi d an atomy ,

and di se a se s with organic l e sion s H e n ev e r e v e n u s e s t h e .

“ ”
t erm p athological anatomy s o com mon sin c e h i s day fo r
, ,

t o him an at omy was t h e m e an s not t h e en d of hi s wo rk , , ,

which was to i nv es ti gat e t h e n at ur e of di se a s e H i s e age r .

'

n es s to t rac e t h e conn ect ion b e tw ee n fun ct ion and struct u r e

nat urally l ed him to vivi s e ction s and w e fin d hi m o p enin g ,

t h e body o f a l iving anim al mor e m aj o r u m a s h e call s it

, , ,

to fin d out wh et h e r t h e p eri cardi um i s clo s ely a pp li e d to t h e

h eart d uring li fe To att e m p t to giv e an id e a of M orgagn i s
.
’

gr eat work by a fe w q uot ation s wo uld b e li k e sam p l ing a

hous e by a bask e t of bri cks an d it m u s t s uffic e h er e to s ay
,

that sin c e t h e p ublicat ion of t h e S eats and Causes t h e for e ,

most qu e st ion wit h a p hy s ician wh e n examining a p at i e nt

has b ee n — Wh e r e i s t h e di s e a s e !
By a curiou s coin ci d e n c e t h e r e a ppe ar e d i n t h e sam e
,

y ear as M orgagn i s two large folio s a smal l p am p hl e t by j o s ep h

’

L eo p old A u e nb rugge r a j unior p hysician at t h e V i e nn a

,

H o s p ital whi c h was d e stin e d to giv e im p ortant aid in

,

an swe ring t h e abov e q u e st ion Thi s work e ntit l ed A N ew

.
, ,

I nven ti on for D i scover i ng Obscur e Thor aci c D i seases by P er cus

’

si on o the Chest, cont ain e d t h e r e s ult s o f s i x y e ar s e x p e ri e n c e ,

f
an d gav e a won d e rful ly com p l e t e account o f t h e s ound s got

by pe rc ussin g variou s p art s of t h e ch e st in h e alth an d

d is e a s e t h ei r val u e in diagno s i s and p ro g nosi s and t h e
,
,
3 58 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

di s e a se s which can and which cannot b e s o di s t ingui s h ed .

E v e n t h e fre mit u s and r e l ativ e mobility o f t h e ch e st wall

a re not unnotic e d and o n e i s a s toni s h e d that Au e n brugg e r
,

s hould hav e fail e d to com l e t e hi s work by t h e di scov e ry of

p
au s cultat ion H is clinical res ult s w e re confirm e d by post
.

mor tem examination s and cont em p orary writ e r s admit that,

t h e m ethod e nabl e d him to t r e at ca s e s o f p l e uri sy and

e m p y e m a with r e markabl e s ucc es s ;

y e t t h e im p ort an c e of
th e n e w inv ention was re cogni s e d on ly by a minority till ,

i n 1 80 8 N a p ol e on s p hysician C orvisart p ubli s h e d a Fre n ch

,
’

, ,

tran s lation with a com m e nt ary and p r efac e w hich did e qual
,

honour to him s e l f and t h e author S in c e th e n t h e p ray er .

,

w ith w hich Au e n brugg e r con clud es h i s w ork has b e e n

abun dant ly an s w er e d : C e d an t ha e c m i s er i s mgr i s in
s ol atium v e ri s aut e m m e d i c i n a
, e c u l t or i b u s in i n c r e m e n t u m

artis Q uod o pto

. .

T h e di s cov e ry b e cam e doubly val uabl e on t h e p ublication

o f t h e t r e ati se On M edi ate A uscul ta ti on by R T
,
H L a e nn ec , . . .
,

in 1 8 1 9 about four y e ar s a ft e r h e h ad i nve nt e d t h e s t et ho

,

s co p e D irect au s c ultation w as as w e hav e s ee n not

.
, ,

unknown to H i ppocrat e s and had b ee n p racti s e d to som e ,

s light e xt e nt by h i s s ucc es s ors ; b ut L a e n n ec may cl aim

t h e honour of discov e ring a more conv e ni e nt m e thod of ,

introducing it into ge n e ral u se and o f e st abli s hing i t s great ,

im p ortan c e in p ract ic e W e n ee d scarc e ly how ev er dilat e .

, ,

u p on t hi s for h as not t h e st etho s co p e b e com e a s ort o f c re st

,

or badge o f t h e mod e rn p hy s ician

L es s s t riking but no l es s valuabl e i n i t s re sult s w a s t h e
, ,

work o f M F X Bichat t h e short e st liv ed but o n e o f t h e

. . .
,

gre at es t of t h e h e ro es o f m e dicin e O n ly o ne s id e of thi s .

w ork can b e not ic e d h e re his foundation o f a n e w s ci e n c e ,

n ow c al l ed i h i s t o l o gy but th e n known as ge n e ral anatomy

, .

Bichat d e com p o s e d t h e organ s of t h e body i nto t h e i r

con s titu e nt e l e m e nt s s ho w ing t hat t h ey ar e m ad e u p of
,

tissu e s e ach p oss e ssing d efinit e p hysical and vit al p ro p e rt i e s

,

and h e d e clar ed as B o e rhaav e and H all e r h ad don e b efore

,

him that it i s t h e p hy s ician s bu s in e s s not to s pe c ulat e about

,
’
3 60 M ED C I AL H S I T O RY .

of m edicin e and that of g en e ral civili s at ion T h e h e aling .

art i s not as s om e s ee m t o thin k t h e p roduct of a s p e cial

, ,

cl ass u p on who s e m i s tak e s an d fail ur es t h e r es t o f man kind

,

may look down w ith amus e m e nt or cont e m p t ; but i s rath er

t h e fin al outcom e o f t h e e ffort s o f t h e h um an rac e in al l
ag es to s olv e t h e p erpet u al riddl es o f a S p hinx w h o p uni s h e s
,

e v e ry e rror w ithout p a ss ion but without p ity An d i f wild ,

.

gu e s s e s at a s ol ution hav e s om e tim e s b ee n m ad e i t h as ,

-

u s ual ly b ee n w ith t h e not ignobl e obj e ct o f s eizing u p on

s om e g e n e ral p rin ci p l e or p anac e a w hi ch might fores tall ,

t h e s low p rogres s o f s ci e nc e a n d a fford s om e imm e diat e ,

re li ef to t h e innum e rabl e bodily ill s o f man N o r hav e t h e .

w ild es t gu es ses b ee n e ntir e ly w orthl es s I n t h e long .

p ilgrimage u p t h e hill D i fficulty s om e hav e s t umbl e d on t h e ,

dark m ountain s o f E rror on t h e o n e s id e an d som e hav e l o s t ,

th e m s e lves in t h e gr e at wood of Vague S p e culat ion on t h e

oth e r but on t h e whol e th e re h as b ee n an almo s t cont in uou s
p rogr es s a p rogr es s a ss ist e d n ot on ly by t h e l abou r s o f s uch
,

m e n as H arv ey and Bichat but ev en by t h e ill dir e ct e d ,

-

e n e rgi e s o f a Parac e l s u s a Bro w n or a H ahn e man n ,

.

NO TE .

E us t ac h i us , Tabul ec A na tomi ca , Ro m e 1 7 14 . Th e q u o t ati o n i s fr o m

h i s Opuscu l a A na tomi ca , c ap .
45 . M o r gagn i , D c S cd i bus et Ca ns i s M or bor um
per A natomen I nd agati s . T h e b es t ed i ti o n
t h at by Ti s s o t ( E bro d un i is ,

w h i c h c o n t a i n s a v ery c o m p l e t e b i o gr a p h y T h er e i s an E ngli s h .

t r an s l ati o n by Al e x an der ( E d i n b urgh F alk D i e P a th ol og i sche

, ,

A natomi c a nd P hy si ol og i c d es I B M orgag n i B er li n 1 887 C l a r L A uen

. .
, , .
, .

br ugger and sei n I n ven tam N ovum G raz 1 86 7 ( a r ep r i n t o f th e p a m p h l et

, , ,

w it h b i ogr ap h y L ae n nec Tr a i té d e l A usc nl ta ti on M ed i a te P ar i

’

, , , s,

B i c h a t s c h i e f w o rk ar e Tr a i t d es M embr a nes R ch er ch es P hy si o
’

1 87 9
'

. s e , e

l og i ques sur l a Vi et l a M or t an d t h e A natomi G ener at

e , w h i c h are c e,

p u b li s h e d i n m a ny s e parat e e d iti o n s a n d t o ge t h er i n h i s Oeuvres P an s , ,

1 852 . H i s b i o gr ap h y m ay b e fo un d i n t h e o r d i nary w o rks o f refe r e nc e ,

a nd i n The H und red Gr eatest M en o f H i story , Lo n d o n , 1 88 5 .

3 64 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

m ed i ca l sci ence I t i s said t o con t ain valua bl e o b s ervation s on

.

t h e s y m p t om s o f dro w n i n g and t h e fam e of i t s my s t eriou s ,

w i s dom i s s o grea t that t h e v ery s i gh t of it i s enou gh to ma k e

,

p oi s on ers etc con fes s t h e i r cr i m es

, .
,
A b out 1 50 0 ap peared t h e .

chi ef Chin ese cy clo pae d i a o f m ed i cin e edi t ed by Prince Ch u S u ,

-

o f t h e M i n g d y na s ty and com p r i s i n g 1 6 0 volum es 77 0 t r ea ti s es

, ,

and pres cr i pt ion s I t w a s mainl y from t hi s tha t a com .

m i tt ee o f 80 0 ph y s i c i an s un d er t h e p res id enc y of Li S h i C h i n - -

com p i l ed in 1 59 6 th e fa m ou s P un Tsuo u K a ng nm or Ch i n es e - - -
,

m at er i a m edica in fifty tw o vo l um e s d es cri b in g 1 890 dru gs

,
-
,
.

M ed i ca l l i t era t ure t h en d egen era t ed fo r a t im e in t o s hort er mono

g ra p h s o f w hich onl y t ha t on acu p unc t ure ( sev en volum es w it h
,

co p i ou s illu s t ra t ion s ) n eed b e no ti ced h ere In 1 7 40 a ppeared .

a w ork of nin e ty vo l um es on th e pu l s e w i t h a s hort not i ce o f th e ,

c i rcu l a ti on o f air in th e b od y and t h e t reatm en t of frac t ures ; and

ab ou t th e s ame ti m e t h e P en ts ao or chi ef C hin es e w ork on ,

b o t an y wa s p u b l i sh ed .

B ey ond t h e k now l ed g e o f t h e pro p er p l ac es for acu punc t ure t h e

C h i n es e hav e no ana t om y w ort h y o f t h e nam e for t h e dia gram s o f ,

th e in s id e of th e b od y n o w i n u s e s ee m t o b e d erived largel y fr om

W es t ern s ourc es and sho w t h e dan g er s of a li tt l e knowl ed ge

, .

Thu s th e wind p i pe i s m ad e t o pa s s d i rec t l y i n t o th e h eart from ,

w hich t h ree oth er t u be s ar i s e conn e c ti n g i t wi t h th e l iv er S p l een ,

and r i gh t k idn ey from w h i ch l a s t a canal pa s s es t o th e b rain

, .

I n t h e C hin es e c l a s s ica l w ork s ana t om y p hy s iolo gy patho l o g y , , ,

and t h era peu t ic s are a ll m i n g l ed t o get h er and com b in ed w i t h ,

fanci ful analo g i es rem i ndin g u s o f t ho s e o f Parac el s u s and th e

m ed i a val p rac t i t ion ers Thu s t h ere are fi v e chi ef organ s each .
,

corres pondin g to o n e o f t h e fi v e e l em en t s p l an et s s ea s on s etc , , , .

,

a s i s br i efl y indica t ed i n t h e fo l l o w i n
g table
'

O rg ans . E lm
e e nt s . Seasons .

H e ar t . Fi re . S um mer .

Lun gs . Me t al . A t
u um n .

i
K d ne s y . W at er . W i n te r.
i
L v er . W ood . Sp in g
r .

t
S o m ac h sp een l ) . E ar h t . En d o f eac h seaso n .

Co l our s . Tas t es . P o i nt s of Compass .

Red . B itt er . t
So u h .

W h it e . S h ar p . W es t .

Bl ack . Salt . N o th r .

Bl ue . A i
c d . East .

Yell ow . S w ee t . Z en ith .
 CH I N ESE I INE
M ED C .
36 5

There ar e a l s o fi v e e x terna l org an s wh i ch ac t as s i g na l s or

indica t ors : t hu s th e t on g u e s ho w s th e s t a t e o f t h e h ear t t h e ,

no s t ril s t ha t o f t h e lun gs w h i l e t h e mou t h ear s an d ey es do th e

, , ,

s am e fo r th e s t omach k idn ey s and l i v er re s p e c ti v e ly A b l ac k

, .

t on gu e and s w oll en p a l m o f th e hand are s i gn s o f d es t ruc ti on o f

th e h ear t w hich w i l l b e fo l l o w ed b y d ea t h in o n e or t w o da y s
, .

S harp whi t e m e t a l l i c r e m edi es are good fo r t h e l un g s a s

, ,

s ho w n in t h e a b ov e t a b l e b u t m e t a l s ar e a l s o g ood fo r t h e l i v er
, ,

s inc e m e t a l domina t es w ood w h i ch corr e s p ond s t o t ha t or gan

, .

E ach o f t h e fi v e organ s h a s a canal o f commun i ca ti on ( ki n g )

carryi n g v it a l hea t and radica l mo i s t ure t hrou ghou t t h e b od y .

T h e dire c t ion o f t h e s e canal s i s e n ti re ly ima ginary t hu s th e s i n ,

ki n g or cana l of th e h ear t go es from t ha t organ t o th e en d o f t h e

, ,

l i ttl e fin ger send i n g b ranch es t o th e s mall in t es ti n e and t h e e y es

, ,

wh ere t h ey m ee t o t h er cana l s Th e b l ood a i r and v it a l s p i ri t s i n

.
,

t h es e canal s go t hr ou gh a s or t of “ c i rcu l a ti on fi fty ti m es in t h e

t wenty — four hour s ; t h ey t rav e l s i x inch e s i n ev e ry res p i ra ti on and
t h ere are res p ira ti on s per d i em w h enc e t h e read er ma y ,

calcula t e th e ex t rem e l e n g t h of t h e cana l s .

T h e ch i ef cau s e o f d i s ea se i s t h e i m p erfe c t mi x t u r e o f th e a i r
and flu i d s w hich h i nd er s t h e pro per mo ti on of th e l a tt er and i t
, ,

mani fes t s i t se l f es pec i a l ly t hou gh chan ges i n t h e p ul s e or ra t h e r ,

p u l s es for t h e y are m an y
, T h e b od y res em b l e s a mu s i ca l i n s t r u
.

m en t t h e p ul s es are i t s chord s and t h e s t ud y o f t h e i r vari e ti es

, ,

i s th e fi r s t du ty o f t h e C h i n es e ph y s i ci an H e mu s t k no w t h e .

plac es w h ere t h e y can b e fe l t es p e c i a l ly t h e t hree p u l s e s o f each

,

arm t s uen t ch e and k ouan and t h e i r rel a t i on s t o th e d i fferen t

, , , ,

organ s H e mu s t b e ac q uain t ed w i t h t h e na t ur a l p ul s es o f th e
.

var i ou s organ s and th e chan ges t h ey und ergo accord i n g t o t h e

sea s on s y ear s and mon t h s
, H e mu s t be ful ly conv ers an t w i t h
.

t h e s ev en i n t erna l and e i gh t e x t erna l p u l s es t h e n i n e p u l s es o f ,

th e cana l s o f commun i ca t ion t h e s u p erfic i a l p u l s e o f t h e s ki n and

,

fl es h th e m idd l e p u l s e of th e n erv e s and b l ood and t h e d eep

,

p u l se o f t h e b on es A b ove a l l h e s hou l d b e a b l e t o di s t i n g u i s h a t
.

once an y o f th e t w e n ty s i x p u l s es w h i ch p or t e nd d ea t h as fo r ex
-
,

am p l e th e Tu t s ian g p ul s e w h i ch re sem b l es a fi s h caugh t by th e

-
,

h ead w h o w a ggl es h i s t a i l q u i c k l y a n d i rregu l ar ly A ft er t hi s w e .

ar e no t s ur ri s ed t o h e ar t ha t a con s c i e n ti ou s C h i n ese p rac t i ti on e r

p
fre q u ent l y t a k es more t han an ho ur fee l i n g h i s pa ti e n t s p u l s es
’
.
3 66 MED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

N ext i n i m port anc e t o th e p u l se i s cou gh i n g ( s eou ) w h i ch i s ,

s u p p o s ed t o be co n n ec t ed w it h irreg u l a r mov em en t s o f a i r i n t h e

cana l s Th ere ar e s ixt een ki nd s of cough : a i r cou gh ( ky s eou )

.
-
,

co l d cou gh ( h an s eou ) w et cou gh ( s i e s eou ) h o t cou gh (j e s eou )

-
,
-
,
-
,

n i gh t cough ( y e — s eou ) i n t erm itt e n t cou g h ( c h e s e ou ) and o t h er s

,
-

d u e t o fa ti gu e d i s a pp o i ntm en t bad t e m per ( v ery common i n

, ,

w om e n ) i nd i ges ti o n dr y n es s b il e b l ood i n t ox i can t s r ou ghn ess

, , , , , ,

a n d fev er T h e p h y s i c i an s hou l d b e a b l e t o di s ti n gu i s h e ach o f

.

t h es e for each h as i t s s pe c i fi c rem ed y ; b ut s hou l d h e fa il t o do

,

so t h ere a r e s om e t h i n g s e g
,
a m i x t ure o f g i n ger and ho n ey w h i ch
,
. .
, ,

a r e g ood fo r a l l .

T h e Ch i n ese m a t er i a m ed i ca a s no ti c ed a b ov e i s v ery e xt en , ,

s i v e and i nc l ud es fo s s il b on es ( dragon s t eet h ) human fl e s h an d

’

, ,

o th er s u b s t ance s res em b l i n g t ho s e u s ed by our o w n ances t ors .

The i r m os t famou s dr ug i s th e w e l l k no w n g i n sen g t h e roo t o f a - -

,

s p e c i e s o f Pana x w h i ch i s s o l d fo r man y ti m es i t s w e i gh t i n
,

g o l d and p ro b a b ly o w es i t s i ma g i na r y v i r t u es t o i t s re s em b l an c e
,

t o th e hu m an b od y B u t th e Ch i n es e w ere a l s o pro ba b ly th e fi rs t
.

t o u s e rhu barb g i n ger and m ercur y i n t h e form o f C i nna b a r i n t er

, , , ,

n a l l y a tt rac t ed no dou b t b
, y i t s b r i gh t r ed co l ou r H ere are s o m e .

u s efu l p re s cr i p ti on s T o p r ev en t t h i rs t on a j ourn ey : Ta ke o f
.

s u g ar 4 oz fo u l i n g ( p ach y ma coco s ) 3 o z po h o ( p epp erm i n t ) 4 o z

.
,
- -
.
,
-
.
,

l iq u o ri c e 1 o z m ak e i n t o p i l l s w it h h o n ey an d ho l d o n e i n th e
.
, ,
.

mou t h To rem ov e i n k s ta i n s
. Ch i n es e i n k on ly ) t a k e s eed s of
a pri co t ( h i n g j i n ) and w h it e l ily ( p e h o ) po w d er t h em t o get h er
- -
, ,

m i x w it h w a t er and r u b i n A more ce l eb ra t ed r em ed y i s m en t ho l.

( po h o y o ) w h i ch i s fr e q u en tly effec t ua l i n ca s es o f n e ura l g i a and

- -
, ,

h a s S p read t hrou ghou t t h e c i v il i s ed w or l d .

Ano t h e r C h i n es e d i s cov er y w h i ch w as w i d e l y ado p t ed by

W es t ern na ti on s i s i nocu l a ti on fo r s ma l l po x w hich d i s ea s e i s -
,

s a i d t o h a v e e x i s t ed i n C h i na s i nc e 1 1 2 2 B C . .

C e l es ti a l h i s t o ri an s are no t h i n g i f no t corre c t i n t h e i r d a t e s ,

b ut w e ma y v en t ure t o dou bt w h e t h er th e C hin e s e cou l d hav e

k ep t so rap i d ly s pread i n g a d i seas e t o th em s e l v es fo r fift een
cen t ur i es Accord i n g t o na t i v e au t hori t i es th e d i s ord er w as
.

o r i gi n al l y s o m i l d t ha t i t w as h ard ly con s i d ered a d i s ea s e ; but _

t h e ov er t hro w o f t h e o l d em p i re and t h e i n t roduc t ion o f n ew

m ann ers a n d b ad ha b it s mad e it more d eadly and universa l .

Th i s l a tt er q ua l ity gav e r i s e t o t h e i d ea o f i noc ul a ti n g th e

 36 8 M ED I C A L H I S TO RY .

a s u p e abr undance of y n T h e proper treatm ent i s t o adm i n i s t er

.

s u b s t anc e s containin
g a large pro p or t ion o f th e o pp o s i t e p rinci p l e .

S t ron g and s ava ge bea s t s s uch a s th e horse and t i g er and th e

u p per p ar t s of p lan t s a bound i n y an g ; mild and feeb l e anim al s
as t h e s h e ep and s il k w orm and roo t s o f h erb s hav e much y n i n
"
t h em M o s t read ers w i l l con s i d er thi s th e hi gh er non s en s e
.
“
,

t o u s e a German ex pres s i on b u t i t exac tly corres pond s t o th e ,

doc t r i n es t au gh t by ph il o s o ph i c ph y s ician s in th e ear ly par t o f

th e presen t c en t ur y .

S ur gery t hou gh now prac ti ca l l y un known in C hina s eem s t o

, ,

hav e fl ouri sh ed a t an earl i er p er i od ; for H wa t ho w h o l i v ed -

,

und er th e W ei d y nas ty ( A D i s said to hav e g i ve n h i s

. .

pa ti en t s a prep ara t ion o f ma y o ( hem p ) on which t h e y b ecam e

-

i n sen s i b l e as t hou gh d ead drun k or d ead Th en as t h e cas e .

,

re q u i red h e performed o p era ti on s inci s ion s or am p u t a ti on s

, , ,

remov i n g th e cau se of th e malad y and a ft erw ard s b rou gh t ,

t o ge t h er t h e t i s s u es and a p p l i ed l i n i m en t s T h e pa ti e n t s .

recovered a ft er som e da y s w ithou t hav i n g felt th e s l i gh es t pai n

,

duri n g t h e o peration .

T h e gr eat mo tt o o f j a pa n es e p h y s ician s before t h e revo l u ti on ,

“
o f 1 8 67 w a s
, T h e o l d i s be tt e r w h i ch con serva ti v e pr i nc i p l e ,

w as b ut s l i ght ly modifi ed by a se cond ap hori s m “ Th e y k no w ,

more ab ou t t h ese mat ter s i n C h i na Th ey t raced th e ori g i n of

t h e i r ar t t o a m yt h i cal Sh i n o n i n w hom i t i s not di ffi cu l t to ,

reco g n i s e th e Chin es e em peror C hin g non g and t h e i r o l d es t ,

-
,

m ed i ca l c l a s s ic th e S h ooka mon w as t ran s la t ed from th e C hi n e s e

, ,

by T c h o o k u k e a bout th e y ear 3 50
, M o s t lat er work s a re c o m .

m en t ar i es u pon thi s and as it d ea l s w i t h fevers onl y t h e more

, , ,

con s erva ti v e practi t ion ers h el d t ha t all di sea ses are of a feb r il e
charac t er S om e bold er s p i r it s how ev er rej ected t h i s doc t r i n e
.
, , ,

and s o an o t h er b oo k was w r itt en th e K i nki (gold ca s ket ) on , ,

non feb r il e d i s ord ers B es id es t hes e w e ma y m en t ion th e S om on

-
.
,

a s or t o f m edical cat echi s m i n th e form o f q u es t ion and an s w er

, ,

a nd t h e H o n d s o or mat eria m ed i ca w hich a

ppeared in th e s ev e n
'

, ,

tee n th ce n t ury and i s t h e mo s t mod ern wor k that a

,
ge nu i n e
j apan es e ph y s ician t hin k s i t s a fe t o con s ul t .

T h e H ondso i s ev en larger t han th e P n n Tsa ou fo r th e -

,

j a pan e se dru gs are s t ill more num erou s t han t ho s e of C h i n a .

Th ey i nc l ud e as a mat t er o f cours e every thin g rare or ext rao r

, ,
 M ED I C I N E I N JA PA N .
3 69

d i nary , well a s n earl y a l l o t h er k no w n s ub stances in imm en s e

as

vari ety Thu s t o ta k e m i n eral s onl y th ere are twenty s ev en

.
, ,
-

metal s t w elv e ge m s e i gh ty t w o o t h er ston es twenty o n e s alin e

, ,
-
,
-

s t on es s ixt y k ind s of ear t h and for ty vari e t i es of wat er b es id e s

, , ,

min eral wat ers E ach ki nd o f w a t er i s good fo r s om e s pecia l

.

di sea se and th e vari et i es i nc l ud e ra in wa t er p ond riv er we ll

,
-
,
-

, , ,

dew p ool hail s no w and i c e w a t e r wa t er soa k ed throu gh old

, , , ,
-
,

roofs wat er from grave s ( u s efu l in i n s anit y and ey e affection s )

, ,

wat er in which s na k es hav e l iv ed ( g oo d fo r int ernal ulcers) w at er ,

from pi g s ty es ( us ed e x t erna l ly fo r s na k e b ites a gain s t whic h

-
,

p i gs are s aid to be proo f and in t erna l l y for w orm s which s eem s

, ,

d ecid edl y hom e o pa t hic) etc etc ,

.
, .

B ut j a pan es e m ed i cin e t hou g h clo sely resem b lin g t hat of

,

C hina i s not without na ti ve mod i fica t ion s

, I t s ph y s iolo gical .

th eori es d eal not s o much wi t h t h e mov e m ent of air and fluid s i n

th e b od y as wi t h t h e “ s p i r it s o f t h e various or gan s and t h e
"

, ,

pul se i s s u p po s ed to b e d u e t o th e k noc k in g o f th ese s p irit s w h o ,

i n t hi s way ma k e th em s el v e s in t el l i g i bl e t o th e wi s e ph y s ician .

Th e three w ri s t p ul s es for i n s t anc e z un s ha k u and k uan are

, , , , ,

cau sed by th e s p iri t s o f th e l i v er h ea r t and s p l een r esp ectiv el y , , .

Th e o bj ect o f acu p unc t u r e i s t o rou se t h e en ergy of th e s p irit s ,

and t ha t of th e moxa to g iv e t h em s t ren gt h th e flam e b ein g ,

loo k ed u pon as a s or t o f v it a l S p i r it w h i ch e n t er s into th e body .

Th ere is s tron g evid enc e t ha t th e moxa w as a J a pan es e

rather than a Chin es e inv e n ti on I t i s em p l o y ed much more .

ex t en s iv e l y in j a p an than i n C hina ; it i s u s e d by common pe o p l e

and old wom en ev en more t han by t h e regular phy s icians and ,

i ts obj ect i s an entirel y di ffere n t o n e vi z t o p rev ent not to cure ,

.
, , ,

di s ease .

B ut t h e mo s t t y p ical j a pan ese fo r m s o f m edical t reatm en t ar e

mas sa ge and t h e hot b ath T h e fo r m er i s p racti sed by a s pecia l
.

cla ss of b lind ma s s eur s “ A m m as an form erly v ery n um erou s ,

in j apan o w in g to th e rava ges o f s ma l l pox ; it i s carri ed out -

accordin g to a d efinit e and com p l i ca t ed s et of rul es and i s em ,

lo d in all k ind s o f in t ernal d i s ea s es es p eciall y r h eu m ati s m

p y e , ,

n eura sth e nia h eadach e and fa t i gue M a s sa ge i s common l y

,
.

r ec ed d b b ath s at a v e ry hi gh t e m pe ra t ure for t h e j a pan e se

p e y ,

s t ron g l y d isa pprov e o f cold or l u k ew arm bathin g which th ey ,

con s id er unh ealthy .

3 70 M ED I C A L H I S T O R Y .

In th e d epar t m ent of o b s t et r i c s t h ey are d ecid edl y in advance

o f t h e i r Chin es e t e ach er s ; b u t fo r an account o f t hi s and of the ,

s oc i a l s t atu s o f p h y s i cian s in j a pan th e r ead er s hould r efe r t o ,

W er n i c h s Z ur Gcs ch i ch tc d c r M ed i c i n i n y apa n Rohl fs A rc h i v

’
,
’

1 87 8 a n d G i er k e U e ber di e M ed i c i n i n j apa n i n a l ten un d n euc n

, ,

Z ei ten th e s am e 1 8 84 to b o t h o f w hich I am ind e b t ed

, , ,
.

For Chin es e m ed i cin e s ee t h e ar t icl e s on t h e s u bj e c t in th e

C h i na Revi ew 1 87 2 , and C h i nes e Recor d er vo l i i
,
D a bry L a ,
. .
,

M éd ec i n c h ez l es C h i noi s Par i s 1 863 So ube i r a n L a M a ti ére

, , .
,

M c d i c a l c Ch ez l es C h i noi s 1 87 4 W er ni c h Ch i n es i sch e M edi c i n, .

, ,

i n H i r s ch s B i og r aph i sch es L ex i kon H er vo r m g end c r A erz tc

’

V i enna 1 884 , .

D r Heeraj ee i n h i s in t eres ti n g H i s to ry of th e M ed i ca l A r t
.
,

( B om ba y g i v es th e follo w i n g Chin es e cure fo r ni gh t m are :

,

D o no t bri n g i n a l ig ht or ca l l l oudl y t o t h e S l ee per b ut b it e , ,

h i s h ee l or b i g t oe and g en tly u tt er h i s nam e ; a l s o s p i t in h i s

,

fa ce and g i v e h i m s om e g in ger b eer ; h e wil l s oon com e round

,
-
.

I f no t b l ow in t o h i s ears throu gh s mal l t u b es p u l l out four t een

, ,

hai r s from h i s h ead twi s t t h em t o get h er and p o k e t h em up h i s

,

no s e .

APP E N D IX I I .

T H E A S C L E PI AD fE AN D T H E P RI EST S O F ZE SC U LA PI U S .

W H E N Pau s an i a s th e t ouri s t v i s it ed th e t em p l e o f ZEs c ul ap i u s

, ,

a t E p idauru s ( ab ou t A D h e no t ic ed s i x p il l ars en grav ed w i t h

. .

s t or i e s o f pa t i en t s t w o o f which hav e b een re c e n tly d i s covered i n

,

t h e excavation s car ri ed out t h ere by M Cav v ad i as Th ey da t e . .

from a bout th e c l o s e o f t h e four t h c ent ury B C and th e follo w in g . .

,

i s a t ran s lation o f t h e p art s wh i ch hav e been p reserv ed .

O ne o f t h e p i l l ars pro ba b l y t h e fir s t o f t h e s er i es h a s a S p ecia l

, ,
”
h eadin g : Go d Good fort u n e Cures o f A po l l o and A s c l ep i o s
. . .

Th en follow t w en ty ca ses nin et een of which are giv en h ere ,

( I ) C l eo p regnant fi v e y ear s S h e bein g a l read y fiv e y ear s

, .

p reg nant cam e a s u pp liant to t h e go d and l ay down to s l eep i n ,

t h e s acred cham b e r b u t s h e went ou t s p eedily a nd go t ,

for t h fro m t h e t em p l e and b ore a s o n w h o i mm edia t ely wa s h ed ,

3 72 M ED I C A L H I S T O R Y .

ey e and p oured m edicin e on i t and wh en it was day s h e de .

part ed cured .

( )
5 A dum b chi l d cam e as s u pp liant to th e t em p l e on account

o f h i s s p eech and w h en h e had s acr i fic ed and don e wha t w as

,

u s ua l t h e a tt endant w h o served t h e al t ar l oo k in g at th e bo y s '

fa t h e r s,
aid :
“
D o y ou a gre e t o ma k e pa y m en t fo r th e cure
w i t h i n a y ear i f t h at ha pp en s for which h e h a s com e
,
Th en
t h e ch i l d s ud den ly s aid : T h e fa t h er amaz ed b ad e
“
I a gree , ,

h i m s ay i t a ga i n and a ft er thi s h e w as cured

,
.

( 6 ) Pandaru s t h e Th ess al i an had (brand ) m ark s on h i s fore

h ead He wh en a s l eep saw a vi s ion T h e god seem ed t o ti e
.
, , .

h i s h e ad b and ( m w ) round t h e mark s and t o b i d h i m w h en

’
-
a , ,

h e l eft t h e cham b er t a k e o ff t h e band and d edicat e i t i n th e

,

t emp l e And w h en i t w as da y h e did s o and h i s foreh ead

.
,

w a s c l ear ; and h e d edica t ed t h e band w h i ch had th e m a r k s ,

on it .

( 7 ) E c h edo ru s got Pandaru s mark s as we l l as h i s ow n

’
.

Havin g rec eiv ed m on ey from Pandar u s t o con secrat e to t h e god

h e cam e t o E p i dauru s fo r t h e s am e rea s on b ut k ep t t h e mon ey ,
.

Lyi n g d ovvn t o s l eep h e saw a vi s ion ; th e go d seem ed t o ask

‘

h i m w h et h er h e had got mon ey from Pandar u s to ma k e an

o ffer i n g ; b ut h e s a i d no h e h ad no t h i n g and b e gged to b e cured
, ,

gra t i s and h e w ou l d put u p a t a b l e t Th en t h e god b ound t h e

.

h ead b and o f Pandaru s round th e mar k s and t old him w h en h e

-
,

w en t ou t t o ta k e i t o ff w a s h h i s fac e in th e w e l l and loo k a t him

, ,

sel f i n t h e w a t er W h en it w as da y h e went ou t t oo k o ff th e b and

.
, ,

an d t h e l e tt er s w ere no lon ger on i t b u t l oo ki n g into th e well ,

h e s aw h i s face w it h h i s ow n m ark s and t ho s e o f Pandaru s

al so .

( 8) E u ph an es an E pi dau r i a n b oy , Th i s pa t i ent incu ba t ed .

becau s e o f s ton e T h e go d seem e d t o s tand and a s k : “ Wha t will

.

”
y ou g i ve i f I cure y ou ! and h e s aid ten d i ce bon es T h e god .

l augh ed and s aid h e would h ea l h i m and wh en it w as da y h e ,

d epart ed cured .

( 9 ) A man once cam e who w a s so blind t ha t one o f h i s ey es

had on ly th e l id s l eft and s eem ed an em p ty s p ace S o m e
, .

per so n s in th e t em p l e ridicu l ed h i s s i m p l ic ity to ho pe for ,

recov ery wh en h e h ad only an ey e s ock et and no ey e H e s l ept .

and had a vi s ion ; it seem ed t ha t th e god prepared a m edicin e ,

 CU R ES OF A SC LE P I O S .

sep arat ed h i s ey elid s and p oure d i t i n At da y b rea k h e d epart ed .

,

seein g wi t h b o t h ey es .

( 1 0 ) T h e c u p A p or t er on h i s wa y t o th e t em p l e fel l w h en
.

t en fur l on g s from it H e r o s eand o p en i n g h i s s ac k found t h e

.

co n t en t s w ere bro ke n S ee i n g t ha t t h e c u p h i s ma s t er d r an k
.

fro m w a s s ma s h ed h e w a s i n d es pa i r and s itti n g on t h e gr ound

, ,

t r i ed t o fi t t h e p i e ces t o ge t h er A p a s ser by seein g t hi s ex

.
-

c l aimed : “ Wh y m i s era b l e man w a s t e t im e i n t ry in g t o m end

, ,

tha t c u p ; no t ev en A s c l ep i o s of E p i dauru s cou l d do i t Th e

s l av e h ear i n g t hi s p u t t h e s hard s i n h i s s ac k and w e n t t o t h e

t em p l e O n arriva l h e o pen ed th e s ac k and found t h e c u p

.

m end ed . H e t o l d t h e s t ory to h i s ma s t er w h o p resen t ed t h e c u p

,

t o t h e go d .

( 1 1 ) ZE s c h i n es cl i m b ed u p a t ree w hi l e th e s u p p l i an t s w er e
s l eep i n g a n d l oo k ed in t o t h e cham b e r ; b u t h e fe l l on s om e s t a k e s

and s ev ere l y inj ured b o t h ey es B l i nd an d i n a gon y h e b es ou gh t

.

th e g o d and w en t aw a y cur ed
, .

( 1 2 ) E v i pp u s carr i ed a s p ear p o i n t i n h i s j aw for s i x y ears

-
.

H e s l ep t and t h e g o d havin g e x t rac t ed t h e w ea p on p l ac ed it i n

,
:

h i s hand s .A t day b rea k h e d ep ar t ed cured t ak i n g t h e w ea p on ,

with h i m .

( 13 ) A man o f Toron e w h o had s w al l o w ed l ee ch es H avin g .

s l ep t h e had a v i s i on t h e go d a pp eared t o o p e n h i s ch e s t w it h a

k n i fe and t a k e ou t t h e l eech es w h i ch h e p l aced in h i s hand s a nd

,

t hen c l o sed h i s ch e s t A t day b rea k h e w en t o ff w it h th e l eech es

.

in h i s hand s and w as cured from t ha t hour H i s i l l n ess w as d u e

,
.

t o t h e p er fi dy o f h i s s t ep mo t h er w h o p u t t h e l eech es i n a
-
,

m ix t ure o f w i n e and hon ey w h i ch h e dran k .

H m i u s o f L am p s acu s f eeb l e i n b od y s l ept an d

( 4)
1 er o d c , , ,

t h e go d havin g cured h i m b ad e him go for t h and carr y i n t o t h e

court th e larges t s t on e h e could find H e carri ed t h at w hich i s .

n ow b efore t h e s l eep in g cham b er .

( 5)
1 T h e lam e N i canor A s h e s a t w id e a w a k e a ch il d s t ol e
.

h i s s t a ff and ran N icanor ro se and pur s u ed him and from t ha t ,

m om en t w a s cured .

16 A man cur ed o f a b ad t o e by t h e s er pe n t Th i s man

( ) .

s u ffe red much from a n u l c er on h i s t o e T h e t em p l e s ervan t s

.

carr i ed h i m ou t and s et him on a s ea t Whi l e h e s l ep t a s erp en t .

cam e from t h e s anc t uary and cured h i s toe w i t h h i s t on gu e and ,

3 74 M ED I CA L H I S T O RY .

th e n re t urn ed T h e pa ti en t aw o ke and findin g him s e l f cured

.
, , ,

s a i d h e dr eamt t hat a b eau ti fu l y ou t h had a p peared and a pp l i ed a

rem ed y .

( 1 7 ) Al c etas of H al i c e H e w as b lind and had a v i s i on ; t h e

.

g od s ee m ed t o o pen h i s e y es w i t h h i s fin gers and h e s aw t h e

t rees i n th e t em pl e court D ay bro k e and h e d epar t ed cured
. .

( 1 8) H erau s o f M yt il en e Th i s p ati ent had no hair on h i s

.

h ead b u t much on h i s chin

, Ve x ed by th e ridicul e of h i s n ei gh
.

b ours h e incu bat ed

, T h e go d anoin t ed h i s h ead wi t h a dru g
.

a nd mad e him hav e hair .

1 9 ) T h y so n o f H er m i on e a b l ind child Whil e h e w as w i d e

( , .

a w a k e o n e of t h e t em p l e do g s l i c k ed h i s ey e s and h e d e p ar t ed

cured .

S e cond Pillar Are t e o f Laced aemon dro ps y Th i s , .

p a ti e n t s t a y ed in Lac ed mm On and h er mo t h er incu ba t ed fo r h er

,

and saw a vi s ion Th e go d seem ed t o cut o ff h er daugh t er s h ea d

.
’

and t o han g u p th e b od y n ec k do w nw ard s and w h en much fl u i d ,

h ad r u n ou t h e rep l ac ed t h e h ead Ret urn i n g t o Lac ed ae m on

.
,

s h e found t hat h e r dau gh t e r w a s w el l havin g s een th e sam e ,

v i s i on .

( 2 ) H ermon th e Tha s ian w a s b l i nd and w as cured ; b ut s i nce ,

h e mad e no o fferin g th e go d mad e h i m b l ind a gain Th en h e .

cam e b ac k and incu bat ed and w as h ea l ed

, , .

( 3 ) Ar i s tagora of T r oez e n Th i s w oman had a w orm in h er

.

be l ly an d incub a t ed in th e p rec i nc t s ( euevos) of A s cl ep i o s a t

’

, r

T r oez e n and saw a vi s ion T h e s ervan t s o f t h e go d ( w h o w as

.

n o t t h ere b ut w as s ta y in
, g a t E p i d auru s ) s eem ed to cu t o ff h er
h ead b ut b ein g una bl e to p ut it on a gain sen t some o ne t o fe t ch
,

A s c l e p io s M eanwhil e cla y cam e u pon t h em and th e pri es t s aw

.
,

w h il e w i d e aw a k e t h e h ead separa t ed from t h e b od y T h e n e xt .

n i gh t A r i s tagora saw a vi s ion T h e god a ppeared t o h er ( hav i n g.

com e fro m E pidauru s ) r eplaced h er h ead and o penin g h er b e l l y

, ,

t oo k ou t th e w orm and sew ed i t u p a gain and th enc efort h sh e ,

w a s h e al ed ( Thi s s t ory i s t o l d in n earl y t h e s am e w ord s b y

.

H i p p y s of Rh egium a hi s t or i an of t h e fi ft h c entury B C b u t h e
, . .
,

t ran s po s es Troezen and E p idauru s ) .

(4) Th e child Ari s toc r i tu s of H al i c é in t h e roc k s H e dived .

in t h e s ea and s wam und er w a t er til l h e got to a d ry p lace s u r

,

r ound ed b
y roc k s wh ere h e cou l d fi n d no exit
, H i s fa t h er a ft er .
,
3 76 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

a t day b r ea k h e w en t aw a y w ho l e , t a ki n g th e w ea p on w i th

h im .

Th e res t ofi l ar i s v er y fra gm en t ary and t houg h l arge l y

th e p l ,

r es t o r ed by i n g en i ou s p hi l o l o g i s t s n eed no t d e t a i n u s ; b ut t o ,

g e t h e r w it h t h e a b ov e p il l ar s ano t h e r vo ti v e e p i gra p h w a s d i s
,

covered fiv e cen t ur i es l a t er i n da t e and form i n g an i n s t ructive

, ,

con t ras t t o t h em
“
U nd er t h e pr i e s t hood o f P [E l i u s A n ti ochu s I M j u l i us . .
,
.

A p el l as o f Idr i a s a n d M y l a s a ( t o w n s i n C ar i a) w a s s en t h ere by
, ,

t h e g od o ft en fa l l i n g i n t o d i s ea s es and b e i n g t rou b l ed by i nd i ge s
,

t i on N ow on th e voy a ge w h i l e i n ZE g i n a h e b ad e m e no t l o s e
.
, , ,

m y t em per s o o ft en and w h en I cam e t o t h e t em p l e h e co m mand ed

,

m e t o cov er m y h ea d fo r t w o da y s —i t r a i n ed dur i n g t ha t ti m e—t o

t a ke b read and ch ees e w it h c e l ery and l e tt uc e t o w a s h m y se l f ,

w it h m y o w n hand s t o ex erc i s e runn i n g t o dr i n k l emonad e

, ,

( w a t er w it h t h e t o ps o f C it ron t p 6 a pa i n i t ) t o w a l k on t h e
-
, K r i ov 7 1 x ,

r oo f ,
sw i n g r u b m y s e l f w it h sa nd go b arefoo t ;
,
t o pou r w i n e ,

i n t o t h e ho t b a t h w a t er t o w a s h m y se l f and pay t h e b a t hman a

, ,

d rachma ; t o ma k e o ffer i n g s t o A s c l ep i o s E p ion e and t h e ,

E l e u s i n i an g odd es s e s and t o t a k e m il k and hon e y

, O n e d ay .

w h en I t oo k m i lk on ly t h e g o d s a i d : Pu t hon ey i n t ha t it m ay ,

ac t as a l a x a ti v e B ut w h e n I a s k ed th e go d t o cure m e more
’
.
,

q u i c kly I dream t I w as ru bb ed a l l ov er w it h s a l t and mu s t ard

, ,

a n d t ha t I w a s l e d ou t o f t h e cha m b er by a b oy w it h a c e n s er ,

w h il e t h e pr i es t s a i d : Yo u ar e cu r ed n o w p ay t h e fee So I d i d
‘ ’
.
, .

a s I dre am t ; w h en I ru b b ed i n t h e s a l t and mu s t ard it w a s p a i n

fu l b ut t h e pa i n w en t o ff a ft er w a s h i n g
, S o it h appe n ed dur i n g .

t h e fir s t n i n e day s Th en b e t ouch ed m e ( i n a dream ) on m y r i gh t

.

hand and brea s t and t h e n e xt d ay a s I s acr i fic ed th e fi re b u rn t

, , ,

m y hand so t ha t i t b l i s t er ed but it s oon re cov ered Th en as I , .

,

s til l w a it ed h e bad e m e r u b i n o il o f an i s e fo r h e adach e ; b u t I

,

had no h eadach e S ti l l th e o rac l e w as t ru e for I go t a h eadach e

.
,

a s a r es u l t o f p h i l o s o ph i c s t udi es and w h en I u s ed t h e o il it d e ,

part ed . Fo r q uin s y and s ore t hroa t ( fo r I b es o u gh t t h e go d fo r

t h i s al s o ) h e recomm end ed garg l i n g w it h co l d w a t er And h e .

b ad e m e a l s o w r it e t hi s do w n so I d epar t ed t han k fu l a n d cu red

, .

T h e a bov e ca ses S ho w t ha t A s c l ep i o s d i d no t confin e h i m s e l f

t o cur i n g th e s i c k and t hi s i s ev i d enced by ano t h er i n s cr i pt i on o f
,

t h e s am e da t e as t h e p ill ar s w hich t hro w s much l i gh t on th e ,

 M ED I C I N E I N T H E T E M PLE S .
3 77

m y t holo g y d e i t y I sy l l os a s ic k l y y ou t h from B o s poru s

o f th e .
,

i n Argoli s w en t in t h e t err i b l e y ear B C 3 3 8 t o t h e t em p l e and

, . .

p ra y ed fo r h eal t h T h e go d a ppeared b ut h e w a s dre s sed i n s h i n

.
,

i n g armour and s aid h e had no ti m e t o a tt end t o p a ti en t s a s h e

,

w as o ff t o S p ar t a t o d efend t h e C ity o f Ly cu r gu s a ga i n s t Ph il i p
o f M ac edon So I sy l l o s w e n t t h ere t o t e l l t h e j o y fu l n ew s an d
.
,

o n t h e r etrea t o f t h e en em y t h e S p ar t an s i n s t it u t ed a y e ar ly fe s t i

va l i n honour of th e go d In a ft er y ea r s I s y l l o s w ro t e a l on g
.

po em in pr ai se o f A s c l ep io s and s et it u p i n t h e t em p l e
“

S om e w r i t e rs try t o accoun t fo r t h e w ond e rfu l cures a b ov e

no t ic ed by s u ppo s in g t ha t th e pr i es t s w e re remar ka b l y s k i l l ed i n
m esm eri s m and s urgery ; a s i m p l er e x p l ana ti on w i l l p ro ba b ly occ u r
t o mo s t read ers T h e q ues t ion fo r u s ho w ev er i s : Wha t h as t h i s
.
, ,

d ream orac l e w it h i t s do g s and s na k es and b are—

, fac ed q uac k ery t o ,

d o w it h t h e Hi ppocra t ic m ed i c i n e ! Th e old t h eory w as t ha t

G r ee k m edica l s c i enc e had i t s ori g in i n t h e t e m p l es and t ha t ,

th e earl y p h y s i c i an s es p e c i a l ly t ho s e ca l l ed
”
, A s c l ep i ad m w ere ,

p ri es t s o f A s c l ep i o s Hi pp ocra t e s h i m se l f w a s s u ppo s ed t o b e
.

s uch a p r i e s t w h o by t h e s t ren t h o f h i s ge n i u s fina l l y se p arat ed

f
‘

, g
m ed i c i n e fr om t h eo l o g y S om e o f t h e rea s on s fo r rej e c ti n g t h i s
.

a r e g i v e n i n t h e t e xt and t h e , y a r e s t ren g t h en ed b y a l l re c en t d i s
co ver i es . T h e a b ove in s cri p t ion s fo r i n s t anc e s eem t o i nd i ca t e
, ,

t h e v er y o pp o s i t e p roc es s
.
T h e e ar l i er ca s es ( t ho s e re co rd ed on
.

t h e p illars
) ar e p ure ly t h eurg i c ; t h ey are i n t end ed t o S ho w t h e
d i r ec t act i on o f t h e d e ity and form a mo s t s t r iki n g con t ra s t t o t h e
,

H i ppocra t i c w r it in g s w i t h w hich t h e y w ere con t em p orary Th e i r .

who l e s p i ri t i s o b viou s ly an t a gon i s t i c t o an y a tt em p t at ra ti ona l

m edicin e or m ed i ca l t each i n g A p e l l a s on t h e o t h er hand rec e i v ed
.
, ,

much t h e s am e t rea t m en t a t E p i dauru s as h e w ou l d hav e had fro m

a M et hodic p h y s i cian or p e rha p s e v e n from G a l e n h i m s e l f
,
The .

p ri es t s s eem t o hav e found t ha t p ure m i rac l e s d id no t pay and s o ,

g r adual ly ad d e d a s much m ed i c i n e a s w a s p o s s i b l e w it hou t e n

t i t e ly o b s cu rin g t h e d i v i n e e l em en t W ha t i s k no w n o f th e pr i es t s
.

t h em s e lv es i s ga t h ered ma i n ly from in s cri p ti on s found on t h e s it e

o f th e t e m p l e o f A s c l ep i o s a t A t h e n s
- W e l earn from t h es e t ha t
.

t h e pri e s t s w er e cho sen y earl y by lo t a n d o f t h e num erou s n am e s ,

w hich hav e b een p re s erv ed o n e on ly h a s t h e add iti ona l t i tl e o f

,

p h y s i c i an ,
fac t s w hich conc l u s i v e l y p r ov e t ha t t h e p r i es t s o f A s el e

p i o s w ere no t n ec es s ari ly m ed i ca l m e
n .
378 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

The v i d ence from t h e s id e o f t h e p h y s i c i an s i s of th e s am e

e

ki nd W e k no w a b ou t a do z en prac titi on er s ( i nc l ud i n g Hi ppocra t es

.

a n d h i s s on s w h o ar e ca l l ed A s cl ep i ad ae N o t o n e o f t h em i s
) .

ev e r s p o k en o f a s a p r i e s t n or are t h e y ev er found i n t e m p l e s o f
,

A s c l ep i o s T h e b oo k s o f th e Hi pp ocrati c co l l ec t i on w ere pro b abl y

.

al l w r itt en b
y m em b e rs o f t h e A s c l e p i ad g u i l d ; b u t t h e nam e o f
t h e g o d i s on l y onc e m en t i on ed i n th e famou s O a t h w h e re it i s, ,

c onn ec t ed w it h t ho s e o f o t her d e iti es Y et th e w r it ers do no t .

i gno r e th e god s E v en th e free t h i n ki n g au t hor o f t h e t rea t i s e o n

.
-

e p il e p s y s a y s t ha t an e il e ti c s hou l d p ra y for h ea l t h C er t ain

p p .

i n t erpret ers of dream s ( s a y s th e w r it er o f th e t rea ti s e on re g im en )

t e l l t h ei r p a ti en t s t o pr a y t o th e god s on ly I t i s v ery m ee t and .

r i gh t t ha t a s ic k m a n s hou l d p ra y t o t h e go d s b u t h e S hou l d h e l p ,

him l a t t e s am e ti m e H e a ft er w ard s g i ve s a l i s t o f god s w h o

s e f h ”
.

ma y b e p ra y ed t o b ut A s c l ep i o s i s no t amo n g t h em Th i s n eg
,
.

l ec t o f t h e S p ec i a l go d o f m ed i c i n e, i ncred i b l e i n th e ca s e o f h i s
o w n p r i es t s i s s t ran e i n an y ca s e b u t m ay p erha p s b e p ar ti a l ly
, g ,

e x p l a i n ed b
y con s i d er i n g t h e h i s t ory o f h i s w or s h i p A s cl ep i o s .

s eem s t o hav e b ee n a Th es s a l ian ear t h g o d w h o r evea l ed h i m ,

s e l f t o h i s s l ee p i n
g w ors h i p p ers (es pecia l ly w h en s i c k ) i n w ood s ,

cav es and n ear s pr i n gs A s ear l y as t h e n i n t h c en t ury h i s fam e

, .

had s pread t o th e Ion i an G reek s w h o how ev er l oo k ed u pon h i m , , ,

m er e l y a s a pe tty ch i ef o f Th e s s a ly s kil l ed i n m ed i cin e B u t t h e .

n e i gh b ou r i n g D or i an s h ad a l read y ado p t ed h i s w ors h i p convert ,

i n g h i m i n t o a so n o f t h e i r o w n n ati ona l d e i ty A p o l l o and t h ey , ,

b rou gh t h i m w it h t h e m i n t h e i r s ou t h w ard m i grat i on B y them .

t h e w or s h i p o f A s c l ep i o s w a s i n t roduc e d i n t o o t h e r b ranch e s o f
'

t h e G ree k rac e t h e var i o u s l oca l h ea lt h d e it i es H y ge i a Panacea

, , , ,

etc .
,
b ei n g conv er t ed i n t o h i s chi l dren j u s t a s h e h ad b ecom e s o n ,

o f A po l l o N o w C o s a n d C n i du s t ho u gh nom i na l l y D or i an
.
, ,

co l on i es w ere l arge ly i nha b it ed by Ionian s ; t h e H i ppocra ti c t rea t

,

i s es are w r itt en i n a di al ec t c l o s e ly a l l i ed t o t h e I on i c an d t h e ,

au t hors (t h e A s c l ep i ad ae) s eem t o hav e h e l d th e Ion i c v i ew of

A scl ep io s vi z t ha t h e w as a m ere man th e found er o f t h e i r
, .
, ,

gu i l d and t h e d i rec t anc es t or o f i t s more p rom i n en t m em be rs

, .

N OT ES .

The i n s c ri p ti o ns ar e t ran s l a t ed fr o m t h e o ri gi na l s p ub li s h ed i n t h e
Eph emer i s A rchwol og i /ce, 1 88 3 - 8 5 . I n th e c as e o f A p e l l as I h ave b e en
3 80 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

a nd a mon g th e form er w ere t w o C od i ces f M ed i ca l Recei pts

o

C ompi l ed /f r o m al l P e t er g i v e s a s i mil ar l i s t b ut om it s
S o u r c es . ,

t h e r ec e i p t b oo k w h i ch p ro b a b ly p eri s h ed w i t h i t s au t ho r w h en
,

t h e mona s t ery w a s d es t ro y ed by th e S aracen s 88 3 I t w as ,

.

r e s t ored i n 9 60 b ut a ffa i rs w ere i n s uch d i s ord er o w i n g t o t h e

, ,

l and s b e i n g l a i d w a s t e or a p pro pria t ed by n e i gh b our in g no b l es ,

t ha t th e mon k s fo r a l on g ti m e h ad h ard l y l e i s ure fo r t h ei r re l i

g i o u s e x e rc i s e s and , w e h e ar l ittl e o f l it era t u re and no t h i n g o f

m ed i cin e til l th e fa m ou s abbac y o f D es id er i u s ( 1 0 58 D es i d

c r i u s w as a no b l e L om b ard w hom h i s fr i end s w i s h ed t o marry ,

b u t w h o fl ed from h i s b r i d e t o a mona s te r y and t h ere cha s t en ed ,

h i m s el f w i t h p ra y er and fa s ti n g til l h e go t so il l t ha t h e had t o g o

t o S a l erno fo r m ed i ca l adv i ce H ere h e mad e fr i e nd s w it h a
.

m ed i ca l s t ud en t A l p h an u s w ith w hom h e p r o po s ed t o go on a
, ,

p i l gr i ma ge t o j er u s a l em B u t firs t t h e y w e n t t o s ee t h e Po p e
.

( V i c t or w ho s e favou r A l p h a n u s o b t a i n ed
“
by h i s b eau t i fu l
vo i c e and h i s s ki l l i n m ed i c i n e a n d on h i s adv i ce t h ey r e ti red t o
,

t h e m ona s t e r y o f M on t e C a s s i no D e s i d e r i u s fina l l y b eca m e

.

Po p e Vi c t or I I I and A l p h a n u s Archb i sho p o f Sa l erno Th ere

.
, (
.

i s no ev i d enc e t ha t D es i d er i u s s t ud i e d m ed i cin e a t S a l ern o and ,

t h e l on g l i s t s o f h i s w r it i n g s g i v e n b y P e t e r con t a i n no t h i n g

m ed i ca l S pr en gel w h o i s d et erm i n ed t o ma k e h i m a doc t or a t

.
,

an
y p ri c e t r an s fers t o t h e a bb o t w h a t L eo s a y s o f A l p h a n u s and
, ,

add s t ha t h e w r o t e on th e m ed i c a l m i rac l es of S t B en edic t : s o .

s a y s P e t er t h e d e acon b ut h e om it s t h e w ord m ed i ca l
, ,
.

T h e on ly mon k s o f M o n t e C a s s i no o f w ho m t h ere i s good

ev i d e nc e t ha t t h e y w e re s ki ll ed i n m ed i cin e
“
a r e A l p h an u s

a n d C on s t an ti n e B o t h w e re ph y s ic i an s b efore t h ey w ere mon k s

.
,

a n d t h e y w en t from t h e s choo l t o t h e mon a s t e ry no t from t h e ,

mona s t ery t o th e s choo l .

T h e famou s cure o f t h e em peror H enry II ca l l ed T h e

,
“
.
,

Sa i n t, i s adduc ed by S pren ge l a n d o t h er s a s a p roo f t ha t t h e

m o n k s po s s e s s ed grea t s ki l l i n s urgery I t i s r e l a t ed by num erou s
.

chronic l er s s om e of t h em con t em p orary and th e u s ual ver s i on

, ,

i s t h e fol l o w i n g : In 1 0 1 4 S t H enry t h e n G erman k in g and

, .
,

e m p er or e l e c t
-
b e i n g gr i evo u s ly t orm en t ed by s t on e f or w hi c h
, ,

t h e phy s i c i a ns c o u l d d o n o th i ng c am e t o t h e mona s t er y o f M on t e
,

C a s s ino and ear n es t l y i nvo k ed t h e i n t er c e s s i on o f S t B en ed i c t . .

H e s l ep t and s aw a v i s i on S t B en ed i c t a pp eared t o him and

. .
,
 M O N T E C A SS I N O .
381

wi t h a s urgeon s kn i fe ( f e ’
rro o p en ed th e p l ac e w h ere
med i c i n a l i )
t h e s ton e w a s too k it ou t p laced i t i n th e ki n g s hand and
, ,
’

imm edia t e l y h eal ed th e w ound T h e ki n g aw o k e and find i n g

.
,

t h e s t on e in h i s hand call ed t h e b i s ho s and

p p r i nce s and t o l d ,

t hem w ha t gr ea t t hin g s G o d had don e fo r h i m Th en hav i n g .

,

pres en t ed ro y al g i ft s t o t h e mona s t e r y h e d e par t e d rej o i c i n g a n d

, ,

cam e t o Rom e w h ere h e t o l d t h e s t ory t o Po p e B e n ed i c t VI I I

, .
,

w h o rej oice d w i t h h i m a n d cro w n ed h i m C ms ar and e m p e ror ,

1 t h F eb ruary 10 1 Th i s s t ory l ik e th e cures o f ZE s c u l ap i u s

4 4 , .
,

w h i ch i t clo s e l y r es em b l e s i s s u s c ep ti b l e o f o t h er ex p l ana ti on s
,

than t ha t o f a m es m er i s in g s urg i cal mon k and o n e s uch ma y b e ,

found in a rec en tly di s cov ered l e tt er from Po p e B en ed i c t VI I I .

h i m s e l f w hich a grees w i t h th e v er si on g i v en by L eo o f O s ti a
, ,

and form s s uch an e x ce l l en t e x am p l e o f h o w m edical miracl es

w ere d ev e l o p ed t ha t I v en t ure t o t ran s l a t e i t in fu ll :
“
W e B en edic t b i s ho p s ervan t o f th e s ervan t s of G od
, , , ,

w ou l d hav e i t k no w n t o a l l fa it h fu l C hr i s ti an s a s w el l pre l a t e s ,
.

a s t ho s e und er t h em t ha t our s p i r it ua l s o n H e n r y t h e em p e ror

, , , ,

cam e t o th e mon as t ery o f S t B en ed i c t w h i ch i s on t h e h i l l cal l ed

.
,

C a s t ro C a s s i no, w h er e i s b ur i ed t h e mo s t b l e s s ed b od y o f t h e
m o s t b l es s ed B en ed i c t w h i ch p l ac e h e b eh e l d w it h grea t d evo t i on
, ,

and s aid h e had n ever s een a more aw fu l o r v en era b l e s anc t uary .

N ev er t h e l es s h e w a s t rou b l ed by s om e s cru p l e o f dou b t as t o

w h e t h er t h e b l es s ed B en ed i c t w a s ac t ua l l y b ur i ed t h ere or no .

B ut b e i n g no t fu l l y a s l eep from p a i n by w hich h e w as gr i evo u s l y

t orm en t ed nor y et fu l ly aw a ke th e mo s t b l es s ed Fa t he r B en ed i c t
, ,

a p peared t o him and a s k ed w h ere h i s p a i n w as and w h en h e ,

had fu l ly ex p lain ed i t t h e m o s t b l es s ed B en ed i c t s a i d : I k no w ‘

t hou ha s t h it h er to dou b t ed w h e t h er I res t h ere bu t t hi s s ha l l b e ,

a S i g n t o t h ee t ha t m y b od y and t ha t o f m y s i s t e r a r e i n t h i s

p l ace
.
Wh en t hou ari s es t t hi s da y t hou s h a l t pa s s t hree l arge
s ton es ,
i n eg c s ti o ne u r i n ae tuee and t h enc efort h s ha l l b e free
,

fr om p a i n ; and k no w t ha t I am B ro t h er B en ed i c t And w it h ’
.

t h es e w ord s h e van i s h ed s udd en l y (pr es to ) T h e em p eror a w o k e .

,

and at once ro s e and w as h ea l ed accordin g t o th e v i s i on In .

th e morn i n g h e cam e t o t h e a s sem b ly o f bre t hren and s aid : W h at

‘
,

m y ma s t er s s ha l l I g iv e t o a doc t or w h o h as cured m e !
’

,
And
w h e n t h e y an s w ered t ha t h e m i gh t t ak e w ha t h e l ik ed from t h e
mona s t er y h e rep l i ed : N ot s o ; for s i nc e th e mo s t b l es s ed
, ,
3 82 M ED I C A L H I S T O R Y .

Fa t h er B en ed i c t h as h eal ed m e t h i s ni gh t it i s mo st j u s t t hat I ,

s hould r ecom en s e him from m y t r ea s ury Add i n g : N ow I ‘

p
k no w o f a s ure ty t hat thi s p lac e i s trul y ho l y and no o ne can ,

dou b t h encefort h t ha t th e mo s t b l e ssed B en edict and h i s hol y

s i s t er r es t h ere And to prove h i s w ord s h e s howed th e t hree
’
.

s t on es o penl y t o a l l Th en h e w ent to th e shrin e of t h e bl es sed

B en edict and o ffe r ed him t h ese g i ft s —
.

, a co py o f t h e Go s p el s

b ound on o n e s i d e w i t h p ure g o l d and mo s t preciou s gem s and ,

marvellou s ly d e cora t ed w i t hin w it h uncial l ett er s and g o l d fi g ure s ;

a go l d cha l ic e and i t s pat en wor k ed w i t h gem s an d p earl s and
, ,

fi n e b l u e s t on es t o g et h er w i t h a na p ki n o f pure s i l k wi t h gold
,

i n w or k ed ; al s o an orarium and c i n gulum s t o l a and pluvial e , ,

a n d oth er v es t m en t s all ado rn ed wi t h gold w ork

,
And h e -
.

p resen t ed a s il v e r b o w l and c u p from w hich t h e b ret hren mi gh t

d r i n k on fes t i va l s Furt h er b e r ed eem ed from t h e j ew s who
.
, ,

h ad th em in p l ed g e fo r 50 0 p i ec e s o f gold an a l t ar clo t h o f S t , .

B en ed i c t pres en t ed by C har l ema g n e and a s i l v er chalice and

, ,

pa t en sen t once t o S t B en edic t by Th eodoric Kin g o f t h e Saxon s

.
, .

W e al s o of our l ittl en ess t o con gra t ula t e t h e em peror on h i s

, ,

h eal t h hav e l a i d on th e alta r o f S t B en edict an exc e l l ent ca s ula

, .

(pl a neta ) o f b l u i s h colour em bro i d ered n ev erth e l es s w it h gold an d

, ,

a s t ol e w it h i t s ma p u l a w ork ed with gold , And Arch b i sho p .

B el gr i n u s h a s p resent ed a p urpl e ca s ula em b ro i d e red round th e ,

e d ge w i t h t h e s i gn s o f t h e mon t h s in g old and a s tol e and ,

p luvial e . Wh er efore I th e s a i d B en edic t b i s ho p s ervan t o f

, , , ,

t h e servan t s o f G od t o get h er w it h th e s aid em p eror b es eech al l

, ,

w h o are ca l l ed by th e C hri s t ian nam e by t h e Fa t h er A l mi gh ty , ,

a n d by j es u s C hri s t H i s on ly S o n our Lord w h o w as bo r n

, , , ,

d i ed and ro se a ga i n for th e s a l va ti on of t h e who l e w or l d and by ,

t h e Ho l y S p i r it p roceedin g from b o t h and by th e b l es s ed P e t er , ,

princ e of t h e a po stl es w h o ha t h p ow er t o b i nd and t o l oo s e

, ,

t hat th ey pr es um e no t t o r emov e an y of th e a b ov e t r ea s ur es

which th e s a i d em peror h as d ed i cated in th e said church fo r

t h e r ed em p ti on o f h i s s oul S hou l d an y o n e ( wh i ch w e are u n
.

w illin g to be l i ev e) treat t hi s our p ra y er and en t rea ty as o f no

value and ra s h ly dare to t a ke aw a y an y o f th e s aid articl es
, ,

l et him k no w t ha t h e i s b ound b y t h e chain o f an anath ema ,

that h e i s a l i ena t e from th e K i n gdom of God and tha t h e i s ,

d estin ed to b e con sum ed in ev er l a s ti n g torm en t s and b urnin g s

3 84 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

Th e mona s t ery o f M on t e C a s s i no po s ses s ed b o t h an i n fi r m ary

and a ho s p it a l T h e form er was i n t end ed fo r s i c k mon k s and
.
,

t ho se w h o by rea s on of age w ere una bl e t o fo l l o w t h e s t ri c t rul es

o f th e ord er . I t form ed a s epara t e bu i ld i n g a t t h e foo t o f th e b i l l ,

w as p res i d ed o v er by t h e i n fi r m ar i u s and had a s p ecia l endow

,

m en t T hu s i n 1 1 83 Po pe Luc i u s I I I confirm s t h e p o s s es s i on
.
, , .

o f p ro p erty t h e i ncom e o f w h i ch had b ee n d evo t e d t o t h e

,
i n fir
ma r i um S i nce 1 0 50 T h e h os p it a l or x enodoch i um w a s a
.
, ,

p l ace fo r t h e r ec ep ti on o f s t ran ge rs b o t h s i c k and h al e an d i n ,

11
4 7 K i n g Ro ger o f S i c ily confirm e d t o A b b o t Ra i na l d th e
”
p o s ses s i o n s o f t h e m ona s t ery x enodoch i um w h i ch h e d es cr i bes ,

t h e s o l e s o l ac e o f th e p oor and harb our o f t h e s t ran ger a n d

“
as ,

th e d es tit u t e “
un i cum egen o r u m s o l a t i um p e regr i n o ru m et ,

n ec es s i t at e m h a b e n t i u m
po r t u m I n 1 2 1 5 Po p e Innoc en t I I I .

w ro t e a l on g l ett er t o t h e a b b o t re comm end i n g t h e reform o f

,

v ar i ou s a b u s e s I f t h e “ i n fi r m ar i u s i s i n ca pab l e o f a tt en d i n g to
.

t h e a ged mon k s h e mu s t g e t a d e p u ty ( w h o ma y b e a l a y man )

,

t o do it fo r h i m T h e a bb o t i s t o t a k e h i s m ea l s w it h t h e mon k s
.
,

a n d no t t o gor m and i s e e v e ry day w it h s t ran er s i n t h e ho s p it a l

g .

Th e du ti es o f t h e “ h o s p i t al ari u s ma y c o nveni en tly b e und er

t a k en by a re l i g i ou s l a y man .

T h e p h y s i c i an s and s urgeon s o f t h e grea t ho s p it a l es t a b ,

l i s h ed by t h e m il it ary mon k s o f S t j ohn a t j eru s a l em w ere no t

.
,

m em bers o f th e ord er b ut l a y m en w h o w er e pa i d fo r t h e i r
,

s e rv i c es ; and t h e s u p er i o r i t v o f t h e l a y t o th e mona s ti c m ed i c i n e

had s h ow n it se l f as earl y as t h e t en t h cen t ury Rh ei m s w as .

t h en th e mo s t l earn ed mona s t ery i n Fr anc e y et w h en on e o f i t s , ,

m on k s Ri ch er w i s h ed t o s t ud y m ed i c i n e h e t el l s u s t ha t t h ere
, , ,

w as no o n e t h ere w h o cou l d t each h i m and h e had t o g o t o s om e ,

s ecu l ar c l er k s a t C har t res T h e fo l l o w i n g i n s hort s eem s th e

”
.
, ,

mo s t pro b a b l e v i ew o f th e re l a ti o n o f th e mona s t er i es t o m edici n e .

For a few c en t ur i es ( from t h e S i xt h t o t h e t en th ) mon k s w er e

a l m o s t t h e on ly p ers on s i n W es t ern E uro pe w h o po s s es s ed or
cou l d read t h e w ork s of th e c l a ss i ca l ph y s i c i an s b ut t h ey mad e
l itt l e o r no u s e of t h e i r advan t a ges and preferred t o em p lo y ,

p o p u l ar r ec ei p t b o o k s and h er ba l s s uch a s t ho s e d e s cri b ed i n

, ,

cha p t er xxx iii T h e rev i va l o f th e anc i en t m ed i c i n e cam e n o t

.

from t h em b ut p ar tly from t h e s choo l o f S a l erno w hich w as a

, ,

l ay i n s t i t u t ion and es p ecia l ly from t h e Arab s w ho s e l earnin g

, ,
 THE I N FI R M A RY .
3 85

was i n t roduc ed ra t h er by w ay of S p a i n t han t hro u gh t h e

Cru s ad er s .

W e ma y conc l ud e w it h a br i ef ou tl i n e of m ed i ca l prac ti ce i n
nunn eri e s . St H i ld egard and h er rec ei p t b oo k hav e b een
.

no ti ced i n t h e t ext b u t w e k no w m ore ab ou t t h e C onv en t o f th e

,

Paracl et e th e a b bes s o f w h i ch w as t h e famou s H el o i s s a ( 1 1 0 1

,

Th ere w as no ho s p it a l Anxiou s a s s h e i s t o con fo rm in al l

.

t hin gs t o t h e rul e o f S t B en ed i c t H el o i s s a p o i n t s ou t t h a t t h ere

.
,

a re o b v i ou s o bj ec t i on s t o t h e i nd i s crimina t e re c e t ion o f s t ran er s

p g
i n a conven t o f fema l es E v en to adm i t per s o n s of t h e i r o w n s ex
.

m i gh t a fford th e l e s s s p i r i tua l ly mind ed nun s dan gerou s o p po r

-

t u n i t i e s fo r communica ti n g w it h t h e ou t er w or l d B u t t h ere wa s .

an i n fi rm ary and t h e fo l l o w in g w ere t h e du ti es o f th e i n fi r m ar i a

,

a s d e fin ed b
y A b ae l ard
L et t h e i n fi r m ar i a loo k a ft er t h e s i c k p res ervin g t h em at ,

o nce from s i n and from w an t ( t am a cu l pa q uam ab i n di ge n ti a) .

W ha t ev er t h e i r infirm ity re q u i res w h et h er i n food ba t h s or , , ,

an yt h i n g e l s e i s t o b e g iven t h em M ea t i s n ev er t o be w it h
, .

h e l d exce p t on Fr i da y s and s p ec i a l v i g i l s and fa s t s T h e more

, .

t hey t hin k u pon t h ei r d ea t h th e b ett er t h ey w i l l b e k ep t fro m s i n ,

a n d es e c i a l l y s hould t h e y s t ud
p y s il enc e and b e in s t an t in p ra y er , ,

a s i t i s w r itt en M y s o n i n t h y s i c k n e s s b e no t n eg l i g e n t b ut
pra y un t o t h e L ord and H e w il l ma k e t h ee w ho l e ( E cc l x x x v i i i . .

Th ere mu s t a l w a y s be s om e o n e on duty t o give ai d w h e n

req ui s it e and th e p l ace mu s t b e provid ed w it h a l l t h i n g s n eed ed
,

i n s ic kn es s D r u gs al s o mu s t be got i f n ec e s s ary accord i n g t o

.
,

t h e o pp or t uni t i e s o f t h e l oca l ity and t h i s w i l l b e don e t h e more

,

ea s il y i f t h e p re s i din g s i s t er i s no t w it hou t m edic a l k no w l ed g e .

I t i s s h e a l s o w h o mu s t loo k a ft er t ho se w h o are b l ed and s ome ,

S i s t er s hould b e s k i l l ed in v e n es e c ti on t ha t it ma y no t b e r e q u i s it e
,

for a man t o com e i n fo r t hi s pur p o s e O p p ort un ity fo r rel i g i ou s

.

ex erci s e s mu s t b e p rov i d e d s o t h a t p a ti e n t s ma y commun i ca t e a t

,

l ea s t on th e L ord s D ay al w a y s w it h con fes s i on and p enanc e s o

’
,

far as p o s s i b l e T h e recomm enda ti on o f S t j am es t h e a p o s tl e

.
.
, ,

as t o ano i n ti n t h e s i c k mu s t b e care fu l ly o b s erve d es p e cia l ly

g ,

i n d es pera t e ca ses L et tw o e l d er ly mon k s w i t h a d eacon to

. ,

car ry t h e ho l y o i l com e i n and c el ebra t e t h i s s acram en t th e s i s t ers

, ,

b ein g p res en t bu t w it h a s creen i n t erp o s ed

,
And th e i n fi rm ary .

s hould b e s o b ui l t t h a t t h e mon k s ma y hav e acc es s and regr es s

25
3 86 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

w i t hou t in g i t r or b ein g s een by t h e m T h e de acon es s

th e
‘ ‘

s ee s s e s .

and c e l l ares s sha l l v i s it th e s i c k a t l ea s t once d ai ly and carefu l ly ,

provid e for t h e i r n eed s s p i r it ua l and b od ily t ha t t h e y ma y m eri t ,

t o h ear t h at s ay i ng o f t h e L ord I w a s s i c k and y e v i s it ed m e

’

W h en a s i c k p er s on com es i n t o th e ag on y s h e w h o a tt end s h er ,

s hal l i n s t an tly run i n t o t h e conv e n t a n d b e a t a b oard and th e ,

w ho l e co n ven t a t w ha t e v er hour o f t h e da y or ni gh t s h a l l ha s t en
t o th e d y in g un l es s preven t ed by re l i g i ou s ex erc i s es I n t h i s
,
.

c as e s i nce no t h i n g m u s t b e p u t b efore t h e s erv i ce o f G od l et t h e

, ,

d eacon es s w it h t ho s e w hom s h e s ha l l choo se g o and l et t h e r e s t

, , ,

fo l l o w a s s oon a s p o s s i b l e And a s t h ey go l et t h e m a t once

.
,

b egin t h e l it an y a s far a s t h e i nvoca ti on o f s a i n t s and t h e n s i n g ,

p s a l m s or h y mn s s u it a b l e t o th e occa s i on B u t h ow s a l u t ary it i s .

t o go t o t h e s i c k or d ead i s p o i n t ed ou t by t h e preach er ( v i 2 .
,

Th i s pa s sa ge i s cond en s ed by Lacro i x ( S c i en ce a n d L i ter a tu r e

of th e M i ddl e A es
g ) i n t o t h e s om ew ha t m i s l ead i n g a s s er ti o n t ha t
A bae l ard e x hort ed th e nun s o f th e Parac l e t e conven t t o l earn
”
s urg er y for t h e b en e fi t o f t h e p oor w h ence E n g l i s h w r it ers hav e
,

d r aw n p i c t ures o f t h e n un s runn i n g a b ou t th e n e i gh b ourhood l ik e

s o man y p a r i s h nurs es or l ad i es b oun ti fu l C on s i d er i n g t h e care .

t a k en t o ex c l ud e even fema l e v i s it ors and t o pro t e c t t h e nun s ,

fr om t h e ga z e o f e l d er ly mon k s p er form i n g a s a c ram en t a l o ffi c e ,

it s eem s h ard ly l ike ly t ha t s uch freedom w ou l d hav e been p er

m i tt ed far l es s encoura ged
, .

N OT E .

Th e c h r o n i c l es o f L e o a n d P e t er a re p r i n t e d i n P er t M onumenta z,

G er man i ee H i stor i ca v o l v ii P e t e r s b i ogra p h i c a l w o r k m ay b e fo u n d

’

, .

i n M ur ator i v o l i
, T h e l ett er s o f Po p e B e n ed i c t U r b an an d I n n o
v . s , ,

c e n t a r e gi ve n i n fu ll by T os ti S tor i a d cl l a B ad i a d i M onte Cass i no N a l es

, p , ,

1 84 2 Th e q u ot a ti o n fr o m A b a l a r d i s fr o m M i g n e s e d iti o n ( i n h i s
’
.

P atr ol ogi a) p 2 7 8 e p v iii

, .
, . .

APP E N D IX IV .

T HE “ G A LEN I C ” SY S T E M OF M ED C I IN E .

T H E I n tr od uc ti on to M ed i c i n e ( I s ago ge) o f H on a i n be n I s aac ,

or j oann i t i u s as h e w as cal l ed by th e Chr i s t ian s con ta i n s s uch an ,

3 88 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY

B l ac k b il e i s ki nd s ( 1 ) th e no r ma l e x crem en t of th e
of tw o ,

b l ood w h i ch i s genu i n e ly co l d an d dry ( 2 ) a bnorma l d u e t o ov er

, , ,

h ea t i n g and o f p ern i ci ou s q u a l ity

, .

M em b ers have four va r i eti e s ; for t h ere ar e s om e w h i ch ar e

pr i nc i pa l o r funda m en t a l s uch a s b ra i n h eart l i v e r ; and o t h ers , ,

s u b s erv i en t t o t h e se e
g n er v es m i n i s t er i n g t o t h e b r ain a r t er i es t o
,
. .
, ,

th e h ear t and v e i n s t o th e l i v er
,
Th i rd ly t h ere are m em b ers .
,

w h i ch hav e s p ec i a l v i rt u e d u e t o t h e i r p r o p erti e s a s b on e m em , ,

br an es mu s c l e s
,
A fourth var i ety hav e virt ue o f t h eir ow n b ut
.

d e pe n d a l s o o n th e fundam en t a l organ s e g s t o m ach ki dn ey s , . .

, , ,

i n t es ti n e s fo r t h ey a b s orb and d i ge s t food o f t h ei r o w n p o w ers

,

b u t a re endo w ed w it h s en s e l i fe and m o ti on from th e p r i nc i p a l , ,

m em b ers .

Facu lti e s ar e t hr ee n a t ura l s p i r it ua l an i ma l T h e na t ura l

, , , .

facu lty m i n i s t er s or i s m i n i s t ered t o ; th e form er gen era t es ,

nou r i s h es d i ge s t s t h e l att er gi ve s r i s e t o t h e app e tit es T h e

, ,
.

S p i r it u a l fa cu lty i s a l s o o f t w o ki nd s tha t w h i ch o p era t es and ,

t ha t w h i ch i s o p erat ed u p on Th e form er c au s es t h e d il a ti on and .

con t rac ti on o f th e h ear t and art er i e s t h e l a tt er i s a ffec t ed t o an ger , ,

do m i na ti on care etc An i m a l facu lti es a r e t hree th e fi rs t o rd er s

, ,
.
, ,

com poun d s and d i s cern s t h e second g i v e s vo l un t a r y mo ti on th e

, , ,

t h i rd s en sa ti o n F r o m th e fi rs t pr oc eed i ma gi n ati on ( i n t h e
.

fo reh ea d ) co g it a ti o n ( i n th e m i d b ra i n ) an d m em ory ( i n th e
,
-

occ i p u t ) T h e s en s ory facu l ti es i n c l ud e s i gh t h ear i n g t a s t e

.
, , ,

t o uch a n d s m e l l .

O per a ti on s are s i m p l e or com p ound T h e for m er i nc l ud e .

hun ger d u e t o h ea t an d d ry n es s d i ges ti on d u e t o h ea t and

, , ,

mo i s t ure re t en ti on t o co l d and dry n es s ex pu l s i on t o co l d and

, , , ,

mo i s ture C om pound are d es i res w h i ch are mad e u p of a ppe tit es

.

and s en s a ti on s .

S p i r it s a r e t h r ee na t ura l t a ki n g or i g i n from t h e l i ver ; v it a l , ,

from t h e h ear t and an i m a l fr o m t h e b ra i n

, T h e firs t i s d i ffu s ed
, .

t hro u gh th e b od y by th e v e i n s th e s econd by t h e art er i es th e , ,

t h i rd by th e n erv es Th e se are th e seven na t ura l t hin gs

. .

A ges are fo u r ado l es c ence m anhood advanc ed age and

, , ,

s e nili ty . Ado l es cence i s ho t and mo i s t mark ed by gro w t h and , ,

con ti nu es ti l l t h e t w en ty fi fth or t h i r ti e th y ear M anhood i s ho t -

.

a n d dr y t h e s t ren g t h b e i n g m ain t a i n ed w i t hou t d i m i nu ti on t i l l

,

th e for t i et h y ear Advanc ed ag e co l d and d ry i n which th e

.
, ,
 TH E G A LE N I C S YS T E M .
3 89

b od y b egin s t o d e crea s e w it hou t a ffec ti on o f th e facul ti es , i t p er

s i s t s ti ll fift
y e i g h t or s ix ty T 0 t h i s s ucc eed s s en il i ty , co l d and
-
.

mo i s t w ith exc e s s of p h l e gm and d efi c i en t facul ti es w h i ch e nd s

, ,

w it h li fe .

C o l ou r s a r e of tw o k ind s d u e t o i n t erna l or ex t e rna l ca u s es ,

.

In t erna l cau s es ac t in tw o w ay s by e q ua bi l i ty of humour s or ,

e xc es s T h e form er g iv es r ed and wh it e t h e l a tt er y e l l o w b l ac k
.
, , ,

r ed and w h it e accord in g as y el l ow b i l e b l ac k b i l e b l ood or

, , ,

ph l eg m res p e c t ivel y p re domina t es E x t e rnal cau s es ar e t em p er .

a t ure a s co l d amon
, g t h e S co t ch (s i c u t ex r i g o r e S co ti s ) and h ea t
amon g th e E t h i o p ian s Th ere are a l s o s p i ri t ual co l ours d u e t o
.

fear an ger and o t h er m e n t al a ffec t ion s

, C olour s o f th e hair ar e .

four b lac k r ed g l aucu s

, ,
and w h it e B l ac k i s d ue t o ab undan t
,
. .

o verh ea t ed b il e or b lood re d t o t h e s am e l e s s h ea t e d glaucu s to

, ,

exc es s o f b l ac k b i l e w h it e to d efic i e nc y o f t h e inna t e h e a t and i s

, ,

t h erefore found mo s tly in t h e o l d C o l our s o f t h e ey e a r e four .

,

b l ac k w hi t i s h v ari u s
,
and g l aucu s
,
T h e t unic s o f t h e ey e
a re seven and i t s humours thr ee
,
T h e fir s t t un i c i s th e ret ina .
,

t h e s econd se cund i na t hird s c l ero t i c fourth t ela aran ea fi ft h

, , ,

u v ea s i x t h corn ea
, sev e n t h conj unc t iva
, T h e humour s a re t h e .

v it reous th e cry s t allin e and th e a l b ugin eou s w h i ch i s i n fron t of

, ,

t h e uv ea ( i r i s P)

F i gure s or q ua l i t i es o f t h e b od y are fi v e fa t n es s t h i nn e s s , ,

s i n t h es i s s q ual i d it y and e q ua l i ty Th ere ar e t w o ki nd s o f fat .

n es s d u e t o exc es s o f fl es h or o f fat t h e firs t i s cau s ed by ov er ,

h ea t th e s econd b y co l dn es s o f th e humours L eann e s s i s d u e

,
.

t o h ea t and dry n e s s s i nt h es i s t o co l d and dry n es s s qua l id i ty t o

, ,

c o l d and mo i s t ur e e q u a l ity t o an e q u i li br i um o f humo urs a nd

,

q ua l i t i es S ex es : T h e ma l e d i ffers from t h e fe ma l e i n b e in g
.

h o tt er and dry er .

II . T H E S I X N O N N AT U RAL s -
.

(i ) .
a i
C han ges
r are fi v e d u e t o s ea s on s
of con s t e l l at i on s , , ,

s p e cia l w ind s locali t i es s o i l s

,
S ea s on s are four s pri n g ho t and
,
.
,

m o i s t s umm er ho t and dry au t umn co l d and dry w i n t er co l d and

, , ,

moi st Th e na t ure o f t h e a i r i s a l s o chan ged by t h e p l an e t s fo r

. ,

it b ecom es ho tt er w h en t h ey a p p roach t h e s u n and v i c e ver s a .

W i nd s are four : s ou t h ho t and dry ; w es t coo l and moi s t ; nort h

, , ,

c o l d a n d d ry ; e a s t h o t and mo i s t L oca l it i es are four h ei g h t

,
.
, ,
39 0 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

d e pt h, vicini ty to moun t ain s or t h e s ea A l t itud e i s cold d ep th,

.
, ,

h o t i f mou nt ain s are t o t h e s ou t h t h e l oca l ity w i l l b e cold for t h ey

, ,

keep o ff th e ho t w ind s i f north t h e rev erse Roc ky soil i s cold and

,
.

d ry loamy warm and mo i s t c l a y co l d a n d mo i s t et c E xhalation s

, , , , , .

fro m marsh es i n fec t t h e ai r a n d cau se d i s ea s e and p es ti l enc e .

( i i ) E xerci s e i f mod era t e ma i n t a i n s w arm t h i f exc ess ive i t

.
,

h eat s and i s follo wed by co l d and d ry n es s Res t i f exces s ive i h .

crea ses cold and moi s t ure B a t h s are of s w ee t w at er or o t her

. .

Th e form er s o ften th e b od y and h eat o r coo l it accordin g t o th eir

t em perature S a l t b a t h s cau se dry n es s B i tt er or s u l phurou s
. .

h ea t and dry th e b od y a l uminou s or gy p s eou s coo l and d ry i t

,
.

( i i ) Food i s of tw o ki nd s g ood and b a d Good food i s t hat

i
. .
,

which forms good humour s and v i ce ver s d Fres h ferm en t ed bread ,

.
,

fl es h o f l am b s and k id s ar e good b read o l d and un ferm en t ed and , ,

m ea t of old oxen goa t s etc ar e b ad food s E ach k ind may be

, ,
.
, .

h eav y or l i ght M ea t o f s w i n e and o x en i s h eav y t ha t of fow l s

.
,

and fi sh li gh t S om e vege t ab l e s gen era t e b ad humours e g

. , . .
,

na s t urti um mu s t ard garl i c form b il e ; l en til s cabba ge and old

, , , ,

anim al s produce m e l ancho l i a ; pork ers l am b s p urs l ain and at , ,

t ri p l ex gen erat e p hl egm E xces s in h eav y food s gen era t es

.

p hl egm and b l ac k b i l e l i gh t food y e l l o w b il e b o t h are bad

, .

D ri n k s ar e o f t hr ee ki nd s : ( 1 ) p ure s uch as wa t er ( 2 ) con , ,

taining food as w i n e ( 3 ) par t aki n g o f b o t h t h ese charac t er s as

, , ,

s y r u p s and drin k s g i v e n i n d i s ea s e .

T h e u se of food i s t o s u pp l y t h e w a s t e o f th e b od y ; t hat o f
drin k t o carry th e food t hroug h th e b od y .

( i v ) S l eep chan ges th e b od y by coo l i n g it w it hout and w armin g

.

i t wi t hin wa k in g do es th e r ever s e .

( v ) C o it us hoc praestat c orp o ri ; s i c c at cor pu s et minui t na t

.

u ral em v i r t ut em i d eo q u e i n fr i g i d at m u l to to ti es v ero ex mu lt a
, ,

concu ss ion e corpu s c al efac i t .

( vi ) Affec ti on s o f th e m i nd produc e chan ges by b rin gin g th e

.

natural h eat from th e in t er i or t o th e s urfac e ei th er im p et uou s l y ,

as in an ger or gr adu al ly as in j o y and p l ea s ures

, , O t h er affec .

tion s ret ract th e na t ura l h ea t r a p idl y as i n t error or gradual ly , , ,

as in care .

III . T H E C O N T RA-N AT U RAL S .

There are t hree thin gs a ga i n s t na t ure ( r es con tr a -n a tur a l es ) (I )

di s ea s es (2 ) t h ei r cau s es ( 3 ) t h e i r s eq ue l s
, , .
392 M E DI C A L H I ST O RY .

num ber e g l um brici a s car i d es w art s ( I) ab se nce or exces s o f

, . .
, , , ,

fi n g ers .
( 3 ) A b normaliti es of s i z e e g tumours (4 ) of po s ition ,
. .
, ,

d ue to w an t o f p ro per re l a t ion t o s urround i n g par t s e g hare ,

. .
,

l i p web b ed fin gers
,
Frac t ure s w ound s excoria ti on s and am pu
.
, , ,

t ati on s ar e a l s o t o b e cla s sed h ere .

Qua l iti es o f th e bod y are t hree h eal t h s ic kn es s and n eu t ralit y

, , ,
.

Heal t h i s t h e maint enanc e o f t h e normal t em peram e n t or th e ,

p r ese rv a ti on o f t h e
“
na t ura l s accordin g t o t h e cours e o f na t ure .

D i sea s e i s “ i n t em peranti a ex c u rs um natu res na t uram l ae d en s , ,

u nd e fit l a e s i o n i s efl ec t u s se n s i b il i s N eu t ra l ity i s a condi t ion

which i s n eit h er h eal t h or d i s ea s e There are t hree ki nd s o f .

n eu t rali ty ; ( I ) w h en h ea l th an d d i seas e co i nc i d e i n th e s am e bod y ,

a s in t h e b l i nd or lam e ;
(2 ) i n o l d age w h ere t h ere i s gen era l
infi rm ity ; ( 3 ) i n person s i l l a t o n e t im e and w e l l a t ano t her t hu s , ,

tho se of c o l d t em peram ent are il l i n w i nt er and w e l l i n s umm e r ,

and pers on s o f moi s t na t ure are i l l in childhood and b ecom e ,

s t ron g in adu l t a ge .

Hea l t h S i c k n ess an d n eu t ra l ity ex pres s t h e m se l v es i n t hree

, ,

t hin gs : ( 1 ) i n th e bod y in w h i ch o n e of t h em occurs ; in th e

i nflu ences w h i ch p roduce th em ( 3 ) in th e s y m p t om s w hich ind
cate t h em .

In fl uences are of tw o ki nd s na t ura l and a ga i n s t na t ure , , .

T h e form er are e i t h er con serva ti v e and pertain t o t h e ma i n t enanc e ,

o f h eal t h or ac t ive per t ain i n g t o t h e cure o f d i s e a se

, , T h e la tt er .

t end t o p roduce di s ea se or n eu t ra l ity A l l in fl uences w h et h er .

,

conc ern ed w it h h eal t h or di s ea s e ar e o f s i x k ind s ,th e s i x

non na t ural s a b ove m en t ion ed ) Th ese i f in fi tt i n g mod era
-
.
,

t ion as t o q u an t i ty q ua l ity ti m e and ord er t end t o main t ain

, , ,

h ealth b ut i f i n excess th ey beco m e cau s es o f d i s ea s e

, .

C au s es o f d i sea s e ar e o f three ki nd s : ( 1 ) pr imi t i ve and ex t er

nal as co l d or h ea t ; ( 2 ) accid en t s w i t h i n th e b od y as rep l et ion or
, ,

inani t ion ; ( 3 ) t ho s e call ed conj unc t b ecau s e w h en t h ey are presen t

th e di sea s e i s pres en t as p u t r i d ity i n fev ers
, .

D i s ea se s d ue to h eat ar e fi v e : ( 1 ) from com m o t ion o f th e

s p i r i t s a s i n an g er or o f b od y a s in sev ere ex e r t i on ;
, , , ( 2 ) direc t
and vi s i b l e ac tion as s un s t ro k e ; ( 3 ) h eatin g o f th e bod y by
,

irri t an t food s ; ( 4 ) bloc k in g up o f p ores by cold ( 5) fevers .

Tho se cau s ed by cold are e i gh t ( r ) vi s i b l e act i on as fro s t b ite ,

”
( 2 ) effe o ct f '“
cold dru gs as o p i um ; ( 3 ) extinc t ion o f na t ural
,
 THE G A LEN I C S YST EM .
393

h ea t by exces s ; ( 4) b y d efec t of food ; ( 5) b l oc ki n g t h e p ore s by

c o l d humour s w h ere b y t h e i nna t e h ea t i s d i m i n i s h e d
, ; ( 6 ) l o ss o f
natura l h ea t by a b no rma l evacua ti on s ; ( 7 ) e xt rem e p ers p i ra t i on
f r om ov er e x e rc i s e ; ( 8 i d l e n es s
)
-
.

T h e ca u s es o f dry d i s ea s e s are
( 1 ) i nj e c ti on o f dr y s u b s t a n ce s
fr om w it hou t a s t rin g e n t s et c , v i n e gar s a l t mu s t ard ; ( 2 ) d e .
, , ,

fi c i en t food and dr i n k ; ( 3 ov e r e x erc i s e

) -
.

M o i s t d i sea s es a re cau s ed ( r ) by e x t erna l moi s t u r e a s b a t h s ,

( 2 ) mo i s t food s a s fi s h ; ( 3 ) e x ces s ive food and dr i n k ; ( 4 ) id l e

,

n es s .

Th ere are four ki nd s of d i s ea s es d u e t o a b normal m o ti on of

humour s from o n e part t o ano t h e r d u e : ( 1 ) t o exc es s iv e vi gour o f ,

i m pellin g and d eb i l ity o f re ceiv i n g p ar t ; ( 2 ) exc es s iv e q uan tity o f

humour ; ( 3 ) d e bi l i ty o f th e nu t r i en t facu l ty ; ( 4 ) a b norma l s i z e o f
p ores .

D i s ea s e s ma y a l s o ori g ina t e ( r ) i n t h e em b ry o ( 2 ) from fau lt s

o f th e mid w i fe o r nur s e e
g i f a chi l d b e a l lo w ed t o w a lk b efo re
-
. .
, ,

t h e fi t t i m e ; ( 3 from fau l t s o f t h e p hy s ic i an i f h e s e t s frac t ure s

) ,

o r a p p l i es ba n d age s un s kil fu l ly ;
'

( 4 ) from fau l t of t h e pa ti e n t i f h e
remov es dre s s in s or b an d a e s
g g b e fore a w o u nd or frac t ure i s
h eal ed .

C on s t ric ti on and d il a t io n o f p ore s s moo t hn e s s and r ou ghn es s

, ,

( l en i tas et a sper i ta s ) C on s t r i c ti on i s o f t hree ki nd s : ( 1 ) s i m p l e

.

c o n s t r i c ti on ( 2
) carno s iti es ( 3 ) i m p ac t i on T h e fir s t ma y be d u e
, , .

t o e x ces s o f t h e re t en t iv e and d e bi l i t y o f t h e e x p u l s i ve facu lty or

‘

t o co l d dr y n e s s or m echanica l pres s ure T h e se cond inc l ud es

, , .

t umour s and con t rac ti on s d u e t o s car s T h e t h i rd ma y b e cau sed .

by t h i c k en ed humour s s t on es or coa g ulat ed b l ood

,
D i l a t ion i s
,
.

d u e t o t hree ca u s es : ( 1 ) e x c es s o f t h e v i rt u s e xpe l l e n s w it h d eb il ,

i ty o f t h e v i r t u s re t en ti va ; ( 2 ) a b u nd a nce o f humour ; ( 3 ) a pe r i e n t
[

m ed i c i n es S moo t hn es s m ay b e p roduc ed from w it h i n a s by

. . ,

m ucu s or from w i t hou t a s by o i n t m en t s S i m il ar ly r ou g hn es s i s

, ,
.

cau s ed by in t erna l acr id humours or e x t erna l l y by s mo k e p ow d ers , , ,

e tc .

organ s i s d u e ei t h e r t o s u perfl uou s humours or ex

E xc e s s of ,

c es s o f t h e form a ti v e facul ty ( v i r t us fo r m a ti va ) D i m i nu ti on o f .

o rg an s m ay b e in t e rna l b ecau se o f di m i nu t i on o f humo u r s or ex ,

t e rna l from co l d b urn i n g i nci s i on s and p u t refac ti on s

, ,
P u t r efa c ,
.

t ion i s cau s ed e i t h er b y i nj e c t i on o f s om e p u t re fac t i v e ma tt er ( ex

3 94 M ED C I AL H S I T O RY .

po t i o n e m o rt i fi c a n te a ut pu t red i n em fac i e n t e ) or from con s t r i c ti on

and re t en ti on o f corru p t humou r s .

D i s p l ac em e n t s o f organ s hav e t w o cau s es : ( I ) i n t r i n s i c d ue ,

t o s l i p per i n es s and l o s s o f e q ui l i br i u m p roduc ed by s o l v en t o r

l u b r i ca ti n g humour s or mu s cu l ar s pa s m o r t o ven t o s i ti es and ,

t umours o f n ei gh bour i n g part s ( 2 ) E xt r i n s i c e g i nc i s i on s as by

.
, . .
, ,

a s w o rd dra g g i n g as by a ro pe ; or bru i s in g a s by s t on es ; a l s o
, ,

frac t ures a n d o v e r e x erci s e -

And t h ey ar e o f two ki nd s : ( I ) s e
.

pa r at i o n o f p a r t s norma l l y j o i n ed ; ( 2 ) j unc ti on o f part s norma l ly

se para t ed .

S y m p t om s ar e o f t hree gen era t ho s e o f h ea lt h o f d i s ea s e and , ,

of n e u t ra l ity Each g en u s h a s t w o s p eci es : ( 1 ) referr i n g t o t h e

.

organ s ( 2 ) t o t h e s i m il ar p art s ( ti s s u es ) S y m p t om s o f s i m i l ar
, .

p art s ar e o f t w o ki nd s s u b s t an ti a l and acc i d en t a l

, S u b s t an ti a l .

s y m p t o m s ar e h ea t co l d dry n es s and mo i s t ure

,
Acc id en t a l s y m p .
,

t om s are t ho se no t ed by t ouch as hard n es s o r s o ft n es s ; by s i gh t , ,

a s co l o u r and ch an ges i n func ti o n

, S y m p t om s o f orga n s a r e .

a l s o tw o s u b s t an ti a l and acc i d en t a l S u b s t an ti a l are four ; ar s

, .

mo d u s num b er and po s iti on Acc i d en t a l s y m p t om s are l ik e .

w i s e fo ur ; g o od and b ad q ua l ity p erfe c t and i m p erfec t fu nc ti on ,

.

S i g n s a r e o f t h ree ki nd s : ( I ) t h o se w h i ch s h o w p a s t ev en t s cal l ed ,

co g n iti v e or agn i t i v e e g w h en w e s ee t h e b od y i s w et w e k no w
, . .
,
-

t h ere h as b een s wea ti n g ; ( 2 ) s how i n g w ha t i s pres en t ca l l ed by ,

G al en d emon s t ra ti v e as w h en w e d i a g n o s e fev er from a l arg e

,

an d q u i c k p u l s e ;
( 3 ) S i gn s o f fu t ure eve n t s a s w h e n t h e l o w er ,

l i p q u i ver s w e j u d ge vom iti n g w i l l occ u r wh i ch i s c a l l ed p ro ces s i o ,

s i g n i fi c at i v a

Th ere i s a d i s t inc ti on b e t w een s i gn s and s y m p t om s and wha t ,

a re s y m p t om s t o t h e pa ti en t m ay be S i gn s t o t h e ph y s i c i an .

S i gn i fi c at i v e s y m p t om s ar e o f t hree ki nd s : ( I ) chan ged

fu n c ti on s e g i i nd i ges ti on ; ( 2 ) a lt ered qua l ity e g j au nd i c e ;
,
.
, , . .
,

( 3 ) chan g es i n ex er ti on s e g b l ac k ur i n e Func ti on s ma y b e
, . .
,
.

a lt ered i n t hree w a y s : en ti re ly as indi ges ti on par t ia l l y as d i m , ,

s i gh t s l o w d i g es ti on d y s p e p s ia ) et c ; i n q ua l ity a s a c i d or fl at u l e n t
, ( , .
, .

di ges t ion or s po t s before t h e ey es l ik e w ood or fl i es or o b s curi ty

, ,

o f pa r t o f t h e v i s ua l fi e l d C h an ges o f q ua l ity ar e four : ( I ) t ho s e

.

d i s cov ered by s i gh t a s jaund i c e b l ac k t on gue etc ; ( 2 ) b y odour

, , ,
.
,

fo et id brea t h an d s wea t ; ( 3 ) by t as t e s a l t b itt er acid ; ( 4 ) by t ouch , , , ,

hard or s o ft .
3 96 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

p rev en t fu t ure di s p l acemen t and t o m aintain th e nature o f t h e

,

p l ac e ( na t ur a m l oc i c us todi r e) . a

Prac t i cal m edicin e i s divid ed i n t o t hree part s : ( I ) r egula t ion of

t h e a b ov e s i x thin g s ( 2 ) g ivin g dru gs ( 3 ) s urgery D rug s ar e .

a pp l i ed i nt ernall y b
y th e mou th no s e ear s and o t h er O p e nin g s
, , ,

o r e xt e rn a ll y a s by pla s t er s and p ou l t ic es In t erna l l y m edicin es .

a c t i n t hree w a y s : ( 1 th ey loo sen 2 b i nd ; al t er as cold w a t er

) ( ) ( 3 ) ,

i n fever s S urgery h as tw o d i v i s i on s ( I ) conc ernin g t h e s o ft

.

p art s e g inci s ion s s ut ur i n g s cau t er i es ( 2 ) conc ernin g t h e bon es

, . .
, , , ,

con s o l i da t i n g unitin g an d s cra p i n g

, .

D i s cr i mina t ion O f dru g s i s o f fi v e k ind s : q ualit y q uan tity , ,

ti me ord er bon i mal i oe d i sc r eti o

, , .

T h e e n d o f t h e boo k o f i n t roduc ti on by Joan n i ti us Go d b e .

p ra i s ed

A PP E N D I X V .

E N GLI SH M ED I CA L PR A C TITI O N E R S BE F O R E L I N A C R E .

T H E b revi ty r n of ork h as com pell ed th e w r it er t o

t h e p e se t w
con fi n e him sel f for th e mo s t p art t o th e represen t ativ e ph y s i c i an s
o f variou s a ges and t o om it man y nam e s which mi ght b e l oo k ed
,

for i n a l arger hi s t or y Amon g t h ese are th e earli er prac tit ion ers
.

o f our o w n coun t ry G i l b e rt t h e E n g l i s hman J ohn o f G add es d e n

, , ,

and J ohn of Ard erne who t hou gh th ey can hardl y b e s a i d t o

, ,

h av e had an y d efini t e i n fl u ence on th e pro gres s o f m ed i cin e ,

cannot b e en t irel y pa s s ed over i n a b oo k in t end ed for E n g l i s h

r ead er s T h e li tt l e t ha t i s k n o w n o f t h eir lives m ay be found i n
.

t h e D i c ti o na ry of N ati o na l B i og r aphy and we can on l y no t ice ,

h ere th e more in t eres tin g part s o f t h e ir w ork .

G i l bertu s An gl i cu s t h e ear l i es t and a b l es t o f t h e t hree

, ,

fl ouri s h ed in th e middl e o f th e t h irt een t h c entury and i s l arge ly ,

q uo t ed in Po pe John s Tr ea s u ry of th e P oo r ( see p Th e
’
.

p u pp y d o g oin t m en t fo r gou t t h ere no t ic ed i s not g iv en i n h i s onl y

-

p r i n t ed w ork th e Compend i um M ed i c i nre b ut I fi nd a v ery s imilar ,

rem ed y for rh euma t i s m or cold ar t hriti s as h e call s i t : “ Ta k e

, ,

a pu ppy o f thirty da y s kil l i t and anoint th e pain ful p l ace w i t h

,

i t s b l ood Th en coo k th e fl esh a nd bon es in win e pound it u p

.
, ,
 G I LBE RT US A N G L I C US .
39 7

and press ou t th e j uic e t o w h i ch add r u e fenn el sa ge agrimon y

, , ,

b etony s ta g s marrow and a l i ttl e fran k ince n se ; it i s exc ell ent

’
,

Th e great rem ed y for gou t (a r th r etzc a s a ng u i n ea ) i s b l eedin g

’

I .

will t ell y ou wha t I s aw i n t h e ca s e o f a certain w oman w h o

com p lain ed and cri ed ou t ab ou t h er r i ght w ri s t wh ere w as an ,

inflammation hot and re d w i t h much s w e l l in g S h e w as a fat

, , .
,

full b lood ed w oman who l i v ed u p on m i l k and m ea t ; s o I bl ed

-
,

h er from t h e b a s ilic v e in o f th e l eft arm and t h e s a p h enou s o f ,

th e r i g ht foot in th e s am e hour t o ha l f a pound Th en I gave , .

h er food and a ft er t hree hours e x tract ed ano t h er hal f p ound from

,

th e s a ph ena v ein In th e s am e hour t h e pa i n and thro b b in g

.

cea sed and th e woman a s ked m e t o b l eed h er a gain from t h e l eft .

arm for sh e fel t great re l i ef from it But I wi s h ed to draw t h e

, .

morb id matt er downward s fo r tw o rea s on s o n e of which n eed ,

not be giv en h ere and ano t h e r w hich i t i s v ery n eces s ary for a
,

phy s ician to bear in mind W h e n I w a s t reating a man for .

s an guin eou s arthriti s wi t h p a i n i n t h e ri gh t wri s t I as k ed fir s t ,

wh eth er h e had had pain in t h e o t h er w r i s t or in t h e feet and h e ,

s aid h e had had a s im i l ar a ffec t ion O f h i s l e ft arm b u t n ev er in ,

th e feet Wh erefore I refra i n ed from b l eedin g in th e l eft arm

.
,

and bl ed him in t h e ri gh t foo t B u t a ph y s ician who had treat ed .

him before b l ed him in t h e ri gh t arm fo r i nflammation of th e l eft

, ,

which s t o p ped t h e pain t h er e b ut mad e i t p a s s ov er to th e ri gh t ,

w i t h great er inflamma t ion t h an t h e o t h er So w h en I a s k ed him .

,

th e q ues tion h e s aw tha t I k n ew m ore p hy s ic t h an t h e oth er

doctor But t o return to th e w oman Three hours a ft er t h e
. .

third ven es ection I a ga i n e xt rac t e d ha l f a p ound o f b lood from

th e sa p h ena v e i n and t ha t n i g h t s h e s l ep t which s h e h ad no t
, ,

d on e fo r man y ni g h t s I u s ed no o th er treatm ent exce p t l o w di e t

.
,

and on th e third da y s h e w a s w e l l W h e refore w e s hould alwa y s .

"
begin t h e cure by b l eedin g .

“
O n mol es and w ar t s Th es e are s u per fl u i ti es o f fl es h “

.
,

ap peari n g on th e hand s and fee t b u t s om etim es a l s o on t h e fac e

and whol e b od y d ue t o an e x ce s s i ve ex p ul s iv e forc e of t h e
,

humou rs and defici ent conv er t ive forc e of th e s k in S om e are

,
.

s o ft and p ainl es s and are form ed o f p h l egm

,
oth er s ha rd and ,

d ens e of b lac k bil e a t hi rd c l a s s l arge hard and reddi sh are d u e

, , ,

to b lood and a four t h vari ety v er y s mal l w i t h much i t chin g ar e

,

call ed m i r m i c i from m i r m o an an t W h en th ey occur al l ov er t h e

, ,
.
3 98 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

b od y t h ey a re Oft en an ear ly s i gn o f l e p ro sy War t s ma y b e remo ved .

b y t h e k n i fe or cau t er y b ut gen era l t rea t m e n t t o ex p e l t h e

:

no x i ou s h umour s shou l d a l w a y s prec ed e l oca l M a ke a n .

i nc i s i on i n t o t h e bac k o f a red s na il p u t s a l t t h ere in ; t h e j 11 1c e

'

w h i ch e x ud es w il l h ea l w art s S O w i l l t h e m i lky j u i ce o f t h e
.

fi g t ree or O f eu p hor b i um ( w ol f s b an e ) a l s o a p l a s t er o f p o w d ered

’

orp i m en t and v i n e ga r ; or i g n it e a p i ece o f co tt on w oo l bombax )

o v e r t h em F i n a l ly s i a q ua s u per mo r t uu m s t an t e l av e n t u r ,

curan t ur . O i l O f l il i es i s an e x c e l l en t r em ed y fo r l ad i es w ho s e
l i p s hav e b eco m e fi s s u r ed t h r ou gh t h e ki s s es o f t h e i r fr i end s ( ex
b a s i zs a m i c o r u m ) P erha p s i n s om e cases t h e m ercur i a l O i n t
'

m en t h e p res cr i b es fo r s cab i es w ou l d hav e b een mo r e e ffec t ua l :

An O i n t m en t fo r r i n gw orm o f th e s ca l p s u l phu r m ercur y and , , ,

y o lk O f e g g O f each e q ua l p art s
,

T h e Cha p t er on l e p ro s y i s v ery i n t ere s ti n g b u t t oo l on g t o ,

q uo t e T h e fo l l o w i n g ar e th e ch i ef cau s e s O f t h e d i sea s e : ( I )
.

h ered ity ; ( 2 ) concep ti on dur i n g t h e m en s t rua l p er i od ; ( 3 )

i n fec ti on parti cu l ar ly ex c o i ta c um m u l i er e i mpud i c a (4 ) d i e t
, .

Accord i n g t o Av i c enna feed i n g on m il k and fi s h or b ad pork

, ,

m ay p roduc e l ep r o s y
”
.

G il b er t i s a d ec i d ed Ara b i s t h i s fa v o ur it e au t hors b e i n g C o n
,

s t a n t i n e Av i c e nna and I s aac j u d a

, ,
e u s b u t h e ma k es t h e i n t er es t ,

i n g remark t ha t w ere it no t fo r th e s i n gu l ar ity o f t h e t h i n g h e

, ,

w ou l d p refer t o fo l l o w t h e m et hod s o f H i pp ocra t es .

J ohn o f G add es d en w h o fl our i s h ed a t th e b eg i nn i n g O f th e

,

fo urt een t h c en t ury w as a F e l l o w o f M ert on C o l l eg e O xford

, , ,

a n d b e cam e pre b endary o f S t P a u l s i n 1 H e w r o t e h i s Rosa

'

.
341 .

A ng l i c a b e t w ee n t h e y ears 1 3 0 5 1 7 pro b a b l y n ear t h e l a t er da t e

-
, ,

fo r h e q uo t es t h e w ork s O f B ernard O f G ordon and H enry o f

M on d e v i ll e w h i ch w e k n o w w e re com m enc ed in 1 3 0 5 and 1 3 0 6
,

res pec ti v ely w h il e G uy o f Chau l i ac w r iti n g a bou t 1 3 6 3 s pea k s of

, , ,

t h e b oo k a s a c o m pa r a ti v e ly re cen t p roduc t ion “

La s t o f a l l t h ere .

aro se a s cen tl es s Ro s a A ug l i c m m w h i ch w as s en t t o m e I t hou gh t .

t o fi nd i n it an odour o f s u av i ty and I found th e fa bl es O f H i s pan u s

,

( Po p j ohn )
e G i l rt and Th eodor i c
,b e
”
Ha l l er pa s s es a s ti l l .

s ev erer jud gm e n t u on h i m w h i ch ma y b e g iv en in t h e t ers e

p ,

v i gour o f th e o r i gina l : E m p i r i c u s homo p l en u s s u pers t i t i o n u m , ,

app ri m e i n d oc t u s a r c a n o r u m aman s et l auda t or

, l ucr i c u pi d u s -
, ,

re i c u l i n ar i ae p er it u s W e mu s t adm it t ha t t h es e s t r i c t ures
400 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

of his t em peram ent fo r t hat i s a cau s e o f ston e

,
Thi s i s no t .

t h e fi rs t m ention o f s a l ivar y ca l c u l u s fo r Ave nz oar ( Th ei s i r 11 2 ) , ,

.

“
say s : I s aw a s t on e form ed und er a man s t on gue w h i ch ’

h i nd ered h i s s peech O n i t s rem ov al h e recov ered h i s s peech

. .

I t i s gen erat ed by gro s s h umours w h i ch gradually hard en til l

”
t h ey are l ik e s ton e .

Th e a ssert ion t ha t G add es d e n w a s t h e firs t E n gli s h court

p h y s ician a pp ears to res t u p on t h e w ell k now n account o f h ow
-

h e cu red t h e k in g s so n o f s m a l l p ox Thi s i s so o ft en q uo t ed i n
’
-
.

E n gl i s h t hat w e may h e re g i v e th e au t hor s ow n w ord s Cap i

’
.

a t ur ergo s carl etum ru b rum et q u i pat it ur vario l a s i n v ol v i tu r in

,

i l l o t o t a l it er v el i n a l i o panno ru b ro s i c ut ego fec i q uando I n c l y t i

,

Re gi s An gli ae fi l i us var i o l a s p at i e bat ur curavi u t omn i a circa ,

l ec t u m essen t rub ra et c u rat i o i l l a mihi o p t ime s uc c ess i t nam

, ,

”
c it ra v est ga vari o l ar um s n i tat i r es t i t ut us es t
i
'

a .

Gad d es d en s l ove o f l ucre i s s ho w n by h i s d evo t in g a s p ec i a l

’

s ec t i on o f h i s work t o d i s a greeab l e d i sea ses w hich th e doc t or

“

can seldo m ma k e mon ey by an d t h e sam e charac t er i s ti c i s u h

,

p l ea s an t l y evid en t in t h e w r iti n gs o f t h e firs t im po r t an t E n g l i s h

s ur geon J ohn o f Ard er n e
, .

J ohn of Ard erme w as b orn 1 3 0 7 and prac t i sed from 1 3 49 t o ,

1 3 7 0 a t N ewar k . Th en h e w en t t o London and wro t e s urg i ca l ,

t rea t i s es o f w hich ho w ev e r on l y a s mall pa r t h as b een pr i n t ed

, ,

i n an E n g l i sh t ran s l a t ion by J Re i d 1 588 .

, .

Though h e Oft en q uo t es h i s p redeces s ors s uch as G ordon , ,

La nfranc and th e S a l ern it an Pl at ear i u s h e re l i es largel y on h i s ,

o w n ex peri enc e o f w hich t h e fo l l ow i n g i s an exam p l e Th ere

w as a man s mi tten on t h e s h i n b u t t h e s k in w as n ot b ro k en ; ,

b u t a ft er t h e t hird da y it s we l l ed and b egan t o gri ev e h i m t h en

h e w en t un t o o n e un s k il l ed un til h e had in h i s l eg a grea t round
,

ho l e and d eap (si c ) and fu l l O f b l ac k fi l t h li ke unto burn t fl esh .

S O w h en h e cam e t o m e I cured h i m t hu s F i r s t I w a s h ed t h e .

p l ac e with whi t e w in e warm ed i n w hich w as s odd en cro pp es o f ,

t h e h erb e col ewort and j u i c e o f p l an t a i n

, A ft erward s I pu t t o a .

p l a s t er mad e of plan t a i n r uber b e p ar s l ey hon ey r y e m ea l and

, , , ,

w h it e of egg min gl ed to ge t h er : t h e p lac e bein g m u ndi fi ed I pu t

t o powd er c reoferob eron w it h a p l a s t er of b lac k s oa p s ul phur and
’
,

ar senic . I f an y m a n be s m itt en on an y part o f th e l eg vio l en t l y

w it hou t woundin g a s o ft en ha p p en s e it h er by a hor se or a s t on e
,
 J OH N OF A RD E RN E .
40 1

or clu b or s uch l ik e i t i s good i n th e b e ginnin g t o ano i n t th e p l ac e

,

and b r i n g ou t t h e b ru i s ed b lood t h ereo f and a ft er t o a pp l y ,

p la s t ers r ep res s i n g t h e p ain an d s w e llin g Ta k e fo r y our cure

.

a s much a s y ou can
g e t w i t h g ood a s s uranc e fo r y our m on ey
,

w h en y ou hav e don e .

Accordin g t o A r d ern e h e w a s th e onl y man O f h i s ti m e i n

E n g land or b ey ond s ea s w h o cou l d cure fi s t u l a i n a rm He .

d es cri bes t w o m e t hod s by i nci s ion and l i gat ure and a num b er o f ,

in s t rum e n ts o f h i s o w n i nv en ti on w h i ch a pp ear how ev er t o b e

, , ,

m ere ly o l d form s und er n ew nam es H e d ec l ares t ha t h e n ev er.

t oo k l es s t h a n 1 0 0 s h i l l in g s fo r t h e cure w hil e from grea t an d

,

w or t h y m e n h e r e q u i re d 1 0 0 mar k s 1 3 s 4d
) t o ge t h er w it h a n
. .

ann ua l pen s i on of 1 0 0 S h i l l i n g s ; imm en s e fees con s id erin g th e

va l u e o f mon ey a t t ha t ti m e Bu t J ohn o f Ard e r n e ( say s
.

M a l gai gn e) w as no t con t en t w it h b oa s ti n g h i m s e l f th e i n
v en to r O f t wo O p e ra t ion s fo r fi s t u l a i n ano p erfe c t l y w el l k no w n,

t o h i s pred eces s or s Al l t h e w or l d do es no t s u ffer from fi s t u l a

.
,

and t o ma k e mon ey q u i c kly o n e mu s t fi n d s o m e t h i n g o f univ er s a l

ap p l i ca t i on S O h e d e c l ares t ha t every b od y w ou l d be i mm en s e l y
.

be n efi t ed by t a k in g an e n ema t w ic e or t hr i c e y e arl y And i t i s .

no u s e t o go t o t h e I t a l ian s fo r t hi s p urpo s e T h e O p era ti on re .

q u i res a perfec t ma s t er Of t h e ar t s uch as h i m s e l f a s s i s t ed by

, ,

ap pro pria t e i n s t rum en t s s uch as t h e n ew an d im p roved s y r i n ges

,

w h i ch h e h as i nv en t ed and h e conclud es w it h a l i s t O f fees

,
.

T h e w o r k O f B erna r d O f G ordon i s con s id ered h ere no t b ecau s e ,

th ere i s a n y evid ence t ha t h e w as of Bri t i s h ori g in for i n s p it e O f , ,

s uch au t hor it i es a s Hal l er and P u s c h m an n t h e re see m s n o r ea s on ,

t o dou b t th e unan i m o u s a s s er ti on of French h i s t or i an s t ha t h e

w a s b o r n a t G ordon in G u i enn e b u t b eca u s e h i s L i ly g av e r i s e
,

to G a dd es d e n s Ros e w hich i t a t l ea s t e q ua l s i n s c i e n ti fic va l u e
’
.
,

Al l t ha t w e r ea l l y k no w of h i m i s t o b e found i n t h e p refac e
t o h i s L i l i u m M ed i ci n ce w hich h e s a y s h e b egan t o w r it e in
, , ,

1 0
3 5 hav i n g t h e n b e en for t w e n ty y e ars p ro fe s s or O f m ed i c i n e a t

M on t pe l l i e r
.

H ere are hi s remark s O n th e s ti n g o f th e b ee B ees and

w a s p s hav e s t in g s and in t h e pa rt s p r i c k ed t h e re ar i s e p a i n
, ,

s we l l in g and b urn i n g h ea t
,
Wa s p s do no t l eave t h e i r s ti n g s i n
.

t h e w ound b u t b ee s do and l i v e no t l on g a ft er
, ,
Th ey rare ly .

s t in g un l e s s i nj u r ed ,
and t h en t he y j o i n t o get h er and h el p o n e
26
40 2 M ED C I AL I T RY
H S O .

a no t her l ik e an arm y T h e ki n g of th e bee s ( Vex npu m ) h as no

.

s ti n g And t hou gh t h ey are b l ood l e s s anima l s y et i s t h ei r

.
,

po i s on o f a ho t charac t er w here fore co l d t hin gs s hou l d b e

’
‘
,

p l ac ed on t h e w ound s uch a s i ron or l ead coo l ed i n v i n e gar or

, , ,

ma l l ow j u i ce or barl ey fl our and cor i an d er mad e i n t o a pas t e

,

w it h v i n egar or o t h er cool i n g app l i ca ti on s

,
.

T h e fo l l o w i n g sa y s G o r don i s t h e b es t ey e s a l v e w h i ch it had
, ,
-

p l ea sed G o d t o rev ea l u p t o h i s da y Ta k e o f s i l er i s mon t an i .

( s p i nd l e t ree marj oram eu phra s y r ue c e l and i n e fenn el each, , , , ,

z i nz i s p ik e n a rd l on g pe pp er c l ov es t uc i ae ext i n c t ae
3 Oz .
, , ,

s arcoco l l a i n a s se s m ilk l i g n a l o e s each 1 o z ; ga l l o f e ag l e ha w k

,
-
,
.
, ,

and moun ta i n goa t each I o z ; ba l s am ha l f an Oz ; h on ey I oz M i x

,
.
,
. .

and a l l o w it t o d i ges t in a ho t s u n forty d ay s I t i s of s uch v i r t u e .

t ha t it w i l l ena b l e an O l d m an (d ec r epi tam ) t o read s ma l l l ett ers

”
w it hou t s pec t ac l es ( s i ne oc nl a r i bu s ) G l a s ses ca l l ed s pec t ac l e s .

( v i tr ea voc a ta c o nspi c zl i a ) a re m en ti on ed by Arna l d o f Vil l ano va

’

i n h i s co m m en t ary on th e S a l ern it an Reg i men S a n i ta ti s w r itt en ,

a b ou t t h e s am e ti m e .

G ordon i s t h e fi rs t t o m en ti on th e mod ern fo rm o f t ru s s A ft er .

re d uc ti on of t h e h ern i a h e s ays l e t t h e p a ti en t w ea r a
, b r ac h al e ,

fe r re u m cum l i n gu l a a d m odum se m i c i r c u l i et p arat um s i c ut ,

O po rt et, a p as sa ge w h i ch i s t ran s cr i b ed w it hou t ac k no w l ed gm en t

by J ohn o f G add es d en Thou gh th e m ed i ae va l ph y s i c i an s ra r e l y
.

e x p er i m e n t ed u p on an i m a l s t h ey w ere s om e ti m e s a b l e t h a n k s t o
, ,

t h e j ur i s t s an d t h eo l o g i an s t o ma ke i n t eres ti n g O b serva ti on s on
,

m en . Thu s Gord on rem ark s t ha t w h en J ew s are hun g u p by t h ei r

fee t i f y ou g i v e t h em an yt h i n g t o drin k it w i l l a s c e nd t o t h e ir
, ,

s t omach s w h e n c e h e conc l u d es t ha t t ha t organ p o s s es s es a

,

s p ec i a l a tt rac ti v e facu lty .

Th e fo l l o w i n g w ere t h e ei gh t d i s ea s e s t h en reco gn i s ed a s con

t a gi o u s Febri s acu t a ph t hi s i s p ed i c o n s ca b i es s ac er i gn i s
, , , , ,

an t hrax li ppa l e pra no b i s con t a g i a prae s tant

, , , .

N OT E S .

li
G i l b er t us A n g c us , Compendi u m M ed i c i na , L o n s , 1 51 0 ; h er e i s y t a

t
goo d ac c o un o f h i m i n t h e H i s to i re L i ttém i r e d e In F r a nce, vo l . xxii .

J oh n of Ga d d e s d e n, Rosa A ngl i ca, A ug s b ur

g , 1 59 5 F r e i n d d sc us s es
. i
him very fu l ly
i n h i s H i story of P hy si c . Fo r J o h n of Ar d er n e s e e A w a nts .

. 1 Method of C ar i ng Wound s , by J Rea d

.
, Lo n d o n , 1 58 8 . F urt h er e xt r ac t s
40 4 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

v enomou s an i m a l s i s un q u es ti ona b l e fo r “ t ho s e w h o hav e th e ,

p o w er o f l i fe and d ea t h hav e fre q u en tly t es t ed it on cond emn ed

”
cr i m i na l s an d a l w a y s w it h s ucc es s
,
H e him s el f w a s unab l e t o .

e x pe r i m en t w it h it on m e n b u t t es t ed it on coc k s w it h t h e s am e
,

res ul t th e b i rd s w h o had ta ken th e t h er i ac w ere unaffect ed by th e

,

b it es o f v i p ers t h e o t h e r s d i ed,
T h e dru g w as l arge ly u s ed .

t hrou ghou t th e m i dd l e a ges b o t h amon g Arab s and Ch ri s ti an s ,

.

W e h av e seen t h e great A v en z oar a ppl yi n g it t o t h e p im p l es on

h i s no s e and t h e fo l l o w i n g i s an i n t eres ti n g ca se o f i t s u se i n
,

t h e rena i s s ance e poch re l a t ed by Thadda e u s D u n n s ( 1 52 3 1 6 1 3 )

,
-

“
W e w ere s itti n g b efore t h e fi re aft er d i nn er w h en t h e nur s e ,

cam e an d br ou gh t m y w i fe t h e ba b y W h en S h e p res sed it t o .

h er as m o t h er s d o s h e fe l t a pr i c k l ik e a n eed l e i n h er l eft
,

m i dd l e fi n ge r ( fo r t h er e w a s a s co r p ion i n t h e ba b y s c l o t h es )
’
.

T h e pa i n and t error w a s so grea t t ha t s h e n ear ly fa i n t ed and ,

a l mo s t dro pp ed th e ba b y i n th e fi r e b u t t h e n u rs e ran u p and ,

cau gh t it A s s oon as s h e go t u p S h e fa i n t ed and b egan t o

.
,

s w ea t a n d t o s w e l l u p s o t ha t s h e w a s w e l l n i h s u ffoca t e d
, g .

S h e mad e s i gn s t ha t I S hou l d l oo s en h er dres s a n d t h en I s aw ,

t h e cau s e o f t h e m i s ch i ef fo r t h e s corp i on fe l l on th e h ear t h

, I .

o rd ered t h em t o c at ch h i m a n d t hen pound ed h i m u p i n t o a ,

p l a s t er fo r t h e w ound N o w I had w it h m e s om e e x c e l l e n t
.
,

t h er i ac j u i cy and arom a ti c w h i ch K i n g Franc i s [1 o f France]

, , .

h a s had mad e for h i m s e l f and h i s courti er s I gav e h er a d o s e .

o f t h i s i n w i n e l a i d l a u re l l eaves s o a k e d i n w i n e on t h e fin g e r
, ,

and i n tw o hours s h e w as w e l l B u t i f t h e s co r p i on had s t un g .

th e b a b y t h er e w ou l d hav e b een no h O p e s o t err i b l e an d d ead l y ,

i s h i s p o i s on I t s u s e s urviv ed ev e n t h e ov er t hro w O f t h e
.

G a l en i c s y s t em I hav e s een a do s e o f t h eri ac g i v en ev ery d ay

.

t o a l l th e p a ti en t s i n th e ho s p it a l a t M on t pe l l i er ; w h i l e th e
l ec t ure ha l l s o f t ha t m et ro po l i s o f m ed i cin e res ound ed w it h i n v ec
”
t i v es a ga i n s t it w r it es B ord e u i n th e m i dd l e o f t h e l a s t c en t ury
, .

B ord eu h i m s e l f i s i nc l i n ed t o b el i ev e i n it : “ O l d and e x p er i enc ed

p rac titi on e r s fr e q u e n t l y u se it and no t s e l dom s ucc e s s fu l l y,

”
As .

l a t e as t h e c l o se of th e c en t ury i n s om e t ow n s O f France and ,

H ol l and th e th er iaca And r omach i w as p re pared annua l l y w it h

,

s pec i a l form a l it i es i n t h e pres ence o f th e ma y or and t o w n

,

c ou nc fl .

G al en t el l s us t ha t th e firs t i m por tan t narco ti c com pound

 A N CI E N T P R ES C R I P TI O N S .
40 5

m edicin e w as that call ed th e Ph i l on i um from i ts inv entor Ph il o ,

w h o liv ed B C 50 and w ro t e h i s p res cri ption in a mythical o e m

. .
, p
which h as bee n preserved and o f w hich th e follo w in g i s a con ,

d e n s ed tran s lation

I am th e l essed i nventi n of Ph il ph y i c i an of T a sus

b o o, s r ,

B i n g i ng ass i s t anc e t o m t a l s to m n t d by countl ess d i seases

r or r e e .

O ne dose w ill c ure y o u o f c o li c d y u i a o t o ub l eso me li er , s r r r v ,

S h ort n ess of breat h o t h s p l ee Spa m or pai n i n t h e s i d e

, r e n, s s, .

Does a m an spit b l oo d o r o m it ! I l l a e h i m fro m d eath an d de struo v

’
s v

tion .

C o ugh s i n d i gesti o ns c at a h s o h ic ugh s I put t h em to fl i gh t al l

, , rr r co , .

W it fo th e w i se al on f m t h e u l g a I fai n wo ul d b e h i dden
r r e, ro v r .

T ake of t h e go l d en h ai o f th y uth b l o ed o f Hermes r e o e v

Car fu lly s o m an y d r ac h m s as q ua l t h sen ses o f m or tal s

e e e ,

Add t h e e unto o n e d a h m fr o m N aup li u P i n c e o f Eubce a ;

r r c s, r

T h i d ly a d ac h m from th T j an w h o s l w th e so n of M enoetus
r , r e ro e ,

Th en th ro w i n tw ic e ten d ac h m o f th e b erries w h ite sh i n i ng an d fi e y ; r s ,

r

T w i c e ten d rac h ms of t h b ans d u d by A c ad i a s m on ster e e evo re r

'
,

A d ach m of th e o ot m i snam ed f m P i sa i n J up iter s is l and ;

r r ro
'

Fi n all y t ake t en d ac h m s f p i um w ith th e arti cl e add ed

. r o ,

M ixi n g th e w h ol e w ith th e p d u t w ll k ow n t o t h e o ffsp i ng o f Ce ops ro c e n r cr ,

M ad e by t h e d augh t ers of b u ll s t augh t m e m y fath e s at Tr ic c a so r .

Or in s im pl e r langua ge s a ffron ( crocu s) 5 drachm s py rethru m , ,

and eu phorbium each 1 drachm w hi t e pepper and h y o s cy amu s

, , ,

each 2 0 drachm s cret ic nard 1 drachm o p ium 1 0 drachm s a tt ic

, , ,

hon ey a s u ffici ency For an e x p l ana t ion of th e allu s ion s th e .

r ead e r may refe r t o G al e n ( x i i i 2 6

7 ) or th e cla s s ical dictionary . .

Th i s recei pt w as largel y u s ed t hrou ghou t t h e middl e ages and ,

m o s t o t h er pres cri ption s fo r p ain cou gh and s l eepl es s n es s w ere ,

m ere l y variation s of i t H ere fo r i n s t anc e i s a u seful lo z en ge .

from a t enth c entury manu s cr i p t M y rrh 6 par t s fran k inc e n s e '

5 p art s o p iu m s a ffron h y o s c y amu s hound s t on gu e root each

’

, , , , ,

4 part s ; to ma k e 2 7 lo z en g es Th ey are good for cou gh s .

,

t oo thach e colic and st ran g ur y G i ve onl y to tho s e y ou lov e

,
. .

T h e hound s ton gu e (cy nog l os s a ) w a s accredit ed with s pe c i a l l y

’

s eda t iv e vir t u es and w a s u s ua l ly add ed t o t h e O p ium and h e n b an e

,

a mus in m edi aeva l narco t ic p il l s T h e followin g i s t h e

h
( y y os c ) .

o f th e S a l er n it an p harmaco p oeia : R
"
“
p i l ula cyno glo s ses ] cy n o

lo ssa O p ium h e n b an e of e ach 4 drachm s fran k incen s e 5

g , , , ,

d rachm s m y rrh clov es c i nnamon co ry m b u s each 2 drachm s

, , , , , .
 40 6 M E D I C A L H I S T O RY .

M a k e p il l s ith e a ch i c k pea (c i cer ) fi ve or s i x t o b e t a k e n

s ze Of ,

at b e d ti m e for cou h s a n d co l d s
g
-
.

Pa s s i n g from s ed at iv es t o d i ges t ives w e ma y t a ke t h e fo l lo w

“ "
i n g i n t eres ti n g t h i rt een t h c en t ury d i nn er p il l s from Ar n al d s ’
,

B r evi a r i um ( s ee p “
P il l s I w ould no t b e w i t hou t M a g i s t er
. .

C am panu s u s ed t h em da ily t a k in g t w o or t hree t h e s i z e o f a , ,

ch i c k p ea Alo es 4 part s m y rrh 2 par t s s a ffron 1 p art

.
,
Th i s ,
.
”

i s t h e famou s Ru fu s pi l l Accord i n g t o Arn al d s ed it or

’ ’
.
,

Sy m p h or i an Cham p i er it w as i n co m mon u se i n h i s ti m e
,

( s i x t een t h c en t ury ) as a d i nn er p il l and it h as s urvived i n t h e ,

P i l A l oes et my r r h ee O f our presen t p harmaco p oei a u ndou b t ed ly

.
,

t h e m o s t anc i en t com p o u nd m ed i c i n e n o w em p l o y ed A .

po w d e r w h i ch t h e E m peror F red er i c k I I had m ad e by con s u lt a .

ti on o f man y l earn ed ph y s i c i an s and p h i l o s o ph ers w h i ch h e ,

a l w ay s t oo k w it h h i s m ea l s and w h i ch i s good aga i n s t l o s s o f,

m emory b y w ha t ev er humour produced v er ti go b l ack n es s before , ,

t h e ey e s ; defec t s O f s i gh t h ear i n g a n d o t h e r sen s es a n d w o n

, , ,

d er fu l l y com fort s t h e i n genium : C ar aw ay an i s e am eos

‘ ’
, , ,

p ars l ey fe n n el b et on y cu m i n ca l am i n t m i n t h y s s o p s p ik e
, , , , , , ,

nard pe pp er s q u i n an t ( S co t ch ru s h ) each 1 d rachm m arj o r am

, , , , ,

b a l s am it a bas i l
,
card amom ga l an ga l e l i q uor i c e each I i
, , , , ;

d rachm s M a k e a p ow d er w h i ch l et every m an t a k e w it h h i s
.
,

food i f h e w i s h e s t o e x p er i e nc e t h e a b ov e b en efi t s I t i s to b e .

ho p ed t ha t t h i s ben efi t ed th e e m peror s i n gen i um mo re t han ’

‘
,
’

h i s b od y fo r an Ara b w h o s a w h i m a t J e ru s a l em 1 2 2 9 d es cr i b es
, , ,

“ “
th e w ond er o f t h e w or l d as a m i era l man
s b e ba l d h ead ed , ,

r ed ha i red and w ea k ey ed, W ere h e a s l av e h e m i gh t se l l fo r

.

t en d i rham s ( fi v e s h il l in gs )
”
.

P i l l s w h i ch A l exand er Po pe and ki n g ( 1 2 54 ,
u s ed every
da y b efore an d a ft er m ea l s Th ey are ex ce l l en t fo r ca t arrh s .
,

c l ear t h e s i gh t s t ren g t h en t h e h ear i n g e x p e l s uperfl u i t i es and

, , ,

can b e t a k en w it hou t ch an ge o f d i et Aroma ti c ru s h cube b s .

, ,

nu t m e g S p i kenard ep it h y me (dodd er
, ,
c ar p o b al s am b a s il , ,

ma s t i ch a sarum c l oves of each 2 drachm s co l oc y n t h 3 drachm s

, , , , , ,

m y r o ba l a n u s c h e b u l o r u m em bl i c or u m r hu b arb each 2 ,
,

drachm s a gari cu s t urb it h drachm ; add an e q ual q uan t i ty o f

, , ,

a l o es and m ak e p il l s th e s i z e O f an oro b u s
,
.

A favour it e s t o m ach i c was th e “ con fec t ion of q u i nc es

recomm end ed by M on t a gn an a a ga i n s t s ea s i c k n e s s ( p The -
.
40 8 M ED I C A L H I S T O RY .

He d i d h i s best to concea l it from h i s s ucc e ss or s and h i s works ,

o ffer no c l u e to i t s co m p o s it i on S o on aft er h i s d eath ho wever .

, ,

dictionari es ex plainin g th e hard w ord s in h i s wr i tin g s w ere

p u b l i s h ed by t w o o f h i s p u p i l s M i cha e l T o xi t es and G erard D orn .

T h e form er d ec l ares t ha t t h e l audanu m i s no t o pium nor i s it ,

com po sed o f pueri l e po i s onou s or narco ti c drug s b ut o f al l

, , ,

t h i n gs bes t tha t eart h p o s s es s es fo r th e pr es ervation of l i fe and ,

es pec i all y o f tw o t hin g s t han w h i ch non e no b l er can b e found in

,

t h e un i verse
”
T h e la tt er d efin es
.
“
l audanum as “ a m ed i cin e
”

o f Parac el s u s co m p o s ed of go l d cora l s and pe arl s B ut th e bes t

,
.

e v i d enc e i s t ha t o f h i s foremo s t d i s c i p l e Adam von B oden s t ein , ,

g iven in a La t in t ran s l a ti on o f h i s ma s t er s t rea t i se D e Vi ta

’

L ong a .

S inc e ma l iciou s p ers on s hav e ca l l ed th e laudanum of Para

c el s u s a po i s on h e h as d et erm i n ed ( h e s a y s ) t o pu b l i s h i ts full
,

com po s ition “ fo r th e b en e fi t O f g ood ph y s i c i an s and t hat th e ,

bad ma y c ea se a b u s i n g w ha t t h ey do no t und erstand Para

c el s u s had tw o “ l audan u m s o n e of w h i ch h e u sed fo r fevers ,

a n d th e o t h er for all d e s p era t e d i s ea s es H ere i s t h e co mp o s i tion .

o f th e l att er go l d l ea f 1 o z p ear l s 5 oz fl owers o f an ti mon y

“
.
, .
,

an d a s phal t um each I drachm s a ffr on 3 drachm s m y rr h and alo es , ,

each 2 o z D o se 4 t o 1 0 gra i n s
. T h e o t h er laudanu m con s i s t ed
.

o f an ti mon y alo es am b er g r i s s a ffro n a n d s u gar

, ,
T h e laudanu m
, .

w as c er t ainl y a s o l i d for Parac e l s u s g i v es i t i n p ill s w hic h on

,

o n e occa s i on h e mad e u p on t h e s po t accord i n g t o O pori n us , ,

wi t h s aliva W i l l i s a tt r i b u t es th e o r i g i n of th e li q uid laudanum

.

t o Van H elmon t bu t t h er e i s no men ti on of i t i n th e l at t er s

,
’

w or k s and l ik e th e o l d e r Parace l s i s t s h e m aintain s t ha t th e

,

genuin e laudanum had no o p ium H e l mont re l at es marvellou s .

cures which h e h as accom p l i s h ed w it h t hi s laudanum v erum

ab s q u e o p io ; b u t l ik e h i s p red e c es s or om it s to g ive i t s com p o s i t ion .

I t i s dou bt ful w h e t her Parace l s us w as th e inventor o f th e

opo d eld oc h for it a pp ears a l s o i n t h e firs t G erman pharmaco
,

p mi a wri t ten by Val e riu s C o rd u s and p ubl i sh ed aft e r h i s d eath

, ,

by th e t o w n counc i l o f N ure m berg I t seem s to have

owed i ts nam e t o i t s three pr i nc i pal con s ti t u ent s opo ponax
bd el lium and ari s to l o ch i a fo r i n o n e or tw o in s tances we fin d it
, ,

t erm ed opodel l oc h ; and it h as s urv i v ed in a v ery much altered

form t o our own d ay I n t h e hand s o f Parac elsu s and h i s
.
 A N CI E N T P R E S C R I PT I O N S .
40 9

f ollow er s t h e d e ve l o ped i n t o th e s t ich pfla s t er which

o p o d el d oc h -
, ,

t hou gh not t o b e found in fu l l i n an y o f t h e undou b t edl y

genuin e
t re ati s es w as un i v er s all y h e l d b h i s d i s c i l es t o b e o n e o f th eir
,
y p
m a s t er s most valua b l e inv e n t i on s
’
“
I t s vir t u es ( s a y s O swald .

C roll ) ar e innum era b l e ; t h ere i s no t h i n g more effi caciou s on t h e

F e l ix W ur t z w h o g i v es a v erv s imilar pr e
”
s u b lunar g lo be .
,

s cri ption und er th e h ead i n g i s e q ua l l y en t h u

“
o p o d el d o c h ,

s i as ti c ; and arm ed w i t h i t and th e l audanum t h e ave ra ge

Paracel s i s t w as p erfe c t l y p rep ared t o cure all di sea ses int ernal ,

a nd e x t ernal E ven th e orthodox Fa br i ciu s H i l d an us says tha t

.

it i s no dou bt u s eful in s om e ca s e s b ut w i s el y add s that t h ere

, , ,

a r e no s uch thin g s as univ e rs a l re m e d i e s and w e mu s t al wa y s ,

c on s id er t h e individua l p a t i en t and t h e na t ure of th e di s ord e r , .

H ere i s th e c0 m p l ete formula : “ Ta ke l i n seed and oliv e O i l of each ,

I
Q l b s wax and colo phon i um each 1 l b varni sh (v ernix )
.
, , .
, ,

t urpentin e oil of laure l each 5 , ; lb minium calamin e li t harge

, .
, , ,

o f gold and s ilv er o p o p onax ga l banum s er a p h i n um , ammonia , , ,

c u m bd e llium each 3 oz s
, cara b e c i t ri n i ( am b er
, fran k inc ense
.
, ,

m yrrh aloe s ari s tolochia (l o ng a et r otu nd a ) mu m ia ma gn et

, , , , ,

h e m ati t e each 1 5 o z s cora l ( red a n d w hit e) moth er of p earl

,
»
.
, , ,

d ra gon s blood t errae m edica t es s t r i gen s i s whi t e vitriol

’

, ,

c am p hor each I o z , fl o w ers o f an ti mony iron ru s t (c roc i mar ti s )

.
, ,

e ach 2 o z s Thi s com p l ex m ix t ure h as a pparen t ly been obtain ed

by com b inin g s ev era l p r es cr i p t ion s for w ound s alv es g iv en by
P arac el s u s in h i s Gr ea t S u rg ery o f w hich t h e follo w in g ma y ,

s erv e as a s pe cim e n :
“
Ta k e o l i ve oi l 5 l b t ur pen t in e i l b .
,
.
,

fl owers of S t J ohn s w or t t o fi l l t h e m ea s ure flo w ers o f v erba s

.
’
,

c um o ne third as man y r i ch w h it e w i n e 1 5 sext u l a

-
,
-
e ,H ea t t i l l .

th e win e di s a pp ears and e x p o s e i n th e s u n Y o u w i l l n ever u se .

thi s bal s am wi t hou t w ond erfu l s ucces s T h e p repara t ion of .

v erni x
( varni s h ) h as revea l e d a marve l l ou s rem edy to th e
h uman rac e es pecial l y w i t h th e addi ti on o f t h e a b ov e he rb s
, ,

ma st ich mumia fran ki ncen se and m y rrh al s o cara be Fa t

, , , ,
.

a n d marrow pa r t icu l ar l y t ha t O f human b e in g s are a w ond erfu l

, ,

im provem ent ( Gr oss e Wu n d a r z tn ei i i

‘
.
,

For fu l l d e s c r i p ti o n o f a nc i e n t p h ar m ac y an d m at eri a med i c a s ee

a

B er en d es , D i e P h ar mac i e bei d en a l ten C ul tur vdl ker n, H all e 1 89 2 a nd

Pe t er s A ns ph ar mazeuti sch er Vor z ei t 2 p art s B er li n , 1 886 89, t o w h i c h I

-
, ,

a m i nd eb t ed fo r t h e s o t ry of T h a dd e u s D un n s .
4 10 I AL
M ED C H I S T O RY .

A P P E N D IX VI I .

THE A LLE GE D VI V I S E C T I O N O F M E N I N T H E S I X T E E N T H
CE N T U RY .

THE charge o f v i v i s ec ti n g hu m an be i n g s b rou gh t again s t s om e ,

o f t h e gre a t ana t o m i s t s o f t h e s i xt een t h c en t ury h as b ee n re c en tl y ,

r e v i ved fo r con t rov er s i a l p urp o s e s and it ma y t h ere fore b e w o r t h

,

w h il e t o e x a m in e th e evid enc e u pon w hich it i s ba s ed Th e .

accu s a ti on i s m ad e a ga i n s t t h r ee m en B er e n gar Of C arpi Ves a l i u s

, , ,

and F a l l o p i u s i n par ti cu l ar and a ga i n s t th e ana t o m i s t s of th e

, ,

U n i v ers ity o f P i s a i n gen era l .

I n t h e t rea ti s e D e M o r bo G a l l i c o a tt r i b u t e d t o Fa l l o p i u s i t
-

, ,

i s s a i d t h a t B ere ngar O f C ar p i so ha t ed th e S pan i ard s t ha t h e

s hu t u p tw o O f t h em s u ffe r i n g fr om t ha t d i s ord er i n t e nd i n g t o
, ,

d i s s ec t t h em a l i ve fo r w h i ch t h i n g h e w as ex pe l l ed ( from B o l o gna )
,

a n d d i ed a t F erra r a ( vivo s a n ato m i c i s a d m i n i s t r at i o n i b u s d es ti n a

v e r i t q ua d e r e p r o fl i g at u s F errari a e O b i it
, ) La t er w rit ers a s sert .

t h at h e ac t ua l ly v i v i s ec t ed tw o S pan i ard s T h e or i gin and refu .

t ati o n o f t h i s char g e ma y p ro b ab ly b e found i n t h e p r efac e t o h i s

Co mm en ta ry o n th e A na to my of M ond i no H e beg i n s by s a yi n g
.

t ha t h i s boo k i s found ed on O b s erva ti on s bo t h of th e d ead and

t h e l i vi n g b u t h e a ft e r w ard s e x p l a i n s t ha t by “ t h e l i v i n g
,
he
m ean s on ly pati en t s w hom h e h as t reat e d s urgi ca l ly “ for i n o u r
t i m e w e d o no t d i s s ect th e l i v i n g t ho u gh much more m i gh t b e
,

l ea rn t fro m t h em t han from t h e d ead d i d w e no t d e s i s t fro m ,

s uch a w or k b e cau s e o f i t s cru e l ty T h e s t ory i s rej e c t ed b y a l l

mod ern h i s t or i an s ( see H aes er ii , .

T h e charge a ga i n s t Ves a l i u s w as mad e by h i s b i tt er en e m i es ,

th e Ga l eni s ts D u l au re n t ( 1 599 ) and Ri o l an m ore t han a

gen era ti on a ft er h i s d ea t h and th e o n ly i n s t anc e t h ey adduc e
,

i s t h e fa m ou s ca s e O f th e S pan i s h no b l e m an w hom h e d i s s ec t ed
i n th e b el i ef t ha t h e w as d ead ; a s t ory w h i ch t hou gh no t w it hou t
,

s om e con t em p orary ev i d enc e i s t o s ay t h e l ea s t ex t re m e ly

, , ,

doub t fu l .

Fa l l o p i u s i s or i s b el i ev ed t o be h i s o wn accu s er
, , Th e .

fol l o w i n g i s from h i s D c Tum o r i bn s c ap 1 4 “

,
F ev er res i s t s . . .

‘
co l d p o i s on s as I found a t P i s a w hi l e ana t o m i s in g a man
’
, .

For t h e pr i nce com mand s t h em t o g i ve u s a m an w hom w e kil l ,

4 l 2 M ED C I AL H I S T O RY .

1 547 , G i u l i o S an ese , co n de m n ed t a k en to P i s a
to d ea t h , is to be
t o b e ana t o m i s ed ( d u c atu r Pi s i s p ro fac i e n d o d e eo no t omia ) .

T h e o th er ca s es ar e v ery S i m il ar ; a cr i m i na l i s s e n t t o P i s a t o t h e
c o m m i s s ar i o w h o gav e h er a s u s ua l t o t h e ana t omi s t t o ma k e
“
,

a na t o m y a s w a s don e
, ano t h er w a s t o have b een s en t t o t h e
c omm i s s a r i o and by h i m con s i g n ed t o t h e ana t om i s t i n w ha t
“
,

m ann er h e cho se an d at h i s go od p l ea s ure ( i n q u e l modo c h e

,

l o ch i e dera e a s u o b en e p l ac it o ) b u t h e w a s a ft erw ard s han ged

, ,

i n s tead T h e s er i es en ds w it h t h e y ear 1 570 In no c as e i s

. .

t h ere an y no ti c e o f t h e ex ec uti o n o f t h e cr i m i na l s s en t t o P i s a ,

w h enc e A n d re o z z i conc l u de s t h a t t h ey w ere no t e x ecu t ed a t a l l ,

b u t v i v i s ect ed b y th e an at o m i s ts Th ere s ee m ho wever t o b e.

, ,

o t h er w ay s o f e x p l a i n i n g t h e a bo ve ex trac t s fo r t h ou gh w e ma y ,

a d m it t ha t s o m e o f t h em h av e a t fi rs t s i gh t a v ery s u s p i c i ou s
, ,

a p p earanc e t h ey n o w h ere a s s ert t h at s u ch v i v i s ec ti on ac t ua l l y

,

h a p p en ed .

H e re i s t h e d e cree O f D u k e C o s mo d e M ed i c i und er w h i ch a l l
t h i s t oo k p l ace “ T h e i n s p ecti on o f th e h i dd en part s o f t h e
.

human bo dy i s v e ry u s efu l and n eces s ary t o t ho se w h o w i s h t o

a tt a i n t h e p er fe c t ar t o f h e a l i n
g Wh erefor e w it h a v i ew t o t h e
.
,

b en efi t o f th e w ho l e h u man race w e d ecree t ha t t h e re c t o r s ha l l ,

t o t h e b es t o f h i s a b i l ity prov i d e every y e ar i n w i n t er ti m e t w o , ,

d ead b o d i es (c a d a ver a ) for an ato m y o n e m a l e an d t h e o th er fe

/

m al e i i t h ey can co n ven i en tly b e go t i f no t a t l ea s t o n e And

, , ,
.

t ha t t h i s ma y b e don e more e as i l y w e ord a i n t h a t it s ha l l b e th e du ty

,

O f t h e co m m i s s ar i o o f P i s a t o con s i gn t o t h e r e c t o r t h e s a i d d ead
,

b o d i e s o f an y cond em ned cr i m i na l s accord i n g t o a l l h i s req u i re m en t

,

( ad o m n em ej us re q u i s i t i o n em ) B u t i f t h ere b e nos uch cr i m i na l a t

.

”
P i s a i n t h e ana t o m y s ea s on t h en l e t t h e rec t or w r it e t o t h e E i g h t
,

a t F l o ren ce t o t h e e n d t ha t t h e s a id cadav er s ma y be conv e n i en tly

,

p ro cured Pro v i d ed a l w ay s t ha t no an at o m y s h al l b e don e on th e

.

b od y o f an y ci ti z en o f F l ore n c e or P i s a or o f a doc t or or s cho l ar , ,

u n l e s s w it h p er m i s s i on o f t h e i r re l a ti on s T w o s tud en t s s h al l b e .

e l ec t ed w h o hav e s tudi ed ar t s and m ed i c i n e i n s o m e u n i v ers ity fo r

,

a t l ea s t four y ears and i f p o s s i b l e hav e a l re ad y s e en ana t o m i e s

, , ,
.

Th ey s ha l l pre s i d e over th e di s se ct i on prov i de ev eryt h i n g n eces s ary ,

a n d con fer w i t h t h e rec t o r and c o n s i l i a r i i a s t o t h e fe es t o b e pa i d

. .

N on e s hal l b e adm it ted b u t m at ricu l a t ed s cho l ars and doc t or s o f

o n e o f our co l l ege s T h e rec t or a nd a l l M D s o f t h e co l l e ge t o
’
. . .
,
 V I V I S E C TI O N OF M EN .
4 13

g et h e r w it h four p oor s cho l ars cho s e n by t h e rec t or and c o n s i l i

ari i , s hal l b e adm itt ed free Th i s ed i c t seem s t o hav e b een p u b
.

li s h e d a b ou t t h e en d o f 1 54 4 , and t h e res em b l ance o f i t s t erm s t o

tho se o f A n d r eo z z i s e xt rac t s i s O b v i ou s
’
T h e mo s t no t i c ea b l e .

p o i n t i s t ha t it a s s ert s t hre e t i m es ov e r t ha t th e d ead b od y ( cadav er )

not th e l i v i n g crim i na l i s t o b e g i v en t o t h e univers i ty au t hor iti e s
, .

N o w t h ere w ere t w o o bj e c t s w h i ch th e ana t om i s t s had S pe c i a l ly

,

in vi ew : fir s t t o ge t t h e i r s u bj ec t s as fres h as po s s i b l e and
, , ,

s econdl y t hat t h e mod e O f e x ecu t i on s hou l d no t inj ure an y o f t h e

,

b odil y s t ruc t ures . Th ese w ere v e ry good re a s on s w h y cr i m i na l s

cond emn ed a t F l orence S hould b e s en t a l i v e t o P i s a and t hat
, ,

t h ey s hou l d b e execu t ed t h ere i n t h e mann er recomm end ed by th e

ana t omi s t s (in q ue l modo c h e l o Ch i e d era) and th e a b s enc e of an y ,

no ti ce o f s uch e x ecu ti o n s i n th e F l oren t i n e arch i v es ma y b e q ui t e

as w e ll e x p la i n e d t hu s a s in t h e w ay s u gge s t e d by Andreo z z i
,
.

W e may go fur t h er and s ay t ha t th e fo rm er i s far t h e more

p r o b a b l e s olu ti on D ur i n g t h e p e r i od 1 54 5 7 0 t h e ch i ef t each er s
.
-

o f ana t om y a t Pi s a w ere ( b es i d es Fa l l o p i u s ) Re a l d u s Co l um b u s ,

and Vi du s Vidiu s b o t h O f w hom ex pres s t h e i r u tt er a bhorre nc e of

,

human v i v i sec ti on Acco rd i n g t o t h e form er t h e crim i na l i ty and

.
,

im p i e ty o f s uch a prac ti ce could no t fa il t o b e O bvio u s t o a C hri s t ian

p h y s ician ( q uod n efa s a t q u e i m p i u m C hr i st i ano m ed i co non v i d er i
no t po s s et D e r e A n a t 1 4 p u b l i s h ed
. .
, ,V i du s V i d i u s w h o ,

w as h ead o f t h e m edical facul ty at P i s a for t w en ty years ( 1 54 9

and ph y s ic i an t o D u k e C o s mo h i m se l f i s s ti l l more em p ha ti c , ,

and d ec l ares in lan g ua ge evid en tly b a s ed on t ha t O f C e l s u s t ha t

i t i s t oo ho r ri b l e t oo i nhuman e t oo crue l t o i nc i s e t h e m em b ers
, , , ,

and i n t er nal parts of l i vin g m e n and t o conv er t an art w h i ch i s ,

fo r th e p ro t e c t i on o f man k ind t o t h e inj u r y o f any o n e a n d t ha t a ,

mo s t horri b l e inj ury e s p ec i a l ly w h en t h e ma tt er s s o s ough t aft er

,

can b e found i n an i mal s w h i ch na t ure h as moreover p roduced

, , ,

for t h e u s e o f man ( D e A n a t i I s it p r o b a b l e—I w i l l no t

.
, .

s ay t ha t t h e a b ov e s hould hav e b een w r itt e n by m e n w h o w ere

t h em s e lv es no t oriou s v i v i s e c t ors O f t h e i r fel l o w s fo r t ha t i s

o bv i ou s l y ab s urd —t ha t tw o P i s an p ro fe s s ors s hou l d hav e s o
,

e x p re s se d t h em se lv e s i f human v i v i sec ti on had b een r eg u l a r l y

,
.

p
rac t i sed t h er e und er t h e s p ec i a l s a nc ti on and encoura g em e n t o f
,

th e i r ow n p a t r on and b en efac t or C o s mo d e M ed i c i ! Thi s m ay ,

s u fl I c e to s ho w t ha t A n d r eoz z i s in fer e nc e s o fa r from b e i n g be

’
’
,
4 14 M ED C I AL H S O I T RY .

y o nd q u e s ti on i s t o s ay th e l eas t v ery im proba b l e ; b ut w e hav e

, , ,

s ti l l s t ron ger evid enc e w hich ma y p o s s i b l y convinc e ev e n t ho s e

,

w ho s e o p i n i on s on t h e ma tt er ar e s om ewhat prej udic ed In 1 54 5 .

Real d u s C o l um bu s w as pro fess o r o f ana t omy a t Pi s a and i n t h e ,

s ixt h b oo k o f h i s D e r e A na to m i c a h e t e l l s u s tha t h i s re s e arch es

o n t h e u t e rin e ve in s were mad e on t h e b od y of a woman w hom h e

d i s s ec t ed i n t h e pub lic th ea t re b efore a great com pan y o f s t ud en t s

a n d doc t or s : H er nam e w a s S anc t a b ut should hav e b een D e
“
,

mon i ca fo r s h e had r ecen tl y b o rn e t w in s which w ret ch ed i n fan t s

, ,

s h e ki l l ed by s u ffoca t ion and w a s t h er efor e cond emn ed b y j u s t

,

jud ges t o b e s u ffoca t ed h erse l f ” In t h e fir s t b oo k h e o bs erv e s t ha t

.

A s u p ernum erary ri b was p res en t in th e bod y of a woman ca l l ed

S anc t a w hom I d i ssec t ed p u b l i c ly in t h e th ea t re a t P i s a and
, ,

aft erw ard s mad e i n t o a s ke l e t on n ow in th e po s s e s s ion o f m y

,

fr i e nd B ar t S t rat en s i s pro fess or of m e d i c i n e at B olo g na

.
, W he n .

i t w as on vi ew I rem em b er t ha t s om e i d i om w er e read y t o
,

s w e ar tha t t ha t wa s t h e r i b w h i ch w om en hav e m ore t han m e n

b u t m e n and w om en hav e an e q ual num ber o f ri b s

"
W e l earn .

fro m h i s p u p il Valverda t ha t t h i s d i s s ec t ion too k plac e in 1 54 5 .

Th e ma t t er i s as p lain as po ss i b l e S anc t a i s th e Lati n i s ed ,

form o f A nd reoz z i s S an t a w h o i n s t ead of b ein g b eh ead ed at

’

, ,

F l orence w a s s uffocat ed at P i s a by th e j udic i a l au t hor iti es

, .

C o l u m b u s k no w in g no t h i n g o f th e o r i g i nal s en t enc e n a t ura l ly

, ,

conc l ud ed t ha t t hi s was th e mod e o f d ea t h t o which s h e had been

c ond emn e d . S uch a l t era t ion s o f t h e d eath sen t ence t o s u it t h e ,

c onven i e nc e o f t h e an a t om i s t s had be en mad e i n ear l i e r ti m es

, .

Thu s th e edic t of Kin g J ohn I o f Aragon in favour of t h e univer

.
,

s i ty O f L er i da prov i d es t ha t onc e in t hree y ears a conv i c t ed

“
cri i na l notw ith standin g an y mod e or form of d ea t h t o w h i ch
m
h e ma y hav e b een cond emn ed for h i s crim es sha l l n ev er th e l es s , , ,

o p en ly i n t h e presenc e o f a l l w h o w i s h t o see him d i e b e j ud i c i ,

a l ly s u b m er ged i a w a t er by our a p point ed o ffic er s ti l l h e i s ,

"
u t t er l y s u ffoca t ed Thi s t hou gh repu gnant to our mod er n
.
,

idea s w as pro b ab l y favoura b l e fo r t h e crim i nal s for th e average

, ,

me di aeva l mod es of execu t ion w ere d ec i d edl y more pa i n fu l t han

d row n i n g .

To s u m u p : th e cond emn ed crim i nal s s en t t o P i sa w ere

u s ua l ly e x ec ut ed t h ere by th e l ega l o fficer s pro ba bl y by dro w nin g ,

or s u ffoca ti on ; t h ere i s s t r on g bu t not undou bt ed evid ence t hat

, ,
 4 16 M ED C I AL H S O I T RY .

cou l d b e w e l l e ffec t ed o n t h e p ers on O f th e s a i d archer w h o w a s ,

.

a l s o a b ou t t o s u ffer d ea t h W h i ch O pen i n g and i nc i s i on w as

.

accord i n gly don e on th e bod y o f th e s a i d archer an d t h e plac e ,

o f t h e s a i d ma l ad i es hav i n g b ee n s ou gh t ou t and examin ed h i s ,

bo w e l s w e re re p l ac ed a n d h e w a s s o w n up a ga i n And by th e .

ki n g s comm and t h e w ound w as v ery w el l dre s s ed s o t ha t h e

'

w as perfec t ly h ea l ed w it h i n a fort n i gh t and h e rec ei v ed a fre e ,

”
pardon and s om e mo n e y w as g i v e n h i m a s w e l l
,
.

T h e e ffec t s o f p o i s on s and an t i do t es w ere v ery freq u en tl y

t es t ed u pon cond emn ed cr i m i n a l s as i s no ti ced i n t h e t ex t an d
, ,

t h e fo l l o w i n g exam p l es fro m M att h i o l i s no t es t o h i s ed iti on o f

’

D i os c or i d es m i gh t b e co n s i d era b ly add ed t o i f n e c es s ary “

In .

N ov em b er 1 52 4 Po p e C l em en t VI I ord e red p o i s on t o b e g iv e n
, ,
.

t o t w o con d e m n ed cr i m i n al s i n ord er t o t es t th e v i r t u e s of a
w ond erfu l O i l i nv en t ed b y G r egory C arav it a O f B o l o g na t h en m y ,

p rec ep t or . B o t h rec e i v ed acon it e ; h e w h o had t a k en t h e l arge r

do s e w a s ru bb ed w it h th e O i l and recovered aft er t hree day s ,

t hou gh h e h ad form i d a b l e s y m p t om s ; th e o t h er w as l e ft a l on e ,

and d i ed m i serab ly i n a few hours w it h a l l t h e s y m p t om s p a i n s

, , ,

a n d d i s co m for t s d es c r i b ed by Av i c e nna M a tt h i o l i t h en r e l a t es
.

h o w h e t e s t ed t h e s a m e O i l on a conv i c t a t Pra gu e “
T h e m an
w as d e l i gh t ed fo r h e s a i d h e w ou l d ra t h er b e po i s on ed i n pr i va t e
, ,

t han han ged i n p u b l i c and t h ere w as a l s o t h e ho pe O f es ca pe

, .

B ut h e d i ed i n s p it e o f t h e O i l and h i s fac e t u rn ed as b l u e a s
,

t ho u gh h e h ad been han ged I a l s o gave a drachm o f acon it um

.

na pe l l u s t o a s t ron g y oun g ro b b er a ged t w en ty s ev en i n ord er ,

-
,

t o t ry th e V i rt u e o f th e bez oar s t on e of th e A ra b s H e s a i d t h e .

”
po i s on t a s t ed l ik e p ep per M a tt h i o l i th en gav e h i m 7 gra i n s
.

o f b ez oa r s t on e i n w i n e and a ft er s ev en hour s O f v e ry un p l e a s an t
,

sy m p t om s w h i ch ar e m i nu t e ly d e s cr i b ed h e r e cov ered
, , .

N OT E S .

Fo r t h e viv i s ec ti on at P i s a s ee A n dr oz z i L e L egg i P enal i

s upp o s e d e ,

d egl i A nti chi Ci nes i Fl o r e n c e 1 8 7 8 C o b b e B er nar d s M ar ty r s 1 87 9

’

, , , , ,

a n d a p a m p h l e t On th e Vi v i sec ti on of M en s i gn e d F P C
,
1 89 2 ; B er d o e
, . . .
,

Or i g i n and Gr ow th of th e H al i ng A r t 1 89 3 p 3 7 3
e ,
T h e e d i c t o f D u ke
, . .

C o s m o i s g i ve n i n F ab r o n i H i s tor i a A cad emi a: P i sanec P i s a 1 7 9 ( 1

, , , 1

I h av o m itt ed a few i m m a t er i a l s e n t e n c es fo r t h e s a ke o f b rev ity

e .

T h e B ez o ar s t o n e i s a c o n c re ti o n fo un d i n t h e i n t es ti n es o f v ar i o u s
 HU M A N V I V I S EC T I O N .
4 17

i
r um n an t an i m a l s e s p ec i a lly th e B e o ar goat ( Capr a aegagr us) I t w as
,
z .

i n t ro duc e d i n t o m e d i c i ne by th e Ar ab s as a un i ve r s al anti d ot e Am .

b ro s e Paré ( D es Veni ns r e l a t es h ow it w as t e s t e d b y c o mm a n d
- ,

o f C h ar l e s I X o n a c o n d e m n e d c r i m i n al aga i n s t a d o s e o f c o rro s i ve
.

s ubl i m at i v e As i n M atth i o l i s c as e th e m an w as d e li gh t e d b ut h e
’

.
,

p e r i s h ed m i s e rab ly ; s o t h e ki n g o rd e re d t h e r e s t o f t h e s t o n e t o b e

t h row n i n t o t h e fi r e w h i ch w as d o n e
,

I n 7 63 Chr i s ti n us a ren egad

, , c h i ef of B u l ar i an b r i an d s
g e
g w as ,

c a p t ur e d b y t h e t r oo ps o f C o n s t a n ti n e V Hav i n g c ut off h i s h an d s
.

a n d fee t t h e y b r o u gh t i n ph y s i c i a ns w h o i nc i s ed h i m a li v e fr o m t h o ra x
,

t o p ub es t o s t u d y t h e s t r uc t ur e o f m a n ; an d s o t h e y b urn t h i m
”
.
,

T h eo ph an es Ch r onogr aph i a A M 6 2 56 ; P au l us D i ac o nus H i stor i a

, , . .
, ,

M i s cel l a xxii
,
H ere t h e v i v i s ec ti o n s e e ms t o h ave b ee n p un iti ve ra t h e r
.

'

t h an s c i enti fi c l ike th e l ater d r aw i n g and q uart er i n g o f t rait ors b ut it

, ,

w as pro b ab ly e as i e r i n t h at age t o d i ss ec t a li v e ap o s t at e t h an a d e ad
C h r i s ti an .
 I N D EX P RO P E R NAM E S .

Ab a l a d 3 85
e r , A v er r oes , 1 6 0 , 26 7
Ab a o P t o f
n , e er , 20 1 A ic v en n a, 1 5 1

A c t u ari u s , 136

A e gi d i us , 1 89 B ac h t i sc h uas , t h e , 139, 17 1

Ae l i
sc u ap u s , 3 9 , 3 70 B ac o n , F .
, 57 ,
A et i u s , 1 29 B ac o n , R .
,
1 97

A gam ed e , 39 B ag li iv , 3 21
Agn o d i c e, 7 9 B ar th ez , 3 3 8
“

Al t
b er u s M agn us , 9 7 26 7 1 , y
B ar r , 3 1 8
Al b u a i 1 55
c s s, B as il S r 2 , .
,
1 0

Al m a n 43
c eo , B as il V al e ti n n e , 2 52 , 2 6 9

Al c u i 8 1 n, 1 B ll B 3 50
e , , ,

Al x an d e o f T all es 3
e r r ,
1 0 B l li i 3 7
e n ,
1

Ali Ab b a 1 5 s, 0 B en i vi eni , 2 44 , 29 0

Am atu Lu i t an us 2 77 29
s s , , 1 B en e d ic t A .
, 2 80

Am ph i a au 4 r s, 1 Be n ed i c t , St . , 3 80
A n d ro m ac h us , 1 10 , 40 3 B eren gar of C ar p i , 274 , 410
A l 3 48
ne , B er n ar d Go r do n , 40 1 of

A g l s 23 8
n e u , B er n ar d o f Pro v enc e , 1 89
A tyll u 9 3
n s, Be r n ar d , S t .
,
1 80 , 23 2

A pu l e i u s 7 7 ,
1 B erth ar i us , 3 7 9
A antius 2 7 5
r , i
B c h a , 3 58 t
A ch agath us 82
r ,
B o er h aav e, 3 2 4
A ch ig n 9 2
r e es , B or d en . 3 4 5, 4 0 4
A rc h i m at th ae us , 2 29 B ore lli , 3 15
A rc h i m ed es , 64 B r assav o la , 2 82

A r d er n e , J oh n o f, 40 0 B r i s so t , 2 47

A r e t ee us , 1 28 B ro w n , 3 4 5, 3 51
A g a 75
r e ns, B r u no , 2 0 7
A i t tl e 6 8
r s o ,
B uddh ad asa, 3 1

A al d of V ill ano
rn v a, 1 9 7 ,

A l piad s 83
sc e e ,
Ca li us Au lianus re . 60 ,

A lli 3
se ,
00 i
C a u s, 24 6

A ok a 3
s , 0 C an an i ,
276

A t h ot h i s , 19 C al l i st h en es , 7 3

A u en b ru gger , 3 57 C ar d an ; 2 51 , 2 7 0
Av e nz o ar , 1 57 ; 1 6 7 Ca t o, 81
4 22 I AL
MED C H I S T O RY .

Ce l su s, 90 , 246 G ad d e sd en , 3 9 8
Gh arak a, 26 , 1 47 l
G a en , 1 0 , 95- I 0 4 , 3 86
C har l em agn e , 1 8 2 lil
G a eo , 3 0 9 , 3 1 5
Cha r m i s , 105 G ari o po n t u s , 18 6

C h ar o n d as , 44 G en tili s, 2 1 8

C h esel d en , 3 49 i
G m b ern at 35 , 1

C h o p ar t
3 49 , G l au i a 7 3c s,

C hr yi s ppu s , 6 3 G li n 3 43
sso ,

C o l n et , 2 23 G o rd o n , B er n ar d o f, 40 1
C ol um b us , 2 7 5, 41 3 G ii h t h er , 216

C o ns t a ti n n e,
H ah nem an n , 89 , 2 66 , 3 42
C O ph o , 1 86
Ha ll 3 44 er ,
C o rd us , 29 5 40 8
,
H aly Abb a s, 1 50
C or vi at s r ,
H an s of Do k en b ur g , 2 27
C t i a 53
es s,
H ar et s , 13 9
C ull en ,
3 45
C y u a d J oh n
r s n SS
y 299
H ar v e ,

H aw k i s 3 4 9
, .
,
n ,

D em e ti r us , 1 3 6 H i st
e 35 er , 1

D em o c ed e s , 4 3 H el i o d o r us , 9 1
t
De m o s h e n es , 1 0 7 l
H e m o n , v an , t 2 7 2 , 299 , 303
D aul t 3 4 9
es , H el oi s sa 3 85 ,

D a t
esc 3 9 r es , 0 y
H e n r of M o n d ev ill e , 1 80 , 2 1 7,

D id i u 3 8
es er s, 0 H erac l ei d es , 66
D h an a t a i 6 v n r , 2 H ero di c us 3 5 ,

D i ago r as , 66 H eroph u s , 6 1 il
D i aul us , 1 09 il
H d e gar d , S t , 2 4 2 , 2 6 7 .

i y
D gb , 2 73 i
H ppo cr a es , 4 7 , 1 0 0 t
D io l e c s, 60 H o ffm an n , 3 2 7
D r ac o , 58 H o m er 3 7 ,

Du t t h a Ga m an i , 30
H o n ai n ,
H ugh of Lu c c a , 20 8
Em ped oc l es , 45 H un t er, 3 50
E ph r e m , S t .
,
1 20
H w an —
g ti 3 6 3
’

,
Er as i t atu
s r s, 62 H w a t h o, 3 6 8
-

E ti e nn e , 2 7 6

E ury p ho n , 52 I ng a si as 27 5
r s ,

t
E us ac h us , 2 7 5, i 2 77 I aa Jud a u
s c e s, r 48

Ev e n o r , 75
J oh n XX L, Po pe , 20 4

Fabi o l a 9 , 11 Jo y l i ffe , 3 0 3
F ab i c i u J 27 5
r s, 27 8
y
.
, ,
Ka e, 246
F ab i i u W 7
r c s, .
,
2 1 , 2 86
K ei ll , 3 1 8
F all pi u 7 5 277
o s, 2 , , 281 ,

Fo es i us , 24 6

F o res t ,
295

F r an c o , 2 8
5
4 24 .
M ED I CA L H I S T O RY

S i n an , 1 4 4 , 1 53 , 16 3 Van He mon l t , 2 72 , 29 9 , 303

“
S or an us , 88 Va rol i us , 27
5, 2 80
S t ah l 3 3 4 ,
Ve ali us, 27 4
s , 27 7 , 410
S t ph ani a
e ,

Susrut a 26 , 33 V i d i us , 4 13
y
S d en h am , 49 , 3 1 9 V i go 2 49
,

yl i
S v us I , 2 7 6 .

Syl i u v s W al afri d , 1 81 , 1 84
W an g S h u -
, 3 63
W eyer 2 50 ,

T agli ac o z i 285 z ,
Wh it e 3 51 ,
T h mi son 85
e ,

Th do i eo r c,

T h e ph ane 3 4
o s, 1

Th phi l s 3
eo u , 1 1

Th e al s I 58
ss u .
,

T he s al u I I 87
s s .
,
X en o p h o n , 1 1
0 5,
Th r it a, 3 6
T ro tul a, 1 9 2
Z al eu c us , 4 5
Tq 332
,
Z ed i k i a-h , 2 3 8

V al i a er , 1 13
Z er h i , G abr i el o f, 2 3 1