The medicine and doctors of Horace / by Eugene F. Cordell.

Date:
[1901?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The medicine and doctors of Horace / by Eugene F. Cordell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    Aug-ust, 1901.] THE MEDICINE AND DOCTORS OF HORACE. , By Eugene ¥. Cordell, M. D. (Bead before the Johns Hopkins Hospital Historical Club, November 12, 1900.) In all ages of the world the doctor and his practice have [ been the shuttlecock of the wits and satirists. That medi- cine has not perished under these assaults must be ascribed to the unlimited faith of the human mind and to the leaven of good that even in the darkest period of its history has been mingled with its shortcomings and errors. In selecting an author of the Augustan age as representative of its sen- timent and inspiration, none occurs to us with more con- vincing readiness than the great wit and lyric poet, the satir- ist of Eoman manners and morals, the boon companion of Augustus and his prime minister, whose name heads this page. What has Horace to say of the doctors and medicine of his day ? It is a singular fact that nowhere in all his extant writ- ings is there a word of unkindness or ridicule of the pro- fessors of medicine. Of few writers of his stamp could such a statement be made. His allusions are always kindly and breathe unfeigned respect and confidence. This will sur- prise us the more, when we reflect upon the character of the Eoman profession of his day, just emerging from ob- scurity and chiefly in the hands of slaves and foreign ad- venturers, bent in most cases solely upon self-aggrandize- ment. Writing to a friend,' he gives this advice: If your side or kidney should be attacked with an acute disease, seek a remedy for the disease, or as Sir Theodore Martin puts it:' If spasms of pain assail your sides or back, Send for the doctor; set him ou the track The mischief's cause and cure upon the spot.' il)