Volume 1

A dissertation on the state of physicians among the old Romans, in which it is proved to have been servile and ignoble: against the assertions of the celebrated Dr. James Spon, and Dr. Richard Mead / Translated from the Latin.

  • Conyers Middleton
Date:
1734
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dissertation on the state of physicians among the old Romans, in which it is proved to have been servile and ignoble: against the assertions of the celebrated Dr. James Spon, and Dr. Richard Mead / Translated from the Latin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    where, and procure themfeives Quantities of Greek Slaves, bred up in Arts, but skill d efpecially in Phyftck, to minifter at once both to their Health and Luxury : nor after this was there any noble or rich Man s Houfe? bac was fupplied with one or more Slaves, who Were jPhyficians, among whom afterwards the Art, and whole Province of Phyftck was con¬ tinued. And yet, tho’ the Number of Phy¬ sicians increafed thus much every Day in the City, 1 feldotn meet with any Accounts ot Phyfick itlelt, or its Profehors, among Au¬ thors, as if it were too abject and humble ; nor do I find that ever any PhyPtgsan was_-g* made free, before ]ulius Chsars Time, p excepting Arcagathus only : and I be¬ lieve one Asclepiades was the iinl about that Time who was famous for Skill in Phy¬ fick ; this Asclepiades-was a Rhetorician at firft, k who knew Nothing of Phyfick, but when he found Rhetorick lefs profitable, as he was a cunning Man, he applied himfelf to Phyfick, and gaining thereby great Fame and Authority, he was at length admitted to me Fricndfhip and Familiarity of G1 c e r o. Yet fuch always was the Difcredit of the, whole Profeffion at Rome, that it only of all the Grecian <^.lrts was deemed below the * Plin. Hitt. Nat. 1. if. a. it- *<>. ?• * Cic. dc Orat. 1. i. 14. .0 ' / C ■ *Dignity