Medical symbolism in connection with historical studies in the arts of healing and hygiene / Illustrated. By Thomas S. Sozinskey.

  • Sozinskey, Thomas S., 1852?-1889.
Date:
1891
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical symbolism in connection with historical studies in the arts of healing and hygiene / Illustrated. By Thomas S. Sozinskey. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    8ome spells brought back to life; These drank the potion plan'd; for these he bound With drugs the aehing wound ; Some leaped to strength beneath the helpful knife. i The lines just given certainly serve to disprove the statement of Pliny, that in Homeric times the healing art confined itself solely to the treatment of wounds.* It is doubtless true, however, that nothing is said in Homer's works about particular diseases. It has been held that JSsculapius, like More's Uto- pians, did not think it wise to bring to bear the art of healing in the ease of any one who might not be re- stored to health and to usefulness to himself and others. Says Plato : He thought medical treatment ill bestowed upon one who could not live in his regular round of du- ties, and so was of no use either to himself or to the Slate.3 The great philosopher accordingly regarded him as a profound politician. For, in his ideal state, this celebrated thcori/.er would have physicians ''bestow their services on those only of the citizens whose bodily and mental constitutions are sound and good, leaving those that arc otherwise, as to the state of their bod] , to die, and actually putting to death those who are naturally corrupt and incurable in soul.* Some ex- cellent reasons might be advanced in favor of such a harsh policy, but, while human love of life and human sympathy remain as now, it will never be brought into play.5 As an ideal physician. iBsculapius could hardly have been an advocate of it.6 1 Pythian ode, 111 * Natural History, xxix. 1 Republic, b. ui. * Ibid. •This poliey is inculcated in the Institutes of Menu. The in- curable Hindu is directed bo proceed toward the invincible northeast, living on air and water. Exposure in battle is also advised. ' Berodionja Introduced the new practice. He was a sickly trainer, and did what be could to keep well; and so, says Plato, dying bard by the help of science, be struggled on to old age. Republic, b. ui.