was a common practice to give Apollo the Surname of Paean Io Paean was the burthen of all the Hymns sung in his praise Servius (f) In Eneid 12. observes that Paean was a Dorick word in which Dialect it usual is to turn o into a Paean for Paeon The Scholiast upon Nicander is of another mind Paeon (g) Schol. in Nicand Theriac says he is Esculapius There is a passage likewise in the Plutus of Aristophanes where the Surname of (h) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Finding favour with Esculapius Paeon or Esculapius the Physician as some translate it This â—pâ—thete might at first belong properly to Apollo but it has been bestow'd upon his Son Esculapius likewise and after him upon all famous Physicians whom they had a mind to do honour to In this sense perhaps it is that Homer says that Physicians are of the race of Paeon Hence come the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 medicabilis curable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the hand of a Physician And Servius in the place before cited says upon these words of Virgil Paeonium in Morem That Paeonius signifies Medicinalis or belonging to a Physician Paeon is given to Esculapius (i) Parere del S. Leonardo di Capoa intorno la Medicina A Learned Italian who writ some years since in refutation of the Scholiast upon Nicander alledges That Esculapius was not yet Deifyâ—d in the days of Homer but we shall see in the sequel that his Apotheosis was pass'd long before We might support the Scholiast by the authority of Virgil who attributes the raising to life Hippolitus to the power of the Herbs of Paeon thereby plainly intending Esculapius whom he presently after calls the Son of Phoebus Artemidorus likewise confounds Esculapius with Paeon (k) De Somo interprâ—â— â—ib 2. cap. 42. If you dream says he that Esculapius removes or comes to any place or into any House 't is a sign of the Plague or other distemper for 't is on these occasions Men have need of this God But if the sick dream so 't is a sign of recovery for adds he this God is call'd (l) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 PAEON So far Artemidorus but here it may be answer'd that by Paeon is meant no more than Physician Lucian on the other hand distinguishes formally between these two for he introduces Hercules threatning Esculapius to maul him so that (m) â—â—alogues of the Gods Paeon himself shou'd not be able to cure him These different Authorities shew us that the Ancients were divided upon the matter At last if Homer's PAEON who was Physician to the Gods was any other than Apollo or Esculapius he not having inform'd us what Family he was of we need perplex our selves about the matter no farther CHAP. VIII ARABUS another Inventor of Physick OF ARABVS I find nothing but these words in Pliny (a) Lib 7. cap. 18. The Aegyptians will have it that Physick was invented among them others attribute the Invention to ARABUS the Son of Babylone and Apollo CHAP. IX ESCULAPIUS the most famous or most generally known of the Inventors of Physick or of those that brought the Art to some degree of Perfection Wherein of CHIRON the CENTAUR and the HEROES his Pupils as also of MELAMPUS and POLYIDUS THE Aegyptians who attribute the invention of Med'cine to Hermes account Esculapius his Pupil The aforecited Book intituled Asclepius which is the same name with Esculapius introduces Hâ—rmes and Esculapius talking together like Master and Scholar And Julius Maternus Firmicus says upon the tradition of the Aegyptians (a) Lib. 3. cap. 1. de â—â—â—siri Nicâ—pso That the God Mercury communicated the secâ—ets of Astrology and Mathematicks to Esculapius and Anubis from whence we may infer that he did not hide from the former his Skill in Physick which was his principal Study T is the more probable that Esculapius was instructed by Mercury in that he was his Kinsman (b) Sancthoniathon 1. ap Philon. 1. Sydâ—c or Sadoc Brother of Misor Father of Hâ—rmes having first had seven Sons call'd Dâ—â—scures Cabires or Corybantes had an eighth which was Esculapius whose Mother was one of the seven Sister Titans Daughters to Saturn by his Wife Astarte The Author from whom what is here said is drawn adds That the Cabires had Children who found out wholsome Herbs and remedies for the bitings of venemous Beasts and that they made use of Enchantments This was the Tradition of the Aegyptians and Phaenicians concerning Esculapius who according to them must have been of the same Age and Family with the rest of the Inventors of Physick of whom we have spoken already Clemens Alexandrinus alone after having told us that Esculapius was of Memphis and that he improv'd Physick which Apis invented seems to make him later for he says in another place that he was Deify'd a little before the Trojan War by which he seems to have confounded Esculapius the Aegyptian with Esculapius the Greek of whom hereafter But the Greeks make him not quite so old as we shall see Cicero after them says that there were three Esculapius 's the first whom the Arcadians worship was the Son of Apollo He invented the Probe to probe wounds with and taught the use of Bandage The second was Son of the second MERCURY Thunder-struck by Jupiter and bury'd at the Cynosures (a) See the Chapter of Podalâ—rius The thiâ—d who was Son of Arsippus and Arsinoe invented Purgaâ—â—â—n and Tooth-drawing If the first Esculapius of Cicero be the same of Pausanias and Pindar speak who was Son of Apollo and Coronis he cannot be veâ—y ancient having been educated by the Centaur CHIRON who lived but just before the Trojan War and having had two Sons present at that Siege All these Esculapius's may in my opinion be reduc'd to (b) See the Chapter of the Wife and Daughters of Esculapius one so that it there ever were any Esculapius 't is probable he was a Phaenician or an Aegyptian but he has been multiplied as most of the rest before him by the slight of the Greeks with whom t was custe mary to adopt Aegyptian Fables that they might honour their own Country with the production of any extraordinary Persons Hence 't is that their Esculapius is so recent their Annals not reaching much higher than the War of Troy Yet this way shou'd there be but two Esculapius's one Aegyptian and one Greek but the same motive that prevailed upon the Country in general to naturalize this Physician induc'd several Provinces and Cities to put in their particular claim each setting up a Title apart exclusive of all the rest The Greeks have been so unsuccessful in their attempts to find an etymology for the name in their Tongue that t is alone a sufficient proof that the word is not originally Greek The Reader may in the (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab a privativo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Siccari quod
impediret quo nitous â—omines siccarentur vel moreâ—â—â—tur Or according to the Etymologicum magnum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or according to Tzetzes because he cur'd Ascles Tyrant of Epidaurus their names were compounded and he instead â—f being call'd simply Hepius or Apius as before was nam'd Asclepius Margin see both theirs and some etymologies drawn from the (b) Bochart derives Asclepius whence the Latin Esculapius from the Phaenician Is Calabi viz. Caninus upon the score of keeping Dogs in his Temples of which the reasons hereafter Others derive it from Ez and Keleb of which the latter signifies a Dog the other a Goat because of a tradition that he was suckled by a Goat and guarded by a Dog of which more anon Junius Father-in-Law to Vossius derives Asclepius from Ascalaphus which signifies to change Vossius de Philosophiâ But in the same Tongue we find the words Is Calaphot A Man of the Knife which etymology appears the more just in that it expresses perfectly his Profession his principal Talent being Surgery as shall be shewn Phaenician Language and judge for himself I shall here repeat that 't is probable there was but one Esculapius and he a Phaenician or which is tantamount that if there was a Greek of the same name and reputation that he borrow'd both of the former The Esculapius of the Cyrenians was likewise unquestionably the same with the Phaenician but of him a word or two hereafter However it be Antiquity having left us nothing of the first but the little we have cited we must stick to the account the Greeks give of theirs Of him by and by but first a word or two concerning Chiron the Centaur who was his Master CHAP. X. The Centaur CHIRON and the HEROES his Pupils in Physick THE Centaur CHIRON was (a) Pindar Pyth. Od. 6. Hygin Fab. cap. 138. Apolloâ— Rhod. Argonaut lib. 2. c. Son of Saturn and Philira and the Fable tells us that the reason why he was half Man half Horse which the Poets call a Centaur was that Saturn while he was with Philira apprehending a surprize from his Wife Rhea turn'd himself immediately into a Horse for a disguise Others say that Chiron was feign'd to be half Man half Beast because he understood Physick for both kinds and Suidas says that he wrote a Book call'd (b) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Horse-Medâ—cine Perhaps the Fable has made a Centaur of him because he was of Thessaly the Country of those fictitious Monsters for Thessaly being the place where they first began to back Horses those that first at a distance saw a Man on Horseback made but one body of ' em (c) German Caesar in Arat. Phaenom Some tell us simply that Chiron invented Physick without specifying any kind (d) Galen Introduct Plin. lib. 7. cap. 46. Others say that he first found Herbs and Medicaments for the cure of Diseases and particularly Wounds and Ulcers (e) Plutarch Sympos lib. 3. qu. 1. The Magnesians his Country-men offer to him for this reason the first fruits of Herbs or Plants and say that he was the first that wrote of Physick From him 't is said that Centaury a Plant well known took its name as did also some others They add that Diana taught him the vertues of some other Simples Others after all make him the (f) Hygin cap 27. Inventor of Manual Operation only This conceit is founded upon the etymology of his Name which is plainly derivâ—d from a Greek word which signifies (g) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from whence Chirurgery which signifies working with the Hand a Hand and from which the name Chirurgery is likewise deriv'd Surgery or Physick was not the only Science of which Chiron was Master he understood likewise Philosophy Astronomy Musick Hunting War and other Arts. His habitation was in a Cave of Mount Pelion whither all the great Men of his Time resorted for his instructions in these Arts and Sciences The Heroes whom he educated were Hercules Theseus Aristeas Telamon Teucer Jason Peleus Achilles Patroclus Palamedes and Esculapius He taught Hercules not only the Art of War and Astronomy but Physick also in which according to Plutarch this Hero excell'd Some interpret the passage of Euripides which says That Hercules hearing that Alceste was to die for her Husband Admetus fought Death and rescu'd her from him by force after this manner (a) Muret. Var. Lection Alcestis being so ill that her recovery was despair'd of Hercules by his Med'cines restorâ—d her to health T is said that he bore the Surname of (*) Expeller of Evil. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as well as Apollo and for the same reason that is because he expellâ—d Diseases But 't is more probable he was so callâ—d because he clearâ—d the World of divers Monsters according to the Fable 'T is argued likewise that Hercules understood Physick from the several Medicinal Plants that bears his name Theophrastus Dioscorides and other ancient Botanists speak of a sort of Poppy call'd Hercules â—s Poppy There was also another Plant call'd Heracleum The Nymphaea was likewise callâ—d Heraclea according to Pliny who says that it sprung upon the Tomb of a Nymph who died of Jealousie upon the account of Hercules who had an Intrigue with another There is also a sort of Panax and some other Plants nam'd from Hercules Yet to me it seems probable that these names were given since his time to denote the extraordinary force of these Plants which they compar'd to the strength of Herculeâ— For a like reason the Epilepsie or Falling-Sickness was call'd the Herculean Distemper not that he was ever troubled with it or knew how to cure it (*) Or rather because the strength of Hercules is not sufficient to bear up under it but because a power equal to that of Hercules is requir'd to subdue so difficult a Malady (a) Epistol Abderit ad Hippocrat Justin lib. 13. Schol. 〈◊〉 Apollon Rhod. Argonaut lib. 2. This Hero had a Daughter callâ—d Hepione who understood Physick likewise We shall see by and by another Hepione Wife to Esculapius Aristaeus King of Arcadia and Son of Apollo and Cyrene was by his Father committed to the care of Chiron the Centaur who taught him Medâ—cine and Divination He is said first to have taught Men to make Oyl and (*) Aristâ—â—â— is said to have been the first that kept Bees and to have produced â—em after a strange manner Virg. Georg. 4. Honey and Cheese-curds and divers other things useful to Society To him is ascrib'd the discovery of the virtues of Silphium or Laserpitium whose Gum or Juice inspissated was very much in use among the Ancients but (†) Some conclude it to be that kind of Ferula which yields Asafoetida and which by most modern Bonatists is callâ—d Laserpitium at present we either have it not or don't certainly know it as the sequel will shew Theseus had his education in the same
thence the King 's Evil. string about the Neck Others were made into Rings for the Finger Bracelets for the Arm Collars for the Neck Crowns for the Head c. * Of this sort are the Blood-stone the Snake-stone the Eagle-stone Moss of 〈◊〉 dead Man's Skull Peony-Root c. to which mighty vertues are assign'd by some Vide Boyle of Specifick Med'cines Philosphical Transact c. Some Amulets there were in which neither Charms nor Superstition had any share tho' no body cou'd account for the effects attributed to ' em This sort of Amulets is yet approv'd by divers Physicians tho' others give no credit to ' em We shall have occasion to speak again of these and the rest in the sequel of this Work As for the Charms ESCVLAPIVS us'd I can't see why they shou'd be charg'd as matter of blame upon him in an Age of the grossest Idolatry and Ignorance which are yet so much in use with divers Christians who ought to have an abhorrence for such Remedies or at least more wit than to conside in such fooleries Whether it were in imitation of Esculapius I can't tell that his Country-men the Thessalians have been so addicted to Incantations that they were peculiarly remarkable for it witness Apuleius his golden Ass and abundance of other ancient Authors who speak of Thessaly as the Country of Sorcerers CHAP. XV. ESCULAPIUS embrac'd also the solid Physick He is reputed the Author of CLINICK Med'cine Wondrous Cures reported of him as raising of the Dead CHarms were not the only Physick of ESCVLAPIVS what has been said shews that he did not neglect the more substantial part of his Art We shall see in the sequel whether he brought Physick to the heighth of perfection that some pretend or not Galen in the place afore-cited where he says That Esculapius cur'd Diseases by Musick c. adds That he order'd some to ride on Horseback others to exercise in Armour that he prescrib'd to 'em their several motions and manner of arming By this he shou'd also be Author of the Gymnastick Medicine of which hereafter He had likewise the reputation of inventing (a) Hygin Fab. Clinick Med'cine so call'd from a Greek word signifying a (b) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Epithet common both to the Physician and Patient signifying as well him that is confin'd to his Bed as him that visits him there For a third signification see Chap. of the Slaves Physicians Bed to shew that he was the first that visited the sick in their Beds which supposes that the Physicians before him did not visit their Patients at their Houses This is confirm'd by the practice of the Babylonians who carried their sick to the Cross-ways for the advice of those that pass'd by Chiron perhaps expected to be consulted at home As for the Physicians of less note 't is probable they kept the Fairs and Markets to sell their Med'cines as our Mountebanks do now without troubling themselves to repeat their visits and observe the changes that happen'd to their Patients as they do now This custom introduc'd by Esculapius became afterwards a mark of distinction between his Imitators who were call'd Clinicks and the Empiricks or Market-Hunters His method succeeded so well for himself that no Physick was talkâ—d of but that of Esculapius Castor and Pollux took him along with 'em in the famous Expedition of the Argonauts where some surprizing cures done upon Men given over for dead got him the reputation of raising Men actually from the Dead (a) Pindar Pyth. Od. 3 Virgil. Aenead 3. The Fable adds that upon a complaint of Pluto that if he were sufferâ—d to go on no body wou'd die and Hell wou'd become a Desart Jupiter slew him with Thunder and with him Hippolitus the Son of Theseus whom he had restor'd to Life and at the request of his Father Apollo translated him to a place among the Stars under the name of * Anguitenens by some taken for Hercules by others for Esculapius Vide Cir. de nat deor lib. 2. Ophiucus a Constellation above Scorpio Pindar says That Esculapius was prevailed upon to raise Hippolitus by the promise of a great Sum of Money which gave occasion to (b) Clem. Alexandr some to tax him with Covetousness But Suidas refutes that scandal and says That he wou'd have done as much for Pauson or Irus or the veriest Beggar of 'em all and 't is but reasonable that the Rich shou'd make up the deficiencies of the Poor For if at present we don't grudge the Physician his Fees even tho' he kills his Patient I can't see why Esculapius shou'd raise Men from the Dead gratis (c) Polyanthus Cyrenaeus de origine Asâ—lepiadum Voss de Hist Graeâ— Another Author says That Esculapius was Thunder-struck for curing the Daughters of Praetus a Cure already ascrib'd to Melampus and not for restoring Hippolitus But if we believe the Fable not only Hippolitus receiv'd that favour from him but Capaneus Lycurgus Eriphilus Tyndarus Hymenaeus and even Glaucus the Son of Minos of whom before with Polyidus CHAP. XVI Farther Authorities to prove that all the Physick of ESCULAPIUS was within a very little reducible to Surgery PLATO's sense of his Physick WE have heard the Fabulous account of Esculapius but Celsus and Suidas talk more naturally of him If we may credit the latter Esculapius did not put Jupiter to the expence of Thunder (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dying of a Peripneumony Human Physick of which he was the Inventor failing him at his need Celsus likewise tells us That Esculapius came by his mighty Fame much cheaper than is reported * Haeâ— nâ—squam quidem non est St. quidem impertissimae gentes herbas allaque prompta in auxilium valnerum morborumque noverunt c. Câ—ls Prasat There is no place says he in his Preface without Physick for the most uncivilizâ—d Nations have the use of Herbs and other familiar Remedies for Wounds and Diseases The Greeks indeed improv'd it farther than any other Nation yet even they not from the first Original but a few Ages ago for Esculapius is the most ancient Author upon Record amongst 'em Who because he refin'd this Science a little which was before rude and amongst the Vulgar was promoted to be a God His two Sons Podalirius and Machaon follow'd Agamemnon to the War of Troy where they were very serviceable to their fellow Soldiers yet Homer does not mention any service they did in the Plague or any other distempers only that they cur'd wounds by Incision and Medicaments From whence 't is plain that they pretended to this part of Physick only and that this is the ancientest (a) Lib. 29. cap. 1. Pliny agrees with him Physick says he has rais'd its Credit upon a Lye feigning that Esculapius was kill'd by Thunder for restoring Life to the Son of Tindarus and others which made a mighty noise about the Time
unite to their own those Lights which were reflected from abroad But tho' the knowledge of these first beginners in every place were but very mean compar'd with that of those that came after 'em yet because they laid the foundations and were the most perfect of their Times they were honour'd as if no possible improvements were to be made upon them This in my mind is the just Idea of these reputed Inventors of Physick But there is yet this difference between the first Esculapius and the rest whom the Greeks mention That if he be as old as is pretended he will appear not only to have laid the first grounds of this Art in his own Country as all the rest in theirs but to be the ancientest of all What we have just now said starts yet another question Who were the first People that cultivated Physick There 's no question but the Aegyptians or Phaenicians were the first who are likewise the most ancient People known Aegypt has been call'd the Mother of Arts and the Greeks themselves acknowledge that they borrow'd their Religion and almost all the Sciences and curious Arts. Phaenicia furnishâ—d 'em with the use of Letters so that the Greeks in a manner held of these People all that was nice among 'em which they receiv'd pretty late too as did the Romans after them who tarry'd a long time e'er they introduc'd into their State what they in their turn deriv'd from the Greeks of this sort of knowledge CHAP. XIX PODALIRIUS and MACHAON Esculapius's two Sons famous Physicians or Surgeons their Wives and Families (a) See Eustath in Ilâ—ad 4. SOme Ancients have believ'd that the latter was only a Surgeon but that the former was a Physician What has been said before of their Father may determine that point That Machaon was the eldest may be inferr'd from what Q. Calaber makes Podalirius say upon the occasion of his death That his dear Brother had brought him up like a Son after their Father was taken into Heaven and that he had taught him to cure Diseases (b) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tho' Homer always names Podalirius first when he mentions both Brothers together 't is only for the convenience of his Metre Machaon seems to have been esteem'd and preferr'd before his Brother by the great Men of the Army He dressâ—d Menalaus wounded by Pandarus wiping first the blood from the wound and not sucking it with his lips * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Portus in his Latin Version of the Iliad â—enders Saâ—â—gutâ—â—c exucto Iliad as a certain learned Man mis-led by the nearest signification of the word that Homer uses has written And after having cleans'd the wound he applied some softning Remedies as his Father did †Tarda Philocteâ—ae â—sanavit cuâ—ra Machaon Prop. lib. 2. This and Vâ—â—gdâ—'s Tâ—stimony that he was in laded in the Wooden Horse are direâ—â—ly râ—pagnant to Pausanias and Q. Caâ—â—â—er who say that Machaon was slain before the Waâ—lâ— of Troy by Eâ—rypylus in single â—hat For the stratagem of the Wooden Horse decided the fate of Troy and this cure was made in his return Vide infra Machaon likewise it was that cur'd Philoctetes of a lameness contracted by letting an Arrow dipt in the Gall of the Lerncan Hydra a Legacy of Hereules at his death fall upon his foot By this cure Machaon shou'd have been a more expert Surgeon than Chiron the Centaur who cou'd not cure himself of a wound by the same ‖ Chap. 1â— weapon As for the rest both the Brothers were as well Soldiers as Physicians and Machaon seems to have been very brave Homer tells us of a wound he receiv'd in the shoulder in a sally of the Trojans He was likewise one of those that were enclos'd in the Wooden Horse that famous Machine by which the Greeks took Troy He lost his life in single (c) Hygin Faâ— lib. 1. cap. 81 1â—8 113. Duel with Nireus or as (d) Pausan Lacoa Q. Calaber lib. 6. 7. some others will have it with Eurypylus Son of Telephus during the Siege of Troy Both the Brothers are reckon'd among the Gallants of Helen (e) Pausan in Messeniacis Stâ—â—b lib. 8. Anticlea Wife to Machaon was Daughter to Diocles King of Messenia By her he had two Sons Nicomachus and Gorgasus who resided at Pherae and possess'd the Kingdom of their Grandfather till the Heraclians at their return from Troy made themselves Masters of Messenia and the rest of Pelopernesus from whence they drove both them and others Pausanias mentions some other Sons of Machaon as Sphyrus Alexanor and Polemoerâ—tes Whether * This doubt is easily resolv'd â—or his Wise'â— Inheritance was Messenia in Peloponuesus and his Subjects or Soldiers were Thessalians aâ— Homer witnesses of Trica by some said to be the place both of his Fathers and his Birth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iliad Δ Machaon were a King in his own Right or in Right of his Wife only is uncertain but Homer in two or three several places calls him (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iliad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pastor of the People which is the Title he gives Agamemnon and the rest of the Kings Pausanias adds That he was buried in Messenia whither Nestor had caus'd his Bones to be convey'd from before Troy Podalirius in his return from Troy was cast upon the Coast of Caria by a storm where he was entertain'd by a Shepherd who understanding that he was a Physician brought him to King Damathaeus whose Daughter had got a fall from a House-top Her he cur'd by letting her blood in both arms which so affected the King that he gave her him for a 〈◊〉 and with her the †Not the Achaian Peninsula call'd Pelopouâ—â—sus lying between the Aegaean and Ponian Seas mention'd before as the Dower of 〈◊〉 Brothers Wife but the Thracian between the Propontis and the Euâ—ing Seâ—â— Chersonese where he builâ— two Cities Syrna so nam'd from his Wife Syrna and Bybassus from the Shepherd that receiv'd him after his Wreck He had among other Children a Son call'd Hippolochus from whom Hippocrates deriv'd himself as we shall see hereafter CHAP. XX. The first instance of PHLEBOTOMY Reflections upon the Antiquity and Invention of that Remedy and of PURGATION And upon the opinion that Brutes taught Men the first use of divers Med'cines THis is what is related of the Sons of Esculapius The latter having given us the first instance of Blood-letting it may deserve our further consideration Stephanus Byzantinus from whom we have taken this relation not telling us where he had it and being the only Evidence the fact is yet very questionable (a) Parere del S. Lionardo di Capoâ— intorno la Mcdicina A modern Author before cited thinks the silence of Homer a sufficient argument to prove that it was not known in his days and that if he had been acquainted with a Remedy of that nature he wou'd sooner
are Gripes and Faiâ—nâ—â—â— being more immediate and terrible than those of the latâ—er the obserâ—ation of their own Bodies shou'd rather have discouragâ—d the use of Purgers had they known 'em than promoted an eâ—qutry after ' em 'T is probable thâ—â— the Medical use of Pargers was not known till afâ—â—â— a series of obsâ—â—â—â—tions had introduc'd a regular diet and taught 'em in some mâ—asure to â—â—â—per it to their occasions Then perhaps in obstinate and dangeroâ—s 〈◊〉 they â—â—â—ght venture farther by degrees But when that happen'd is next to â—â—up â—â—ible to determine As for the Stâ—ries of Brutes they may all as 〈…〉 of Melampus as the rest be rejected as Fables Neither Hellebore 〈…〉 other Parging â—â—â—t that we know of being so savoury as to 〈◊〉 Brutes to eat In these latter ages at least they will starve rather than be sâ—rc'd to it For t is impossible they shouâ—d have been long without observing the mischief of being costive and the relief of evacuation either by Stool or Vomit when the Stomach was oppress'd This probably must make 'em inquisitive after means to provoke Evacuations when they were suppress'd or when they found themselves overcharg'd Or perhaps some body having without design eaten some herb that purgâ—d him and finding himself better dispos'd and more healthy after it made his use of this casual experiment and afterwards repeated it upon himself or others that he thought had occasion or after all some body observing that some diseases went off with Diarrhaeas endeavour'd to imitate and assist Nature by such means as chance had taught 'em to loosen the Belly Some such reason as this apparently started the first hint of Bloud-letting For the first men observing that loss of Blood often gave a check to violent distempers or that large Hemorrhages at the Nose reliev'd pains in the Head and that Women were out of order when they wanted those evacuations attempted by Art to open a way for that Bloud which cou'd not make any for itself But tho some evacuations of Bloud be frequently necessary and of benefit in distempers it does not fellow that men shou'd as readily venture to imitate Nature in this case as in that of Purging This latter voiding only excrements by the natural way whereas Bleeding takes away a liquor that appears so necessary to the support of life that we scarce part from it without some horror and that too is let out by an unusual way besides that Purgers were found out by chance and taken into the bodies of the first men as their Food which canâ—t be said for Blood-Letting 'T is certain therefore that Purging is much more naturally indicated than Blood Letting and that more reasoning was requisite to induce Men to open a Vein than to give a Purge and for that reason I believe Purgation to be the eldest Pliny I know tells us that we are oblig'd to the Hippopotamus or Sea-horse who being by over-feeding grown too fat and heavy pricks a certain Vein in his Leg upon the most pointed thorn he can find and when he has drawn Bloud enough stops the wound with Mud whence Men had a precedent for Bloud-letting We may tack this relation to another the same Author gives us in his next Chapter that the Ibis taught Men the use of Clysters by putting his bill full of Sea-Water into his Fundament Not but that Brutes might possibly teach men the use of divers Remedies But 't was in them as well as men an accidental experiment So (b) Vide Chap. 11. Mclampus's Goats having eaten Hellebore more by chance than by what we call Instinct and their Master taking notice of it help'd him to the discovery of a great Medcine * A more plausible story than any of these Virgil tells us of his Goats Aencid xii Dictamnum genetrix Cretea carpit ab Idâ Puberibus caulem Solus Flore comantem Puâ—puâ—eo non illa seres incognita caâ—ris Gramina cum stigo volucres haesere sagittâ—e Whether this story be more admirable for the Sagacity ascrib'd to those Brutes or the power of the Herbs I leave those to dispute who have more leisure but it has a great many Naturalistâ—â—or Vouchers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They say that the Goats in Crete when they are struck with an Arrow eat Dittany and the Arrow immediateâ—â—â—â—ops from ' em Aristâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Id. Hist anim lib. 9. Elian. Hist Var. l 〈…〉 Dâ—osâ—or l. 3. c. 37. Val. Max. l. 1. c. 8. Plutarch de Solert Aniâ—â—◠〈…〉 Grylâ—o Cic de Divin 3. Issdor c. Notwithstanding 〈…〉 great names the Reader is left to believe as he pleases of the â—ct The same may be said of what some (c) Galen Introduct Authors report that the way of Couching Cataracts was learnt by observing that Goats that were troubled with 'em recoverâ—d their sight by having prickt their Eyes with rushes or thorns as they brush'd thro' the Woods If this be not as very a Fable as those of the Hippopotamus or Ibis 't is at most but a lucky accident of which good use has been made Perhaps likewise even without the aid of chance the first Men might designedly try upon Brutes the effects of Simples unknown before they ventur'd on 'em themselves This way too Brutes might teach the use of 'em but not in the Sense of the Naturalists No body ventures to say that â—â—utes taught men the use of poisons drawn from the Bowels of the Earth of which nevertheless there are but too many CHAP. XXI Epione Wife to ESCULAPIUS Hygiaea Aegle Panacaea and Jaso his Daughter THe Etymology of these names shews 'em to be meer creatures of a wanton (a) Pausan in Achaic Fancy and a continuation only of the Sun 's being the Author of Physick under the name of Apollo Esculapius is also taken for the Air. Hygiaea that is Health is call'd his Daughter because our health depends chiefly upon the Air. Aegle Light or Sunshine signifies that Air illuminated and purified by the Sun is the best Jaso and Panacaea which signify Healing and an universal Remedy insinuate to us that a good air cures all distempers These four Sisters are feign'd to be daughters of the Air to shew that we are beholding to the Air for Health and all the blessings we are to hope from Medâ—cine this Air is suppos'd to be Son of the Sun because to dispose it for the advantage of Health it must be as it were animated by that Star from which it receives all its good qualities To carry on the Allegory Esculapius's Wife is named (b) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lenifying Hepione as if she shar'd with her Husband the faculty of asswaging Pain This sham Esculapius and his Fantastick Family confirm what we advanc'd before that there never was any Esculapius of Greece As for Podalirius and Machaon who might perhaps be Men really present at the Siege of Troy in quality of Physitians or Surgeons
In the seventh Book of Epidemical Diseases there is mention just made of one Pythocles of whom it is reported that he gave his Patients water or milk mingled with a great deal of water To these we may joyn the (c) See the Phaedrus of Plato and Xenophon of the sayings and deeds of Socrates Physician Acumenus a friend of Socrates of whom Plato and Xenophon talk very advantageously All that these Authors report of his opinions is that he looked upon a walk in the open air to be much better (d) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We have translated these words after the sense of Mercurialis which seems to be just than in Portico's and other covered places There remains an ancient Physician named Aegimius of Velia or Elis who according to Galen was the first that writ about the Pulse altho' the title of his Book was about (e) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 instead of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cal. de differ Puls lib. 4. Palpitation because at that time Pulse and Palpitation signified the same thing as we may gather from some passages in Hippocrates where the latter of these words signifies exactly the same with the former If this Aegimius was not cotemporary with the abovementioned he lived at farthest in the time of Diocles or Praxagoras of whom we shall speak in the following Book THE HISTORY OF Physick PART I. BOOK IV. Of what happen'd relating to this Art from the death of Hippocrates to Chrysippus exclusively CHAP. I. Thessalus and Draco the Sons of Hippocrates Polybus his Son in law some others of his descendants and some persons of the same name with Hippocrates HIppocrates left two sons Thessalus and Draco who followed the profession of their Father and a daughter that was married to one Polybus who was likewise a Physician His two sons had each of them one to whom they gave the name of their father and this name was in such esteem in the family that there were no less then (a) Suidas See the Chapter of Praxagoras below seven one after another who bore it who were all Physicians Hippocrates's eldest son was of greatest reputation He spent the greatest part of his life (b) Galen in lib. Hippocr de nat hum Comm. 1. in the Court of Archelaus King of Macedonia To him as likewise to his brother and even to their children were attributed some of the Books found in the Collection of Hippocrates ' even before the time of Galen who calls Thessalus an Admirable man (c) Galen ibid Polybus also rose to great reputation and continued to teach the scholars of his father-in-law There are yet some books remaining under his name one of which treats of the means of preserving health others of diseases and one of the nature of the seed which agrees almost in every thing with Hippocrates 'T is very probable that these books likewise are suppositious Those which were found amongst the works of Hippocrates and which were anciently ascribed to Polybus do him more honour being as we have observed before of all the books father'd upon Hippocrates those wherein the reasoning is most exact and most coherent From one of these books entituled of the nature of the Foetus is drawn the greatest part of what we have before laid down concerning the manner of conception or of the formation of the Foetus in the Womb. We find likewise in the fourth book of Diseases which has been laid with almost universal consent to the same Polybus a very Ingenious System of the causes of Diseases drawn from the four humours established by the Author which are (d) See upon this Book 3. the Pituita the Blood the Bile and the Water Galen testifies for Polybus that he never deserted the opinions of Hippocrates nor made any alteration of him any more than Thessalus but this seems not probable especially of the former if the book we have cited be truly Polybus's we see already in it some difference in the System and we find further that the opinion concerning the passage of part of the drink into the Trachaea Arteria which is as we have observed maintained in more than one place of Hippocrates's works is vigorously opposed We must not confound the sons of our Hippocrates with those of whom (e) Aristoph in Nubibus 〈◊〉 Galen quod â—nimi mores sequantur temper cor p. Cap. 4. Athâ—naeuâ— l. 3. Aristophanes Galen and Athenaeus speak so brutish and lewd that they gave occasion to the people of Athens to call all persons of that infamous Character the sons of Hippocrates These were the sons of one Hippocrates an Athenian who was himself esteemed a man of no worth There is yet another Hippocrates among the Greek Authors who wrote of Veterinary or the Physick of Beasts which are collected into one Volume or rather the Collectors have made bold with the name of the great Hippocrates and have father'd works upon him in which he had no concern CHAP. II. Prodicus Dexippus and Appollonius disciples of Hippocrates Ctesias his Kinsman HIppocrates was not contented to teach Physick only to those of his own family As he practised Physick (a) Galen affirms this and it may be gathered out of the Maxims of Hippocrates that have beeâ— cited out of a principle of humanity and not purely for profit or glory he imparted his knowledg to strangers being the first of the Asclepiades that did it so that Physick which was before confin'd within the limits of one Family was afterwards communicated to all the world and might be learn'd by any that would apply themselves to it We have seen already the Oath he exacted of his Scholars One of the most considerable of these was one Prodicus of Selymbra (b) Plin. l. 29 C. 1. who is said to have invented the use of unguents in Physick to have first anointed the body with those compositions for preservation of health and for the cure of distempers This Medicine became so common among the Antients that they proceeded even to the abuse of it especially after they had introduc'd Liquid perfumes or sweet-scented Oyls of which Virgil makes this complaint (c) Casia was a sort of Spâ—e infused in Oyl of Olives to persume it Et Casia liquidi corrumpiturnsus Olivi These being used as well for pleasure as necessity and lewd women and effeminate men making the greatest consumption of them this abuse grew so scandalous that sober persons were afraid to use them lest they should be taken to use them to the same purpose that they did For this reason 't was that the Philosopher Aristippus who found these sweet Oyls serviceable to him made such imprecations against those Debauchees that brought a scandal upon the use of perfumes But Pliny seems to confound this disciple of Hippocrates with his master The Unguentarie medicine being a branch of the Gymnastick it is without doubt the invention of (d) See Book the 2 Herodicus and not of Prodicus