servants coming presently after to inquire how he felt himself； 〃Truly；
friend；〃 said he； 〃with being too well I am about to die。〃
There was a more just law in Egypt； by which the physician； for the three
first days； was to take charge of his patient at the patient's own risk
and cost； but； those three days being past； it was to be at his own。 For
what reason is it that their patron； AEsculapius； should be struck with
thunder for restoring Hippolitus from death to life：
〃Nam Pater omnipotens； aliquem indignatus ab umbris
Mortalem infernis ad lumina surgere vitae；
Ipse repertorem medicinae talis； et artis
Fulmine Phoebigenam Stygias detrusit ad undas；〃
＇〃Then the Almighty Father； offended that any mortal should rise to
the light of life from the infernal shades； struck the son of
Phoebus with his forked lightning to the Stygian lake。〃
AEneid； vii。 770。＇
and his followers be pardoned； who send so many souls from life to death？
A physician； boasting to Nicocles that his art was of great authority：
〃It is so； indeed；〃 said Nicocles； 〃that can with impunity kill so many
people。〃
As to what remains； had I been of their counsel； I would have rendered my
discipline more sacred and mysterious； they begun well； but they have not
ended so。 It was a good beginning to make gods and demons the authors of
their science； and to have used a peculiar way of speaking and writing；
notwithstanding that philosophy concludes it folly to persuade a man to
his own good by an unintelligible way： 〃Ut si quis medicus imperet； ut
sumat：〃
〃Terrigenam； herbigradam； domiportam； sanguine cassam。〃
＇〃Describing it by the epithets of an animal trailing with its slime
over the herbage； without blood or bones； and carrying its house
upon its back； meaning simply a snail。〃Coste＇
It was a good rule in their art； and that accompanies all other vain；
fantastic； and supernatural arts； that the patient's belief should
prepossess them with good hope and assurance of their effects and
operation： a rule they hold to that degree； as to maintain that the most
inexpert and ignorant physician is more proper for a patient who has
confidence in him； than the most learned and experienced whom he is not
so acquainted with。 Nay； even the very choice of most of their drugs is
in some sort mysterious and divine； the left foot of a tortoise； the
urine of a lizard； the dung of an elephant； the liver of a mole； blood
drawn from under the right wing of a white pigeon； and for us who have
the stone （so scornfully they use us in our miseries） the excrement of
rats beaten to powder； and such like trash and fooleries which rather
carry a face of magical enchantment than of any solid science。 I omit
the odd number of their pills； the destination of certain days and feasts
of the year； the superstition of gathering their simples at certain
hours； and that so austere and very wise countenance and carriage which
Pliny himself so much derides。 But they have； as I said； failed in that
they have not added to this fine beginning the making their meetings and
consultations more religious and secret； where no profane person should
have admission； no more than in the secret ceremonies of AEsculapius； for
by the reason of this it falls out that their irresolution； the weakness
of their arguments； divinations and foundations； the sharpness of their
disputes； full of hatred； jealousy； and self…consideration； coming to be
discovered by every one； a man must be marvellously blind not to see that
he runs a very great hazard in their hands。 Who ever saw one physician
approve of another's prescription； without taking something away； or
adding something to it？ by which they sufficiently betray their tricks；
and make it manifest to us that they therein more consider their own
reputation； and consequently their profit； than their patient's interest。
He was a much wiser man of their tribe； who of old gave it as a rule；
that only one physician should undertake a sick person； for if he do
nothing to purpose； one single man's default can bring no great scandal
upon the art of medicine； and； on the contrary； the glory will be great
if he happen to have success； whereas； when there are many； they at every
turn bring a disrepute upon their calling； forasmuch as they oftener do
hurt than good。 They ought to be satisfied with the perpetual
disagreement which is found in the opinions of the principal masters and
ancient authors of this science； which is only known to men well read；
without discovering to the vulgar the controversies and various judgments
which they still nourish and continue amongst themselves。
Will you have one example of the ancient controversy in physic？
Herophilus lodges the original cause of all diseases in the humours；
Erasistratus； in the blood of the arteries； Asclepiades； in the invisible
atoms of the pores； Alcmaeon； in the exuberance or defect of our bodily
strength； Diocles； in the inequality of the elements of which the body is
composed； and in the quality of the air we breathe； Strato； in the
abundance； crudity； and corruption of the nourishment we take； and
Hippocrates lodges it in the spirits。 There is a certain friend of
theirs；＇Celsus； Preface to the First Book。＇ whom they know better
than I； who declares upon this subject； 〃that the most important science
in practice amongst us； as that which is intrusted with our health and
conservation； is； by ill luck； the most uncertain； the most perplexed；
and agitated with the greatest mutations。〃 There is no great danger in
our mistaking the height of the sun； or the fraction of some astronomical
supputation； but here； where our whole being is concerned； 'tis not
wisdom to abandon ourselves to the mercy of the agitation of so many
contrary winds。
Before the Peloponnesian war there was no great talk of this science。
Hippocrates brought it into repute； whatever he established； Chrysippus
overthrew； after that； Erasistratus； Aristotle's grandson； overthrew what
Chrysippus had written； after these； the Empirics started up； who took a
quite contrary way to the ancients in the management of this art； when
the credit of these began a little to decay； Herophilus set another sort
of practice on foot； which Asclepiades in turn stood up against； and
overthrew； then； in their turn； the opinions first of Themiso； and then
of Musa； and after that those of Vectius Valens； a physician famous
through the intelligence he had with Messalina； came in vogue； the empire
of physic in Nero's time was established in Thessalus； who abolished and
condemned all that had been held till his time； this man's doctrine was
refuted by Crinas of Marseilles； who first brought all medicinal
operations under the Ephemerides and motions of the stars； and reduced
eating； sleeping； and drinking to hours that were most pleasing to
Mercury and the moon； his authority was soon after supplanted by
Charinus； a physician of the same city of Marseilles； a man who not only
controverted all the ancient methods of physic； but moreover the usage of
hot baths； that had been generally and for so many ages in common use； he
made men bathe in cold water； even in winter； and plunged his sick
patients in the natural waters of streams。 No Roman till Pliny's time
had ever vouchsafed to practise physic； that office was only performed
by Greeks and foreigners； as 'tis now amongst us French； by those who
sputter Latin； for； as a very great physician says； we do not easily
accept the medicine we understand； no more than we do the drugs we
ourselves gather。 If the nations whence we fetch our guaiacum；
sarsaparilla； and China wood； have physicians； how great a value must we
imagine； by the same recommendation of strangeness； rarity； and dear
purchase； do they set upon our cabbage and parsley？ for who would dare
to contemn things so far fetched； and sought out at the hazard of so long
and dangerous a voyage？
Since these ancient mutations in physic； there have been infinite others
down to our own times； and； for the most part； mutations entire and
universal； as those； for example； produced by Paracelsus； Fioravanti； and
Argentier； for they； as I am told； not only alter one recipe； but the
whole contexture and rules of the body of physic； accusing all others of
ignorance and imposition who have practised before them。 At this rate；
in what a condition the poor patient must be； I leave you to judge。
If we were even assured that； when they make a mistake； that mistake of
theirs would do us no harm； though it did us no good； it were a
reasonable bargain to venture the making ourselves better without any
danger of being made worse。 AEsop tells a story； that one who had bought
a Morisco slave； believing that his black complexion had arrived by
accident and the ill usage of his former master； caused him to enter with
great care into a course of baths and potions： it happened that the Moor
was nothing amended in his tawny complexion； but he wholly lost his
former health。 How often do we see physicians impute the death of their
patients to one another？ I remember that some years ago t