neglect of its own history,
and pity 'tis that so many practitioners know nothing of the story of
their art. For this reason many reputed discoveries are only
re-discoveries; as Bacon wrote: "Medicine is a science which hath been,
as we have said, more professed than laboured, and yet more laboured
than advanced; the labour having been, in my judgment, rather in circle
than in progression. For I find much iteration, and small progression."
Of late years, however, the History of Medicine has been coming into its
kingdom. Universities are establishing courses of lectures on the
subject, and the Royal Society of Medicine recently instituted a
historical section.

The material I have used in this book has been gathered from many
sources, and, as far as possible, references have been given, but I have
sought for, and taken, information wherever it could best be found. As
Montaigne wrote: "I have here only made a nosegay of culled flowers, and
have brought nothing of my own but the thread that ties them together."

I have to express my indebtedness to my friend, Mr. J. Scott Riddell,
M.V.O., M.A., M.B., C.M., Senior Surgeon, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, for
his great kindness in reading the proof-sheets, preparing the index and
seeing this book through the press and so removing one of the
difficulties which an author writing overseas has to encounter; also to
my publishers for their courtesy and attention.

JAMES SANDS ELLIOTT.

_Wellington,
New Zealand._

_January 5, 1914._

CONTENTS.

PAGE

CHAPTER I.

EARLY ROMAN MEDICINE. 1

Origin of Healing--Temples--Lectisternium--Temple of
AEsculapius--Archagathus--Domestic Medicine--Greek
Doctors--Cloaca Maxima--Aqueducts--State of the early Empire

CHAPTER II.

EARLY GREEK MEDICINE. 13

Apollo--AEsculapius--Temples--Serpents--Gods of
Health--Melampus--Homer--Machaon--Podalarius--Temples of
AEsculapius--Methods of Treatment--Gymnasia--Classification of
Renouard--Pythagoras--Democedes--Greek Philosophers

CHAPTER III.

HIPPOCRATES. 25

His life and works--His influence on Medicine

CHAPTER IV.

PLATO, ARISTOTLE, THE SCHOOL OF ALEXANDRIA, AND
EMPIRICISM. 39

Plato--Aristotle--Alexandrian School--Its Origin--Its
Influence--Lithotomy--Herophilus--Erasistratus--Cleombrotus--
Chrysippos--Anatomy--Empiricism--Serapion of Alexandria