luck to cure his first patient, Titus Cnoeus Leno, who, being a poet,
straightway constituted himself the _vates sacer_ of his physician, and
induced some of his fashionable mistresses to place themselves under his
hands. So profitable was Horatillavus's practice that he is said to have
saved 150,000 sesterces in a few months. But for a moment his good
fortune seemed to abandon him. A Roman lady, Sulpicia Pallas, died
suddenly under his ministrations. This may have been due to his
ignorance or carelessness; but he was accused of having poisoned his
patient. This event might have been expected to bring his career to an
end; but it was not long before he recovered the confidence of the
people whom he deluded with his mystical language and promises of cure.
He had three methods of treatment, all consisting of baths--hot, tepid,
or cold--preceded or followed by the taking of wonder-working medicines.
Horatillavus treated every kind of disease, internal and external; he
even practised midwifery, which was then in the hands of women. Ten
years after he settled in Rome he had accumulated a fortune of some
6,000,000 sesterces. He had a villa at Tusculum, whither he went three
times a month; there he led a luxurious life in the most beautiful
surroundings, and there his evil fate overtook him. His orchard was his
especial pride. One day he found that birds had played havoc with his
figs, the like of which were not to be found in Italy. Determined to
prevent similar depredations in future, he poisoned the fig trees.
Continuing his walk, he plucked fruits of various kinds here and there.
While eating the fruit he had culled and drinking choice wine, he put
into his mouth a poisoned fig, which he had inadvertently gathered, and
quickly died in convulsions. Before passing away, however, he is said to
have composed his own epitaph. This M. Mazade believes he has found. It
reads: "The manes of Sulpicia Pallas have avenged her. Here lies Lucius
Horatillavus, physician, who poisoned himself." If the epitaph is
genuine, it is a confession of guilt. The death of the quack by his own
poison is a curious Nemesis. The manner of his death proves that it was
accidental, as few quacks are bold enough to take their own medicines."

FOOTNOTES:

[11] "De Medic.," lib. 1.

[12] "Sat.," x, 221.

[13] Rhodes's version.

[14] Handerson's translation.

[15] "Tacit. Annal.," xiv, 43.

[16] "Paulus AEgin.," vol. ii, p. 379.

[17] "Just. Cod.