of
procuring an abortion. With purity and with holiness I will pass my
life and practise my art.... Into whatever houses I enter I will go
into them for the benefit of the sick, keeping myself aloof from
every voluntary act of injustice and corruption and lust. Whatever
in the course of my professional practice, or outside of it, I see
or hear which ought not to be spread abroad, I will not divulge, as
reckoning that all such should be kept secret. If I continue to
observe this oath and to keep it inviolate, may it be mine to enjoy
life and the practice of the Art respected among all men for ever.
But should I violate this oath and forswear myself, may the reverse
be my lot."

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Grote's "Aristotle," vol. i. p. 3.

[2] Grote's "History of Greece," vol. i. p. 358.

ARISTOTLE.

_ARISTOTLE._

About the time that Hippocrates died, Aristotle, who may be regarded as
the founder of the science of "Natural History," was born (B.C. 384) in
Stagira, an unimportant Hellenic colony in Thrace, near the Macedonian
frontier. His father was a distinguished physician, and, like
Hippocrates, boasted descent from the Asclepiadae. The importance
attached by the Asclepiads to the habit of physical observation, which
has been already referred to in the life of Hippocrates, secured for
Aristotle, from his earliest years, that familiarity with biological
studies which is so clearly evident in many of his works.

Both parents of Aristotle died when their son was still a youth, and in
consequence of this he went to reside with Proxenus, a native of
Atarneus, who had settled at Stagira. Subsequently he went to Athens and
joined the school of Plato. Here he remained for about twenty years, and
applied himself to study with such energy that he became pre-eminent
even in that distinguished band of philosophers. He is said to have
been spoken of by Plato as "the intellect" of the school, and to have
been compared by him to a spirited colt that required the application of
the rein to restrain its ardour.

Aristotle probably wrote at this time some philosophical works, the fame
of which reached the ears of Philip, King of Macedonia, and added to the
reputation which the young philosopher had already made with that
monarch; for Philip is said to have written to him on the occasion of
Alexander's birth, B.C. 356: "King Philip of Macedonia to Aristotle,
greeting. Know that