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Physicians who pretended to infallibility in detecting even the minutest
departure from their prescriptions were laughed at； and finally； there were
precise by…laws to regulate the personal behaviour of the physician。 He
was enjoined to observe the most scrupulous cleanliness； and was advised
to cultivate an elegance removed from all signs of luxury； even down to
the detail that he might use perfumes；but not in an immoderate degree。〃＇22＇
But the high…water mark of professional morality is reached in the famous
Hippocratic oath；which Gomperz calls 〃a monument of the highest rank in
the history of civilization。〃 It is of small matter whether this is of
Hippocratic date or not； or whether it has in it Egyptian or Indian elements：
its importance lies in the accuracy with which it represents the Greek spirit。
For twenty…five centuries it has been the 〃credo〃 of the profession； and in
many universities it is still the formula with which men are admitted to the
doctorate。
＇21＇ Oxford。 Clarendon Press； 2d ed。； 1911。
＇22＇ Gomperz： Greek Thinkers； Vol。 I； p。 281。
I swear by Apollo the physician and AEsculapius and Health
（Hygieia） and All…Heal （Panacea） and all the gods and goddesses； that；
according to my ability and judgment； I will keep this oath and this
stipulationto reckon him who taught me this art equally dear to me as my
parents； to share my substance with him； and relieve his necessities if
required； to look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own
brothers； and to teach them this art；if they shall wish to learn it； without
fee or stipulation； and that by precept；lecture； and every other mode of
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instruction； I will impart a knowledge of my art to my own sons； and those
of my teachers； and to disciples bound by a stipulation and oath according
to the law of medicine； but to none others。 I will follow that system of
regimen which； according to my ability and judgement；I consider for the
benefit of my patients； and abstain from whatever is deleterious and
mischievous。
I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if asked； nor suggest any
such counsel； and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to
produce abortion。
With purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my art。
＇I will not cut persons labouring under the stone； but will leave this to
be done by men who are practitioners of this work。＇
Into whatsoever houses I enter； I will go into them for the benefit of
the sick； and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and
corruption； and；further； from the abduction of females or males； of
freemen and slaves。 Whatever； in connection with my professional
practice； or not in connection with it；I see or hear； in the life of men； which
ought not to be spoken of abroad； I will not divulge； as reckoning that all
such should be kept secret。
While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated； may it be granted to me
to enjoy life and the practice of the art； respected by all men； in all times！
But should I trespass and violate this Oath； may the reverse be my lot！
（Adams； II； 779； cf。 Littre； IV； 628。）
In his ideal republic； Plato put the physician low enough； in the last
stratum； indeed； but he has never been more honorably placed than in the
picture of Athenian society given by this author in the 〃Symposium。〃 Here
the physician is shown as a cultivated gentleman； mixing in the best； if not
always the most sober； society。 Eryximachus； the son of Acumenus；
himself a physician； plays in this famous scene a typical Greek part＇22a＇
a strong advocate of temperance in mind and body； deprecating； as a
physician； excess in drink； he urged that conversation should be the order
of the day and he had the honor of naming the subject〃Praise of the God
of Love。〃 Incidentally Eryximachus gives his view of the nature of disease；
and shows how deeply he was influenced by the views of Empedocles：〃。 。 。
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so too in the body the good and healthy elements are to be indulged； and
the bad elements and the elements of disease are not to be indulged； but
discouraged。 And this is what the physician has to do； and in this the art of
medicine consists： for medicine may be regarded generally as the
knowledge of the loves and desires of the body and how to satisfy them or
not； and the best physician is he who is able to separate fair love from foul；
or to convert one into the other； and he who knows how to eradicate and
how to implant love； whichever is required； and can reconcile the most
hostile elements in the constitution and make them loving friends； is a
skilful practitioner。〃
＇22a＇ Professor Gildersleeve's view of Eryximachus is less favorable
（Johns Hopkins University Circular； Baltimore； January； 1887）。 Plato； III；
186Jowett； I； 556。
The second great note in Greek medicine illustrates the directness
with which they went to the very heart of the matter。 Out of mysticism；
superstition and religious ritual the Greek went directly to nature and was
the first to grasp the conception of medicine as an art based on accurate
observation； and an integral part of the science of man。 What could be
more striking than the phrase in 〃The Law；〃 〃There are； in effect； two
things； to know and to believe one knows； to know is science； to believe
one knows is ignorance〃？＇23＇ But no single phrase in the writings can
compare for directness with the famous aphorism which has gone into the
literature of all lands： 〃Life is short and Art is long； the Occasion fleeting；
Experience fallacious； and Judgment difficult。〃
＇23＇ Littre： OEuvres d'Hippocrate； Vol。 IV； pp。 641…642。
Everywhere one finds a strong； clear common sense； which refuses to
be entangled either in theological or philosophical speculations。 What
Socrates did for philosophy Hippocrates may be said to have done for
medicine。 As Socrates devoted himself to ethics； and the application of
right thinking to good conduct； so Hippocrates insisted upon the practical
nature of