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ssor Oehler＇8a＇ of Reina； throw an important light on the state of medicine in Greece and Rome。 Greek vases give representations of these state doctors at work。 Dr。 E。 Pottier has published one showing the treatment of a patient in the clinic。＇8b＇
＇8＇ R。 Pohl： De Graecorum medicis publicis； Berolini； Reimer； 1905； also Janus； Harlem； 1905； X； 491…494。
＇8a＇ J Oehler： Janus； Harlem； 1909； XIV； 4； 111。
＇8b＇ E。 Pottier： Une clinique grecque au Ve siecle； Monuments et Memoires； XIII； p。 149。 Paris； 1906 （Fondation Eugene Piot）。
That dissections were practiced by this group of nature philosophers is shown not only by the studies of Alcmaeon； but we have evidence that one of the latest of them； Diogenes of Apollonia； must have made elaborate dissections。 In the 〃Historia Animalium〃＇9＇ of Aristotle occurs his account of the blood vessels； which is by far the most elaborate met with in the literature until the writings of Galen。 It has； too； the great merit of accuracy （if we bear in mind the fact that it was not until after Aristotle that arteries and veins were differentiated）； and indications are given as to the vessels from which blood may be drawn。
＇9＇ The Works of Aristotle； Oxford； Clarendon Press； Vol。 IV； 1910； Bk。 III； Chaps。 II…IV； pp。 511b…515b。
ASKLEPIOS
No god made with hands； to use the scriptural phrase； had a more successful 〃run〃 than Asklepiosfor more than a thousand years the consoler and healer of the sons of men。 Shorn of his divine attributes he remains our patron saint； our emblematic God of Healing； whose figure with the serpents appears in our seals and charters。 He was originally a Thessalian chieftain； whose sons； Machaon and Podalirius； became famous physicians and fought in the Trojan War。 Nestor； you may remember； carried off the former； declaring； in the oft…quoted phrase； that a doctor was better worth saving than many warriors unskilled in the treatment of wounds。 Later genealogies trace his origin to Apollo；＇10＇ as whose son he is usually regarded。 〃In the wake of northern tribes this god Aesculapiusa more majestic figure than the blameless leech of Homer's songcame by land to Epidaurus and was carried by sea to the east…ward island of Cos。。。。 Aesculapius grew in importance with the growth of Greece； but may not have attained his greatest power until Greece and Rome were one。〃＇11＇
＇10＇ W。 H。 Roscher： Lexikon der griechischen und romischen Mythologie； Leipzig； 1886； I； p。 624。
＇11＇ Louis Dyer： Studies of the Gods in Greece； 1891； p。 221。
A word on the idea of the serpent as an emblem of the healing art which goes far back into antiquity。 The mystical character of the snake； and the natural dread and awe inspired by it； early made it a symbol of supernatural power。 There is a libation vase of Gudea； c。 2350 B。C。； found at Telloh； now in the Louvre （probably the earliest representation of the symbol）； with two serpents entwined round a staff （Jastrow； Pl。 4）。 From the earliest times the snake has been associated with mystic and magic power； and even today； among native races； it plays a part in the initiation of medicine men。
In Greece； the serpent became a symbol of Apollo； and prophetic serpents were kept and fed at his shrine； as well as at that of his son； Asklepios。 There was an idea； too； that snakes had a knowledge of herbs； which is referred to in the famous poem of Nikander on Theriaka。＇12＇ You may remember that when Alexander； the famous quack and oracle monger； depicted by Lucian； started out 〃for revenue；〃 the first thing he did was to provide himself with two of the large； harmless； yellow snakes of Asia Minor。
＇12＇ Lines 31； etc。； and Scholia； cf。 W。 R。 Halliday： Greek Divination； London； 1913； p。 88。
The exact date of the introduction of the cult into Greece is not known； but its great centres were at Epidaurus； Cos； Pergamos and Tricca。 It throve with wonderful rapidity。 Asklepios became one of the most popular of the gods。 By the time of Alexander it is estimated that there were between three and four hundred temples dedicated to him。
His worship was introduced into Rome at the time of the Great Plague at the beginning of the third century B。C。 （as told by Livy in Book XI）； and the temple on the island of Tiber became a famous resort。 If you can transfer in imagination the Hot Springs of Virginia to the neighborhood of Washington； and put there a group of buildings such as are represented in these outlines of Caton's＇13＇ （p。 52）； add a sumptuous theatre with seating capacity for 20；000； a stadium 600 feet long with a seating capacity of 12；000； and all possible accessories of art and science； you will have an idea of what the temple at Epidaurus； a few miles from Athens； was。 〃The cult flourished mostly in places which； through climatic or hygienic advantages； were natural health resorts。 Those favoured spots on hill or mountain； in the shelter of forests； by rivers or springs of pure flowing water； were conducive to health。 The vivifying air； the well cultivated gardens surrounding the shrine； the magnificent view； all tended to cheer the heart with new hope of cure。 Many of these temples owed their fame to mineral or merely hot springs。 To the homely altars； erected originally by sacred fountains in the neighbourhood of health…giving mineral springs； were later added magnificent temples； pleasure…grounds for festivals； gymnasia in which bodily ailments were treated by physical exercises； baths and inunctions； also； as is proved by excavations； living rooms for the patients。 Access to the shrine was forbidden to the unclean and the impure； pregnant women and the mortally afflicted were kept away； no dead body could find a resting…place within the holy precincts； the shelter and the cure of the sick being undertaken by the keepers of inns and boarding…houses in the neighbourhood。 The suppliants for aid had to submit to careful purification； to bathe in sea； river or spring； to fast for a prescribed time； to abjure wine and certain articles of diet； and they were only permitted to enter the temple when they were adequately prepared by cleansing； inunction and fumigation。 This lengthy and exhausting preparation； partly dietetic； partly suggestive； was accompanied by a solemn service of prayer and sacrifice； whose symbolism tended highly to excite the imagination。〃＇14＇
＇13＇ Caton： Temples and Ritual of Asklepios； 2d ed。； London； 1900。
＇14＇ Max Neuburger： History of Medicine； English translation； Oxford； 1910； p。 94。
The temples were in charge of members of the guild or fraternity； the head of which was often； though not necessarily； a physician。 The Chief was appointed annually。 From Caton's excellent sketch＇15＇ you can get a good idea of the ritual； but still better is the delightful description given in the 〃Plutus〃 of Aristophanes。 After offering honey…cakes and baked meats on the altar； the suppliants arranged themselves on the pallets。
＇15＇ Caton： Temples and Ritual of Asklepios； 2d ed。； London； 1900。
Soon the Temple servitor Put out the lights and bade us fall asleep； Nor stir； nor speak； whatever noise we heard。 So down we lay in orderly repose。 And I could catch no slumber； not one wink； S