From many allusions in the Old Testament we infer that the science of medicine, which was carried to comparatively great perfection in Egypt, where every disease had its own physician , was also cultivated in Israel . The Rabbis ordained that every town must have at least one physician , who was also to be qualified to practise surgery, or else a physician and a surgeon. To employ a heretic or a Hebrew Christian was specially prohibited, though a heathen might, if needful, be called in. But, despite their patronage of the science , caustic sayings also occur. The prescriptions consisted of simples or of compounds, vegetables being far more used than minerals.
Jewish surgeons seem even to have known how to operate for cataract.
Ordinarily, life was expected to be prolonged , and death regarded as alike the punishment and the expiation of sin . Premature death was likened to the falling off of unripe fruit, or the extinction of a candle . To depart without having a son was to die , otherwise it was to fall asleep . If a person had finished his work , his was regarded as the death of the righteous , who is gathered to his fathers. Certain signs were also noted as to the time and manner of dying.