Blood from the right side is deadly poison. The myth displays understanding that the power to heal is at the same time the power to harm, and that it is the physician s duty never to use his art in a way that is injurious. In purity and holiness he must guard his life and his art. The myth of the two vials tells us also something of the purpose of medicine. Some arts, like carving and carpentry, can be put to a variety of uses, none of which is clearly indicated by the nature of the crafts themselves.
Medicine is different.
The name physician attests to this goal. The physician works with the physis or nature of the body. This nature is given by God, and the physician who treats it impiously acts unjustly. The application of dietetic measures indicates that the physician works with the body s own regenerative powers. Dietetic measures like modern drugs help the body either by assisting its natural powers or by suppressing the force of illness while the body recovers.