The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-03-01
Some Ancient Physicians.

introduced public discussions; and the in
stitution finally became celebrated as a
school of medicine.
| Herophilus made more discoveries in
anatomy than any other individual of the
/ Alexandrian school. He ascertained the
| functions of the nervous system, and first
| taught that the nerves were the instru-
! ments of sensation. He also made much
brain, and the structure of the eye. He
] explained the rationale Of the arterial pull
satioa.
Erasistratas, who lived at Alexandria
(B. c. 500, was nearly &c celebrated as
Herophilus. His manner of MISUNDERSTANDING
in a difficult case is worth recalling, as it
suggests pratical rule, and evinces a
shrewdness equal to the wisdom of Solo
mon in discovering the mother of the child.
1t is related by Dunglison, as copied from
Plutarch:
"Antiochus, son Of Seleucus, having be-
come deeply enamored of his step-mother,
Stratonicc, concealed his passion, at last
| fell sick. The prince kept his bed, exper-
fenced no pain, but became considerably
reduced, without its being possible to dis
cover the caus1, Frasstratus, having re
marked the sunken stste Gf his eyes, the
feebleness of his voice, the palenes- q Ais
complexion, and the tears which he uncon-
seiously she'd, fancied that he saw in the
congeries of symptoms proofs of violent
passion. In order te throw Light on his
suspicion and discover the object, he placed
his hand on the heart of the patient, and
/ had all the females in the palace brought
/ into the chamber when Antiochus exper-
fenced no agitation; but on the approach
ot Stratonice he Immediately changed COL
mr. his heart beat foreibie, he vas covered
with persp;;ration, and seized with gen
eral trembling. .A.npian and Lucan render
the subsequent part of the recital no less
interesting by detailing the adroit manner
in which Erasistratus a4aounced the news
to Seleucus. and the generous conduct of
the king
In practice Erasistratus opposed the COM
| plicated preparations then i'll vogue, and
returned to the more simple methods OF
| Hippocrates. Indeed, the "Samian" may
be said to have simplified the practice
| of the "Coan" sage. He repudiated bleed
ing, objected to purging, and advised sim
pie medicines in all cases. He reduced his
patients, when he conceived it to be neces-
sary, by abstinence and exercise, substi-
tutiug Iieatures around the limbs for vene-
section. and recommended moderate emetlcs
and glysters instead of cathartics = + AS
clepiades, born about 90 B. c., introduced
many chimerical notions in physiology,
and new pathology, which, however crude
and absurd, was really the germ OF the
more elaborate theory advocated by Boer-
! have, fifteen hundred years afterwards.
He taught that iniiammatory affections
were owing to obstruction, from the mag
nitude, form, number, or rapid motions of
the molecular atoms; fainting and hectic
fever were caused by relaxation of the
,oyes: dropsies were occasioned by the
change ST flesh into water; quotidian inter
mittents SeTs owing to the obstruction OF
the larger atoms, tertains OF the less, and
ouantaus of the least Pain, be regarded
as due to obstruction from large atoms
germ of the modern theory that pain is
caused by compression. He adopted bleed
ing, but rejected emetics and purgatives
He laid much stress on bathing and friction,
and was the first to introduce the shower
bath. He also employed cold atfusior
baths freely. "
Themison introduced leeches, and wrote
n treatise on the virtues of the plantain
which he regarded az panacea.
Among the many disciples Of Themison,
Antonious Musa was the most celebrated
He introduced injections of cold water fol
Inflammation of the bowels, and is said tt
have cured the Emperor Augustus by colo
bathing alone, after many other physician:
had aggravated his malady with their rem
edies. For liiI achievement Augustus
made him knight, end ilepresd him
statute Of brass in the temple OF -i!scuia
Plus. Musa introduced into medicine TIT
flesh of the viper, lettuce, chicory, and en-
dive
Cornelius CELSIUS was prolific writer
and the most celebrated physician of tn
Mcthodic school after Themison. He was
however, more of compiler and eclectic
in medicine than an originator, although
he introduced some improvements in sur
gerry, end some useful precepts in obstet
rics.-iro". i5iiss;;c2l1,: IF Health.
There is no limit to the capacity OF Yam