The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-23
FAITH CURB"
Said to be Mouldy and Time-worn
Humbug.
From the Medical Record.

Said to be Mouldy and Time-Worn
Humbu9
From the Medical Record
The following article concerning the old
time faith cures is interesting and instruc-
tive, insomuch that the humbugging of the
ancients ehOuld serve as warning against
the humbuggery Of to-day.
The temples Of EIculapius began to take
a prominent part In the social and medical
life OF the Greeks at about the time of the
Trojan war, and they lasted as inst buttons
until 400 A. D. The faith cares of old,
therefore, officially endured for about 900
years. The temples of Esculapius were
usually small and modest structures Like the
doctor OF to-day they did not secure great
gifts of gold; their reputation was among
the poor. They were placed in some sa-
luxurious spot and had attached a corps of
priests and attendants The sick came and
were placed on couchas IN the interior,
where, after visitation from the priest, they
made their VOWS and went to sleep 1t was
expected that the god would visit them In
their dreams, aud either heal them or re-
veal a way for so doing. II a cure resulted
the patient deposited some gift, and caused
a tabled to be erected describing his dis
ease and its cure, and rendering appropri-
ate thanks to the deity. These gifts and
inscriptions remained to ornament the tenn
pie aud inspire hope and confidence In the
hearts OF newcomers. Some gavo proptia-
tory offerings, l. O., paid before they were
cured. But this seems TO have been rather
unusual. The ancient Greek was of a
frugal mind and only paid for what he got.
ArchRologists have collected many of the
curious votive tablets from these old faith
cure establishments. A Lacedsnlonian
lady had the dropsy Her
mother consulted the god at
the temple of Epidaurrs aud dreamed that
she saw him descend cut OIL the head Of her
daughter, then hold up the trunk until all
the water ran out. She woke up, went
home and found her daughter we'll Another
tablet describes the dream Of a patient who
suffered from cancer Of the stomach. The
god removed the cancer by neat ana pain
less laparotomy, and the patient awoke and
was cured. fit could only be done that way
now! Naturally the priests became some
what skillful In the practical and real part
of medicine. They saw that their patients
received healing drugs and followed by
gisnic ways of living. IL was from some of
these practical physicians that Hippocrates
learned what little he knew of medical art,
expunging from it priessly mysticism and
Quackery.
As time passed aud the ancient religion
became more Of conscious deception and
means OF gain the temple of Esculspius
degenerated. They were sometimes started
as business venture by dishonest men, who
worked them "for all they were worth
just as is done nowadays. Again, special.
Ism entered the field. The oricle at Delphos
In order to enlarge its revenues, entered the
field; the priests Of Diana at Ephesus made
a speciality OF the eyes, and those of the
temple OF Venus looked after certain kinds
OF tumors. In order to help along the bust
ness later, a great deal of trickery was in-
troduoed; finally, human credulity could he
taxed no farther, and the temple were
abandon. ed
In the early days, when conducted by
honest priests, the temples of AEsculapus
no doubt did much service. They were the
santtarian and consulting oenters of the
psople. Their decline aud fall was newt
able as Chris>!anity grew. but it was
fastened by the gross abuses of the system.