The Washington times., 1906-04-15

ment % various diseases, and SONS
of their remedies. forgotten during
The Middle Ages. have never been rs
discovered.
This sanatorium At Cos was one o.
the most noted institutions Of the
Kind maintained by the Greeks
Here the frsIl and brokea-down citi-
zcnS ot the Dorian League were sc-
customed 10 come To recUperate- The
sana1o-ium WAS handsomely ap-
pointed IN every particular. From
the fragments Of the structure thsf
have been exbumcd complete draw
inEs OF the various buildings have
been made. showing the long opcr
corridors in which the patients were
accustomed TO taking their daily
exercise. The sanatorium was situst-
cd on a Hill which was swept by
the cool bToezes from the mountains
10 the south Groves Of cypress
trees surrounded the main building
on three sides
IN the evening the health seekers
were accustomed 10 retiring early.
They would congresate in the long
corridors. where cogchcs were placed
for their use. Then the priest-phy-
sicisns would appear 10 offer prayers
and burn incense 10 the god Of
health. After this ceremony the sa-
cred snakes would be released from
their marble chamber and would be
allowed TO move At Will through the
corridors. If these snakes happened
TO crawl ovtr one Of the patients. II
WAS considered 2 propitious sign.
and if one should lick the face OF
a sufferer II was deemed a certain
indication that recovery would fol-
low.
An aqucduct from a large spring
in the neiEhborhood brought suf-
fient supply Of water. This spring
furnished a chalybeate water which
had many medicinal qualities. and IL
was probably due TO this fact as
much as -tosthe veneratiun, foF dfh,
god Aescu,apiqs that made4fhs!Cos
SaustOriuT famous among the an
oisnts
Very little wss known of surgery
in the days of, ancient Greece
for il was nearly three thousant
years later that Harvey discovered
the circulation of the blood. the pri.
mary knowledge upon which mos
operations are today based It wat
for the nervous invaiids that Cos be
came the Mecca. Here the priests
insisted upon the simple liie. alb
Solute relaxation. use OF the chaly-
beate water. and plenty of fresh air
As for the rest, the snakes were sup
posed 10 make up the "quinJeSSen'
element. which guaranteed a TestOr-
alton 10 health. vigOr. and exubcra
ton 0t spirits
Many strange inscriptions srs
notices have been found ny tn
archaculoEiSts in their excavations
some Of which indicate that Aescula
Plus WAS of vgstly more impOrtsnc
ia the owes ot rhP ancieRfs ;han ".
have beer. accustoUled 10 thinking
The changes which Cos has under
gore since II WIS the noted health
resort of the ancients are most re-
markabIe- To-day instead Of being
known for the restorative powers of
its waters and its air. it is known
un.y for IFS Sultana raisins and for
the great plane tree which stands
in the center OF the little seaport
town Of this island There are
many legends told Of this tree which
measures fully thirty feet in cir
conference. The inhabitants Of the
island declare that it was planted
by the Creeks when they first built
the temple ana SanatoTium which
has just now heen brought TO light.
Wheteser It's age. il Is certain 1nat
II has been standing long before any
Of the present o. the last three o,
four Eeaerstions we're born