Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-05
SOMETHING ABOUT
OUR FIRST DOCTORS

THE science of medicine ana meaning
was practiced by the Egyptians in
the very early ages. They believed that
several divinities presided over disease,
the Goddess Rsis. wife and sister of Osi-
ris, being the greatest OF those pos
sessing the power of healing the sick
and restoring life.
The science of medicine was divided
into two classes. The first because con-
sidered the most powerfully was the prac-
tice of conjurations, "dissolving the
charms of the gods by prayer and rev.
Citations received by the sufferers during
solitary confinement in the temples. OI
course, the priests had charge OF t .hs
ordinary practitioners, who resorted To
the use of medicine.
The Egyptians must be given credit
for giving to the world the first oculists,
since they had a fair knowledge of the
diseases of the eye, and were, compare
lively speaking. very successful IN the
treatment OF certain ailments or that Or
gan History chronicles the fact that
the Eeyntian doctors were Summoned
to foreign courts" to practice their sci
ence of medicine, and were beiieVed 10
be very successful in the treatment Oh
fevers, as we'll as diseases OF the eye
The ancient Egyptians held a peculiar
theory regarding the development of the
heart. They thought that up to the age
of fifty years the heart increased In
weight about two drains annually. and
after that it decreased in weight about
the same amount each year. Through
this continuous loss old age set in, and
at about seventy years or age man
died Another of their curious beliefs
was that demons ruled over the body.
and that only on account of the poisons
forced into the human body by these
wicked agents did mankind need 1000
and drink. Such sustenance was neces-
sary to strengthen the human sum-
GENTLY to throw off the effects OF the
demons poisons. Otherwise, man
would not need such rebuilding.
The ancient Egyptians resorted to dis
section, and were very well acquainted
with anatomy. Especially did they make
a study of the heart, the Emphatic
glands and the crystalline lens of the
eye"
In India the praclice of medicine prob
ably dates farther back than in Egypt.
In the earlier ages the priests were the
doctors and "heaiers: and their
soil. But in later centuries they bor-
rowed from the Greeks. The study and
practice of the Hindu physicians were
controlled by certain regulations. winch
would be well to follow even in this adj
vanced age. Those undertaking the prac-
tice of medicine were required to possess
"a fine person, decorum. chastity, con-
sideration for the sick, generosity, dill
gence. temperance. freedom from boast
ing, yeracity, secrecy. anna bility, de-
sire for knowledge which scorns not
even the lessons of an enemy, and. above
all. reflection and independence OF
thought
To quote further: "a physician who
desires success in his practice, his own
profit, good name and finally a place
in heaven must pray daily for the well
fare of all living creatures, first of all
the Brahmans and the sacred cow
The physician should wear his hair short.
keep is nails clean and cut close. and
wear a understanding dress. Let his
speech be SOFT clear and pleasant. Trans
actions in the house should not be bruit-
ed abroad
From the above it will be seen that
the Hindu doctor of ancient times had
to be man Of presence and talents, COM
bined with cleanliness and virtue.