Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-30
SUPPOSED TRANSLATION
OF HIPPOCRATIC OATH
Interesting Document in Possession Of
Local Physician Pertains to Hip
pocrates, "the Father Of Medicine"

! OF much interest as pertaining to Hip
! pocrates, the great Greek physician call
| ed the father of medicine" is a docu
ment hanging upon the wall in the office
Of DR.. George A. Coombs Of this city, il
being a framed copy of a supposed trans
/ lation of the Hippocratic Oath. 1T is sup
posed that that oath was administered
10 his students and followers by Hippo
crates himself, who was born about 46t
B. c. and died in the fourth century B. c.
The oath reads in part as follows
Il swear by Apollo, the physician, ami
Aescuapius and Health and All-IIeal and
all the Gods and Godesses, that accord
ing TO my ability and judgment I will
keep this oath and this stipulation-to
reckon him who taught me this art equal
" dear to me as my parents, to store my
substance with him ana relieve his nc
cessities ii required. TO look upon his off
| spring in the same footing as my own
! brothers and to teach them this art #
! they shall wish to learn it without fee or
stipulation, and that by precept, lecture
and every other mode of instruction | will
| impart a knowledge Of the art to my OWE
sons and those of my teachers and TO dis
cipes bound by stipulation and oath ac-
cording to the law Of medicine, but to
zone others. I will follow the system Of
regimen which according to my ability
and judgment | consider for the benefit Of
my patients and will abstain from what
ever is deleterious and mischievous.
will give no deadly medicine to anyone if
asked nor suggest any such COUNSEL **'+F
with purity and holiness / will pass my
life and practice my art. I will not cut
persons laboring Under the stone. but
will leave this to be done by men who
are practitioners of this work
Into whatever houses enter T will go
, into them for the benefit Of the sick and
will abstain from any voluntary act OF
mischief and corruption;* whatever
in connection with my professional prac-
tice. or not in common with il. | see or
hear in my life, of men which ought NOT
70 be spoken of abroad. I will not divulge
as reckoning that all such should be KEEP:
secret While 7 continue to keep this
oath unyiolated, may it be granted to ne
to enjoy life and the practice Of the art
respected by all men in all times! But
should I trespass and violate this oath
lmay the reverse be my lot"
The copy of the translation is printed
in colors and upon it is picture Of the
seal of Hippocrates
DIR. Coombs has in his possession several
rare books. which were given him about
! 10 years ago by DR.. George II. Brickett
of this city and had formerly been owned
! by his father. the late DR.. George r.
| Prickett The oldest of these books was
printed in 1915 in Boston and is entitled
| 'Sketches of Epidemic Diseases in the
State OF Vermont from It's First Settle
ment to the Year 1915, with a Considera-
| ton Of Their Causes. Pneumonia ana
Treatment; To Which Is Added Remarks
on Pulmonary Consumption" The book
j was written by Joseph A. Gallup. NJ. d,
| A study of this book shows that DR..
Gallup was a close observer and was far
ahead of his time in many things. Re
garding the contagiousness Of epidemic
diseases, however, he seems to have had
| little knowledge and he attributed some
diseases to almost supernatural causes.
| the influence Of the plants and especially
OF the comets. But in recognizing the
value Of the use of water in the treat
ment Of fever he was certainly ahead of
| his time.
Among the other rare books owned by
/ DR.. Coomhs are armstrong on Fevers.
published in 1924: Modern Surgery" by
Drutt published in 1871, and "Fordyce
| on Fevers, published in 1873. In con
! nection with the book "Modern Surgery
It'll is an interesting fact that its author
dedicated the volume to Charles Mayo,
the father Of the Mayo brothers or Eoch-
ester MINI. who are known all over the
world for their wonderful skill IN sur
gerry.