The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-24
ANCIENT IRISH MEDICINE.
John G. CoyIe, M. D., in The Catholic
News.

slclans were famous for their skill and
devotion to their profession. Besides
the Druids, in pagan days, who prac-
tlced medicine as well as their relig-
lous spells and ceremonies, there were
physicians who made a profession of
medicine. One of the old legends tells
OF the great blanket, who, it was be-
lieVed, could cure all diseases. His
son, Medac, and his daughter, Air
media, were as skilled as himself. Di-
anket became jealous of Midac's great
fame and killed him. From the young
doctors grave there grew up 365
herbs, each with great virtue. Each
had grown from some joint or sinew
OF the dead Midac and could cure the
diseases of that part of the human
body from which it had grown. Air
media plucked the herbs and carefully
sorted them, preserving them in her
mantle. But blanket found them and
mixed them all up, SO that no one
could tell the special herbs. But for
this, every physician, says the legend,
would be able to cure every disease
known to mankind.
The tales of the famous Red Branch
Knights bear frequent mention of the
physicians and surgeons. The doctors
accompanied the armies, each one
equipped with bag, slung from his
shoulder, containing herbs, bandages,
ointments and other necessities. They
followed in the rear of the army, each
company of physicians under the com
handing physician. At the end of the
days fighting, or during it, if possible,
they rendered aid to the wounded.
Not only did the physicians in the
service of the chieftains and kings
serve the wounded of their own army,
but they rendered aid to the wounded
of the foe, on the Red Cross principle
of today. Two thousand years ago.
when Kehern, the Ulster hero, was
badly wounded, fighting against the
Connaughtmen, and covered with
wounds, was forced to retire, he sent
for physicians to the Connaughtmen,
for none of his own doctors were at
hand. And surgical aid was promptly
sent to the wounded chieftain from his
enemy's camp.
The physician to the king or chief
tain was well paid. He had house
and tract of land for himself, free
of all rent and taxes, and received GER
tain allowances. Often he was per-
mitted to practice for fees outside the
kings household. Some of these ply
sicians lived in great state. The Bre-
hon laws fixed the fees for all opera
tions and medical attendants. But the
laws made the physicians careful. If
he failed to heal wound because of
lack of care or want of skill, his pa
tient might bring him before brehon.
If the judge were satisfied that the
doctor gave improper care of treat
ment, he would fine the physician the
same amount as if the doctor himself
had caused the original wound, be-
sides making him give up his fee.
Medicine, like law, ran in families
in Ireland. Some of the families, such
as the O'Schiels, O'Cassidys, Ollie
keys and O'Lees had generations of
doctors, each generation benefitting by
the experience of the preceding one.
The doctors kept their observations
very carefully, writing down every
possibly useful treatment and giving
minute directions about the successful
management of cases, which, as these
books we're carefully preserved, made
an ever-growing medical library of
great service. Many such volumes are
preserved in the library at Dublin.
One such book contains a preface,
written in Irish, which shows the
spirit and the professional feeling of
the doctors of six hundred years ago
in Ireland The writer says:
May the good God have mercy on
us all. have here collected practical
rules of medicine from several works,
for the honor of God, for the benefit
Of the Irish people, for the instruction
OF my pupils and for the love OF my
friends and my kindred. | have trans