Physiologia Medica

MEDICAL PROSCENIA

his arrival was initially welcome. Later, however, he earned the name of "Executioner" because of his cruelty in burning and cutting, since he handled those things with his own hand. It is clear from the Oath that even in the time of Hippocrates, the most severe part of surgery, Lithomiam cutting for bladder stones, was separated from the profession of the descendants of Asclepius, even though the knowledge of it belonged to the art.

Regarding the medical Form, which is introduced by healing and driven away by its opposite, that quality is either internal and primary, which is Health itself, or external, following the form of the parts placed in balance, namely the integrity of Actions. Or certainly, the matter of those same things, which is Beauty. Medicine is excellently occupied with Health. Concerning the others, it is not so much medicine itself but those branches which it led out from itself like colonies. Gymnastics is concerned with the integrity of Actions, calling upon food, baths, and purgatives for the assistance of exercises. Kosmetike Cosmetics is concerned with Beauty worthy of a free man. Its sister is kommotike embellishment, which is proper to courtesans, pimps, and slave-dealers. They are not only studious of external polishing but are also accustomed to care for the interior. Thus Malafar, the prefect of the eunuchs, gave royal foods to three eunuchs, not so they would be healthy, but so they would turn out beautiful.

Regarding the Agent, both the principal and the instrumental, Medicine is also varied.

In the first respect, one heals either oneself or others. Though the skill is the same, there is a much different confidence and alacrity. "We all give right advice to the sick when we are well," someone said.

Even a person who can give right advice to others while he is healthy in body and mind will find that as soon as he begins to be sick, the weakness of the body draws the soul into agreement with it. He either does not see what must be done, or he allows himself to be led away from the right path because of the vehemence of his desires. Therefore, doctors who are sick rightly set aside their medical persona and do not heal themselves. They are accustomed to seek and follow the advice of other doctors who are healthy. But the diversity of the skill itself also brings variety here, since in respect of Nature, it is instituted either according to nature or against nature. In respect of the Art, it is found either according to a constant method or without a method. Thus, one medicine is natural, another divine; one is methodical, and another is found lacking a method.

In the second respect, according to the variety of instruments, Medicine also seems to vary. Some require the help of native heat, so that when called into action, they are either conquered and assimilated, from which they are called Alimentary (Alimenta), or they conquer and alter, which are called Medications (Medicamenta). The administration of the former is called diaitetike dietetics, and of the latter pharmakeutike pharmaceutics. Other things do not require this, but act only through the service of another. These are external instruments, the administration of which is called cheirurgike surgery.

Finally, regarding the End Goal, Medicine varies. It applies healing to the body so that a good which is present may be preserved, such as Health, integrity of Actions, and dignity of Form through hygieine hygiene. Or so that what is absent may be acquired, through analeptike restorative medicine. Or so that an evil which is present may be driven away, namely Disease, the injury of actions, and deformity,