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things fall out differently from what was foretold； that is due to the deceit
of men that speak what they know not： calling into contempt a science to
which past and present alike bear a glorious testimony〃 （Ann。 vi； 22）。
＇20＇ Manili Astronomicon Liber II； ed。 H。 W。 Garrod； Oxford； 1911；
p。 lxix； and II； ll。 84…86。
＇21＇ Pliny： Natural History； Bk。 XVIII； Chap。 XXV； Sect。 57。
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Cato waged war on the Greek physicians and forbade 〃his uilicus all
resort to haruspicem； augurem； hariolum Chaldaeum；〃 but in vain； so
widespread became the belief that the great philosopher； Panaetius （who
died about 111 B。C。）； and two of his friends alone among the stoics；
rejected the claims of astrology as a science （Garrod）。 So closely related
was the subject of mathematics that it； too； fell into disfavor； and in the
Theodosian code sentence of death was passed upon mathematicians。
Long into the Middle Ages； the same unholy alliance with astrology and
divination caused mathematics to be regarded with suspicion； and even
Abelard calls it a nefarious study。
The third important feature in Babylonian medicine is the evidence
afforded by the famous Hammurabi Code （circa 2000 B。C。） a body of
laws； civil and religious； many of which relate to the medical profession。
This extraordinary document is a black diorite block 8 feet high； once
containing 21 columns on the obverse； 16 and 28 columns on the reverse；
with 2540 lines of writing of which now 1114 remain； and surmounted by
the figure of the king receiving the law from the Sun…god。 Copies of this
were set up in Babylon 〃that anyone oppressed or injured； who had a tale
of woe to tell； might come and stand before his image； that of a king of
righteousness； and there read the priceless orders of the King； and from the
written monument solve his problem〃 （Jastrow）。 From the enactments of
the code we gather that the medical profession must have been in a highly
organized state； for not only was practice regulated in detail； but a scale of
fees was laid down； and penalties exacted for malpraxis。 Operations were
performed； and the veterinary art was recognized。 An interesting feature；
from which it is lucky that we have in these days escaped； is the
application of the 〃lex talionis〃 an eye for an eye； bone for a bone； and
tooth for a tooth； which is a striking feature of the code。
Some of the laws of the code may be quoted：
Paragraph 215。 If a doctor has treated a gentleman for a severe
wound with a bronze lances and has cured the man； or has opened an
abscess of the eye for a gentleman with the bronze lances and has cured
the eye of the gentleman； he shall take ten shekels of silver。
218。 If the doctor has treated a gentleman for a severe wound with a
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lances of bronze and has caused the gentleman to die； or has opened an
abscess of the eye for a gentleman and has caused the loss of the
gentleman's eye； one shall cut off his hands。
219。 If a doctor has treated the severe wound of a slave of a poor man
with a bronze lances and has caused his death； he shall render slave for
slave。
220。 If he has opened his abscess with a bronze lances and has made
him lose his eye； he shall pay money； half his price。
221。 If a doctor has cured the shattered limb of a gentleman； or has
cured the diseased bowel； the patient shall give five shekels of silver to the
doctor。
224。 If a cow doctor or a sheep doctor has treated a cow or a sheep for
a severe wound and cured it； the owner of the cow or sheep shall give one…
sixth of a shekel of silver to the doctor as his fee。＇22＇
＇22＇ The Oldest Code of Laws in the World； translated by C。 H。 W。
Johns； Edinburgh； 1903。
HEBREW MEDICINE
THE medicine of the Old Testament betrays both Egyptian and
Babylonian influences； the social hygiene is a reflex of regulations the
origin of which may be traced in the Pyramid Texts and in the papyri。 The
regulations in the Pentateuch codes revert in part to primitive times； in part
represent advanced views of hygiene。 There are doubts if the Pentateuch
code really goes back to the days of Moses； but certainly someone
〃learned in the wisdom of the Egyptians〃 drew it up。 As Neuburger briefly
summarizes：
〃The commands concern prophylaxis and suppression of epidemics；
suppression of venereal disease and prostitution； care of the skin； baths；
food； housing and clothing； regulation of labour； sexual life； discipline of
the people； etc。 Many of these commands； such as Sabbath rest；
circumcision； laws concerning food （interdiction of blood and pork）；
measures concerning menstruating and lying…in women and those
suffering from gonorrhoea； isolation of lepers； and hygiene of the camp；
are； in view of the conditions of the climate； surprisingly rational。〃＇23＇
＇23＇ Neuburger： History of Medicine； Oxford University Press； 1910；
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Vol。 I； p。 38。
Divination； not very widely practiced； was borrowed； no doubt； from
Babylonia。 Joseph's cup was used for the purpose； and in Numbers； the
elders of Balak went to Balaam with the rewards of divination in their
hands。 The belief in enchantments and witchcraft was universal； and the
strong enactments against witches in the Old Testament made a belief in
them almost imperative until more rational beliefs came into vogue in the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries。
Whatever view we may take of it； the medicine of the New Testament
is full of interest。 Divination is only referred to once in the Acts （xvi； 16）；
where a damsel is said to be possessed of a spirit of divination 〃which
brought her masters much gain by soothsaying。〃 There is only one
mention of astrology （Acts vii； 43）； there are no witches； neither are there
charms or incantations。 The diseases mentioned are numerous： demoniac
possession； convulsions； paralysis； skin diseases；as leprosy；dropsy；
haemorrhages； fever； fluxes； blindness and deafness。 And the cure is
simple usually a fiat of the Lord； rarely with a prayer； or with the use of
means such as spittle。 They are all miraculous； and the same power was
granted to the apostles〃power against unclean spirits； to cast them out； to
heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease。〃 And more than this；
not only the blind received their sight； the lame walked； the lepers were
cleansed； the deaf heard； but even the dead were raised up。 No question of
the mandate。 He who went about doing good was a physician of the body
as well as of the soul； and could the rich promises of the Gospel have been
fulfilled； there would have been no need of a new dispensation of science。
It may be because the children of this world have never been able to
accept its hard sayingsthe insistence upon poverty； upon humility； upon
peace that Christianity has lost touch no less with the practice than with
the principles of its Founder。 Yet； all through the centuries； the Church has
never wholly abandoned the claim to apostolic healing； nor is there any
reason why she should。 To the miraculous there should be no time limit
only conditions have changed and nowadays to have a mountain…moving
faith is not easy。 Still； the possession is cherished； and it adds enormously
to the spice and variety of life to know that men of great intelligence； for
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example； my good friend； Dr。 James J。 Walsh of New York； believe in the
miracles of Lourdes。＇24＇ Only a few weeks ago； the Bishop of London
followed with great success； it is said； the practice of St。 James。 It does not
really concern us muchas Oriental views of disease and its cure have had
very little influence on the evolution of