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Egypt. They are by Manetho attributed to Hermes of whom we have an account given by Clemens of Alexandria, that he composed forty-two books concerning all sciences; of which six related to medicine.--- Avo pε our και τεσσαράκοντα άι πανυ αναγκαιαι τῷ Ἑρμη γεγονασι βίβλοι, ὧν τας μεν λς την πασαν Αιγυπτιων περιέχουσας φιλοσοφίαν οι προειρημένοι εκμαν θανεσι. τας δε λοιπας ἐξ, δι ὅ παςοφόροι, ιατρικας

Strom. 1. vi. p. 758.

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2 O #α50 pogas (exparte), from hence I should judge, that the Pastophori were physicians; if the word be of Grecian etymology.

Clemens describes a sacred procession in Egypt: in which different persons have particular things to carry. Among others the * Pastophori have delegated to them the six medical books of Hermes. They are supposed to be stiled Pastophori from carrying the pastum, or robe, of Isis. But I should think, that they were so named from the things, which they, at the very time, bore in their hands, the treatises of physic. Παςα, καταπατά, επιπαςα, are all terms used in physic and from hence I imagine both the books, and the priests that bore them, were denominated. Pastillus is a diminutive from pastus, asos; and plainly relates to pharmacy, as we learn from Celsus. Malagmata, atque emplastra, pastillique, quos reoxien85 Græci vocant. 1. 5. c. 17.

Ουδεν ποττον έρωτα πεφύκει φαρμακον άλλο,
Νικία, ετ' εγχρισον (εμοι δοκεί) ετ' επιπαςον.

Theoc. Idyl. xi. v. 1

See Clen ens Pædagog. 1. 3. p. 253.

κείων

ουσας, περι τε της τ8 σωματος κατασκευης, και περι νόσων, και περί οργανων, και φαρμάκων, και περι οφθαλμών, και το τελευταιον περί των γυναι There are forty-two books of great consequence, which are ascribed to Hermes. Of these thirty-six contain all the philosophy of the Egyptians; and from these the persons before mentioned get their information. With the remaining six the Pastophori are particularly concerned: for they relate to pharmacy; and are treatises concerning the management of the body; also about different distempers; about medical instruments; and medicines; and complaints of the eyes; and lastly, concerning feminine disorders.

That this learning was originally consigned to the cryptæ or sacred caverns of Egypt, and to obelisks, is mentioned by Manetho of Sebennys, which shews its great antiquity :

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Εξ αδύτων ιερων βίβλων, βασίλευ Πτολεμαιε,

Και κρυφίμων στλων, ὡς ἑυρατο πανσοφος Ερμης,

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Μυρίοισι μιτοισι δηλον το μαθημα καθεύρον.

In consequence of this the Egyptians were always famed for their knowledge in medicine;

Πασοφορίον, το τον παςον Φερον, Hesych. Το παραφέρειν, το Φέρον τον πάτον. Suidas.

I Αποτελεσματ. 1. 5. v. 1.

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and their physicians were held in great repute. We find even in later times, when their country was in a manner ruined, that a king of Persia, upon a grievous hurt receiv`ed, applied to the adepts in Egypt for assistance, in preference to other countries. Herod. 1. 3. p. 262. And though they did not in this case succeed; yet we learn so much from the history, that they had not yet lost their pristine reputation. They were in great numbers in Egypt: each distemper having its proper physician, to which his practice was confined..... Μιης νουσε έκαστος ιητρός εςι, και ου πλεόνων. Παντα δε ιητρων εςι πλεα. Each physician is confined to onedisease; and engages with no more. The whole country abounds with the professors of medicine. The people seem to have been liable to many distempers; some of which were epidemical: as we find them to be at this 3 day. The Egyptians were continually providing against disorders; and they had persons, who pretended to foretel their coming both upon man and beast. In the time of

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1 Darius, upon a luxation of his ancle.

* Herod. 1. 2. c. 84. p. 141.

3 See Prosper Alpinus, l. 1. c. 13, 14. p. 23, 24.

-ETI મેંદ νόσους κοινας ανθρωποις ἡ βοσκήμασιν εσομένας προση

paivuoi. Diod. 1. 1. p. 73. D.

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Moses we read of a particular distemper called the 'botch of Egypt: and the diseases of the country are mentioned in more places than one of scripture. In consequence of this the people were in a continual state of 3 purgation; and reposed a great confidence in. their physicians: who were maintained at the expence of the public. These joined. astrology to physic; upon which they founded their pretended foresight in respect to impending maladies; and in consequence of it they were continually prescribing antidotes and preventives to the people.

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The Propriety of the Judgment.

I thought it necessary on many accounts to give this history of physic, as recorded by the

'Deuteron. c. xxviii. V. 27.

* The Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt-upon thee. Deut. c. vii. v. 15.

If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this lawthen the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, &c. Moreover, he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt. Ibid} c. xxviii. v. 58, 59, 60.

3 Herodot. 2. p. 139.
+ Diodor. 1. 1. p. 74. A.

ancient Egyptians. We find, that they believed it to have been found out by their gods and demi-gods: and from them to have been transmitted to particular persons in succession, who under their influence carried it on to the advantage of the nation. They therefore placed the greatest confidence in these deities; and in these their votaries, to whom this science was entrusted. Hence it pleased God to order his judgments accordingly: and to bring upon them a fearful disorder, which their deities could not avert, nor the art of man alleviate. He could have caused commotions in the earth, had it seemed fitting; and shaken their high edifices to their basis; or brought on a supernatural inundation, by which their cities had been swept to the deep. But this would not have been sufficiently significant. It seemed therefore good to divine wisdom to be more particular in its judgments. Hence in this instance, as well as in those which preceded, the Egyptians were not only punished; but were shewn the baseness of their worship; and the vanity of their confidence, where they most trusted. This, as it served for a warning to them, was very salutary to others, who were to learn by their example. They

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