140 OF THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING, [X. 6. 
do enact a law of neglect, and exempt ignorance from 
discredit. 
7. Nay further, I esteem it the office of a physician 
not only to restore health, but to mitigate pain and 
dolors ; and not only when such mitigation may conduce 
ee te recovery, but when it may Serve to make 
hy ee fair and easy passage. For it is no small 
felicity which Augustus Czesar was wont to 
wish to himself, that same Euthanasia; and 
which was specially noted in the death of Antoninus Pius, 
whose death was after the fashion and semblance of a 
kindly and pleasant sleep. So it is written of Epicurus, 
that after his disease was judged desperate, he drowned 
his stomach and senses with a large draught and in- 
gurgitation of wine ; whereupon the epigram was made, 
Hine Stygias ebrius haustt aquas ; he was not sober 
enough to taste any bitterness of the Stygian water. But 
the physicians contrariwise do make a kind of scruple 
and religion to stay with the patient after the disease is 
deplored; whereas in my judgement they ought both to 
inquire the skill, and to give the attendances, for the facil- 
itating and assuaging of the pains and agonies of death. 
8. In the consideration of the cures of diseases, I find 
a deficience in the receipts of propriety, re- 
specting the particular cures. of diseases: for 
the physicians have frustrated the fruit of 
tradition and experience by their magistral- 
ities, in adding and taking out and changing guid pro 
quo in their receipts, at their pleasures; commanding so 
over the medicine, as the medicine cannot command 
over the disease. For except it be treacle and mithri- 
datum, and of late diascordium, and a few more, they tie 
themselves to no receipts severely and religiously. For as 
ore. 
Medicine 
experi- 
mentales. 
