HYGEIA. 547 



as a " chemico-animal phenomenon?" There is but one 

 source of the knowledge of the laws of "life," namely, the 

 science of "physiology," which is the foundation of all vital 

 operations of the body, normal or abnormal, or in health and 

 disease. These are the elements of the "art of medicine," 

 the noblest of all arts, " auxiliary" to no other science, and 

 " subservient" to no other art itself the true macrobiotic 

 art of all arts, called, from of old, the "healing art," or the 

 true "art of prolonging life." 



The sage of Jena, in his chapter on "Preventing Dis- 

 eases, Judicious Treatment of them, and Proper use of 

 Medicine and Physicians," says : "The business of medi- 

 cine is to guard against these [diseases] as well as to cure 

 them ; and so far medicine may be considered and em- 

 ployed as a means for prolonging life." Again, he asks 

 "How does the practice of physic contribute to the pro- 

 longation of life? Can one consider it absolutely as a 

 means for prolonging our existence ? Without doubt we 

 can, so far as it cures disorders that might destroy us, but 

 not always in other respects." He then attempts to show 

 that to restore health and prolong life are not the same. 

 He proceeds to answer questions which concern those who 

 are not physicians. " By what means can disease be pre- 

 vented ? How ought those, which have already appeared, to 

 be treated? and, in particular, how ought physicians and 

 the medical art to be employed in order to contribute in the 

 highest degree possible to the support and prolongation of 

 life ?" Following which is a dissertation upon this subject 

 and an answer also to the question "In what manner 

 should a disease, which has already taken place, be treated, 

 and what use ought to be made of physicians and of the 

 medical art?" This is arranged under fourteen "rules," 

 embracing his conceptions of the connection of the medical 

 with the macrobiotic art. 



An inspection of the table of contents of Hufeland's book 

 will give some apprehension of the domain over which reigns 

 the goddess of health ; also, ^Esculapius, god of medicine ; 



