HIPPOCRATES. 



which it was expected he ought to show. From these 

 observations the physician may predict the course which 

 the remainder of the disease will probably take, and 

 derive suggestions as to the practice to be followed in 

 order to assist Nature in her operations. 



Hippocrates thus appears to have studied "the natural 

 history of diseases." As stated above, his practice was 

 to watch the manner in which the humours were under- 

 going their fermenting coction, the phenomena displayed 

 in the critical days, and the aspect and nature of the 

 critical discharges not to attempt to check the process 

 going on, but simply to assist the natural operation. 

 His principles and practice were based on the theory of 

 the existence of a restoring essence (or Averts) penetrat- 

 ing through all creation ; the agent which is constantly 

 striving to preserve all things in their natural state, and 

 to restore them when they are preternaturally deranged. 

 In the management of this vis medicatrix natures the 

 art of the physician consisted. Attention, therefore, to 

 regimen and diet was the principal remedy Hippocrates 

 employed; nevertheless he did not hesitate, when he 

 considered that occasion required, to administer such a 

 powerful drug as hellebore in large doses. 



The writings which are extant under the name of 

 Hippocrates cannot all be ascribed to him. Many were 

 doubtless written by his family, his descendants, or his 

 pupils. Others are productions of the Alexandrian 



