12 FATHERS OF BIOLOGY, 



obtained, that in his knowledge of minute anatomy 

 Hippocrates should compare unfavourably with anato- 

 mists of the present day. Of histology, and such other 

 subjects as could not be brought within his direct per- 

 sonal observation, the knowledge of Hippocrates was ' 

 necessarily defective. Thus he wrote of the tissues 

 without distinguishing them ; confusing arteries, veins, 

 and nerves, and speaking of muscles vaguely as " flesh." 

 But with matters within the reach of the Ancient Phy- 

 sician's own careful observation, the case is very different. 

 This is well shown in his wonderful chapter on the club- 

 foot, in which he not only states correctly the true nature 

 of the malformation, but gives some very sensible direc- 

 tions for rectifying the deformity in early life. 



When human strength was not sufficient to restore a 

 displaced limb, he skilfully availed himself of all the 

 mechanical powers which were then known. He does 

 not appear to have been acquainted with the use of 

 pulleys for the purpose, but the axles which he describes 

 as being attached to the bench which bears his name 

 (Scamnum Hippocratis) must have been quite capable of 

 exercising the force required. 



The work called "The Aphorisms," which was probably 

 written in the old age of Hippocrates, consists of more 

 than four hundred short pithy sentences, setting forth 

 the principles of medicine, physiology, and natural 

 philosophy. A large number of these sentences are 



