FATHERS OF BIOLOGY. 



an important position. Among the Asclepiads the habit 

 of physical observation, and even manual training in 

 dissection, were imparted traditionally from father to 

 son from the earliest years, thus serving as a preparation 

 for medical practice when there were no written treatises 

 to study. 1 



Although Hippocrates at first studied medicine under 

 his father, he had afterwards for his teachers Gorgias and 

 Democritus, both of classic fame, and Herodicus, who is 

 known as the first person who applied gymnastic exercises 

 to the cure of diseases. 



The Asclepions, or temples of health, were erected 

 in various parts of Greece as receptacles for invalids, 

 who were in the habit of resorting to them to seek the 

 assistance of the god. These temples were mostly 

 situated in the neighbourhood of medicinal springs, and 

 each devotee at his entrance was made to undergo a 

 regular course of bathing and purification. Probably 

 his diet was also carefully attended to, and at the 

 same time his imagination was worked upon by music 

 and religious ceremonies. On his departure, the re- 

 stored patient usually showed his gratitude by presenting 

 to the temple votive tablets setting forth the circum- 

 stances of his peculiar case. The value of these to men 

 about to enter on medical studies can be readily under- 

 stood ; and it was to such treasures of recorded obser- 

 1 Crete's "Aristotle," vol. i. p. 3. 



