HISTORY OF MEDICINE. 389 



of schools, as we have said, had the appearance of being re- 

 vived, it made a slow progress. Physic in particular had been 

 learned from the Arabian masters of little ability ; and it came 

 into the hands of students no ways qualified to surpass their 

 masters. It continued, therefore, in the same state in which it 

 had been acquired, and suffered no sensible improvement till 

 after the middle of the fifteenth century. 



About this time, several accidents happened which produced 

 a change in the state of literature. In the beginning of this 

 century some measures had been taken to improve the study of 

 the Latin language, and even some attempts had been made in 

 the study of Greek ; when in 1453, the Turks getting posses- 

 sion of Constantinople, obliged many Greeks to seek refuge in 

 Italy. These Greeks were still in possession of their ancient 

 language, and of many writings in it, which they brought with 

 them into Italy ; and they contributed greatly to restore and 

 diffuse the study of them in Italy, and by degrees to spread it 

 into other parts of Europe. Where study was in any measure 

 begun, there was no surer means of improving the taste in it 

 than acquainting men with the models of ancient Greece and 

 Rome. This actually took place towards the end of the fif- 

 teenth century, and this is properly enough marked as the date 

 of the restoration of letters in Europe. Several other circum- 

 stances contributed to favour this progress. The art of printing, 

 so suitable to this purpose, appeared soon after the middle of 

 this century, and before the end of it, had become very gen- 

 eral. At the same time, the policies of the most considerable 

 states in Europe having taken on a more steady form, gave 

 more tranquillity to the governments, and more leisure for study. 

 Towards the end of the fifteenth century, also, the discovery of 

 America, and of the new passage to the East Indies by the Cape 

 of Good Hope, gave a new spur to industry in arts and commerce. 

 The sixteenth century therefore, opened with every circumstance 

 favourable to the progress of study, which accordingly proceeded 

 with great vigour. The physicians, in becoming acquainted 

 with the Greek writers, immediately perceived that these were 

 the original sources from whence the Arabians themselves had 

 drawn their information ; and it was justly presumed that the 

 most pure knowledge was to be thence obtained. They accord- 



