THE SECOND BOOK 123 



lodged and received. And as for the footsteps of 

 diseases, and their devastations of the inward parts* 

 impostumations, exulcerations, discontinuations, putre- 

 factions, consumptions, contractions, extensions, con- 

 vulsions, dislocations, obstructions, repletions, together 

 with all preternatural substances, as stones, carnositie-;, 

 excrescences, worms and the like ; they ought to have 

 been exactly observed by multitude of anatomies, and 

 the contribution of men's several experiences, and care- 

 fully set down both historically according to the 

 appearances, and artificially with a reference to the 

 tliseases and symptoms which resulted from them, in 

 <ase where the anatomy is of a defunct patient ; whereas 

 now upon opening of bodies they are passed over slightly 

 and in silence. 



6. In the inquiry of diseases, they do abandon the 

 cures of many, some as in their nature in- jnnvAntio 

 curable, and others as passed the period ulterior de 



of cure ; so that Sylla and the Triumvirs morOis in- 

 never proscribed so many men to die, as 

 they do by their ignorant edicts : whereof numbers do 

 escape with less difficulty than they did in the Roman 

 proscriptions. Therefore I Avill not doubt to note as 

 a deficience, that they inquire not the perfect cures of 

 many diseases, or extremities of diseases ; but pro- 

 nouncing them incurable do enact a law of neglect, and 

 exempt ignorance from discredit. 



7. Nay further, I esteem it the office of a physician 

 not only to restore health, but to mitigate pain and 

 dolors ; and not only when such mitigation may con- 

 duce to recovery, but when it may serve 



to make a fair and easy passage. For it Ve Enthan. 

 is no small felicity which Augustus Caesar or«? '* ^' 

 was wont to wish to himself, that same 

 Euthanasia ; and which was specially noted in the 

 death of Antoninus Pius, whose death was after the 

 fashion and semblance of a kindly and pleasant sleep. 

 8o it is written of Epicurus, that after his disease was 

 judged desperate, he drowned his stomach and senses 

 with a large draught and ingurgitation of wine ; where- 



