1 1 4 The Advancement of Learning 



the footsteps of diseases and their devastations of the inward 

 parts, imposthumations, exulcerations, discontinuations, 

 putrefactions, consumptions, contractions, extensions, con- 

 vulsions, dislocations, obstructions, repletions, together 

 with all preternatural substances, as stones, carnosities, 

 excrescences, worms, and the like ; they ought to have been 

 exactly observed by multitude of anatomies, and the contri- 

 bution of men's several experiences, and carefully set down, 

 both historically, according to the appearances, and artifi- 

 cially, with a reference to the diseases and symptoms which 

 resulted from them, in case 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 incurable, and others as past 

 the period of cure; so that Sylla and the Triumvirs 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 will not 

 doubt to note as a deficience, that they inquire not the 

 perfect cures of many diseases, or extremities of diseases; 

 but pronouncing 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 dours; and not 

 only when such mitigation may conduce to recovery, but 

 when it may serve to make a fair and easy passage : for it is 

 no small felicity which Augustus Caesar was wont to wish 

 to himself, that same Euthanasia ; ^ and which was especi- 

 ally noted in the death of Antoninus Pius, whose death was 

 after the fashion and semblance of a kindly and pleasant 

 sleep. So 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- 

 upon the epigram was made, Hinc Stygias ebrius hausit 

 aquas; ^ he was not sober enough to taste any bitterness of 



» Suet. Vit. A ug. c. 99. 



• rbv dKparov 



'Eciraaev, etr' 'AtStjv ^pvxpbv iireavAaaTO. 



Diog. Laert. x. 15 {Vit. Epic). 

 No ebrius here; protenus and latius are suggested; but either 

 emendation would rob the story of its point. 



