1078 ORIGIN OF THE HEALING ART. 



Greeks, Phoenicians, Egyptians, Hindoos, and 

 ancient Celtic nations. Apollo, who was the god 

 of medicine, was also a mythological personation 

 of the sun, which is manifestly the fountain of 

 life, and therefore of health, throughout creation. 

 Nor is it unworthy of notice, that the name of 

 JEsculapius (who is represented as the son of 

 Apollo, and founder of the healing art in Egypt,) 

 was derived from three oriental words, Es, Jcul, 

 and ab, meaning heat, the universal parent, or 

 generator of life, and preserver of health. An 

 ancient prophecy of his life and actions is beauti- 

 fully described by Ovid, as in the following lines 

 translated by Addison : 



" Hail, great physician of the world ! 

 * * * * who, in years to come, 

 Shall heal the nations, and defraud the tomb ! 

 Swift be thy growth, thy triumphs unconfined, 

 Make kingdoms thicker, and increase mankind." 



(Met. b. ii. 1. 640.) 



We owe it to the bounty of Providence, that 

 whatever is most conducive to permanently agree- 

 able sensations is most favourable to health. In 

 temperate climates, summer and autumn are the 

 most delightful seasons of the year, and the most 

 healthy. But as they are disagreeably hot within 

 the tropics, they are unfavourable to health and 

 long life, while winter is pleasant and salubrious. 

 There is nothing more delightful to the mind 

 than hope, friendship, love, and the conscious- 



