A HISTORY OF SCIENCE 



The proof of this is found in the clauses relating to 

 the legal status of the physician which are contained 

 in the now famous code 22 of the Babylonian King 

 Khamurabi, who reigned about 2300 years before our 

 era. These clauses, though throwing no light on the 

 scientific attainments of the physician of the period, 

 are too curious to be omitted. They are clauses 215 

 to 227 of the celebrated code, and are as follows: 



215. If a doctor has treated a man for a severe wound with 

 a lancet of bronze and has cured the man, or has opened a 

 tumor with a bronze lancet and has cured the man's eye, 

 he shall receive ten shekels of silver. 



216. If it was a freedman, he shall receive five shekels of 

 silver. 



217. If it was a man's slave, the owner of the slave shall 

 give the doctor two shekels of silver. 



218. If a physician has treated a free-born man for a 

 severe wound with a lancet of bronze and has caused the man 

 to die, or has opened a tumor of the man with a lancet of 

 bronze and has destroyed his eye, his hands one shall cut 

 off. 



219. If the doctor has treated the slave of a freedman for a 

 severe wound with a bronze lancet and has caused him to die, 

 he shall give back slave for slave. 



220. If he has opened his tumor with a bronze lancet and 

 has ruined his eye, he shall pay the half of his price in money. 



221. If a doctor has cured the broken limb of a man, or 

 has healed his sick body, the patient shall pay the doctor 

 five shekels of silver. 



222. If it was a freedman, he shall give three shekels of 

 silver. 



223. If it was a man's slave, the owner of the slave shall 

 give two shekels of silver to the doctor. 



224. If the doctor of oxen and asses has treated an ox 

 or an ass for a grave wound and has cured it, the owner of the 

 ox or the ass shall give to the doctor as his pay one-sixth 

 of a shekel of silver. 



225. If he has treated an ox or an ass for a severe wound 



