A HISTORY OF SCIENCE 



being still in existence. There were besides these 

 quacks, however, reputable eye-doctors who must have 

 possessed considerable skill in the treatment of certain 

 ophthalmias. Among some Roman surgical instru- 

 ments discovered at Rheims were found also some 

 drugs employed by ophthalmic surgeons, and an anal- 

 ysis of these show that they contained, among other 

 ingredients, some that are still employed in the treat- 

 ment of certain affections of the eye. 



One of the first steps taken in recognition of the ser- 

 vices of physicians was by Julius Caesar, who granted 

 citizenship to all physicians practising in Rome. This 

 was about fifty years before the Christian era, and 

 from that time on there was a gradual improvement 

 in the attitude of the Romans towards the members of 

 the medical profession. As the Romans degenerated 

 from a race of sturdy warriors and became more and 

 more depraved physically, the necessity for physicians 

 made itself more evident. Court physicians, and phy- 

 sicians-in-ordinary, were created by the emperors, as 

 were also city and district physicians. In the year 

 133 A.D. Hadrian granted immunity from taxes and 

 military service to physicians in recognition of their 

 public services. 



The city and district physicians, known as the archi- 

 atri populaires, treated and cared for the poor without 

 remuneration, having a position and salary fixed by 

 law and paid them semi-annually. These were hon- 

 orable positions, and the archiatri were obliged to give 

 instruction in medicine, without pay, to the poor 

 students. They were allowed to receive fees and do- 

 nations from their patients, but not, however, until the 



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