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Part II. 



HISTORY OF MEDICINE IN IRELAND. 



Section I. 



PRE-CHRISTIAN OR DRUIDIC PERIOD. 



Druids and Druidesses. — Their Role as Healers. 



Next to the kings in Ireland, this class ranked in importance. 

 They were priest-physicians and teachers. They had a 

 monopoly of learning. The etymological derivation of the 

 word Druid is obscure. Though some derive it from the 

 Greek, we must look to our own language for its origin and 

 significance. As Druidism is intimately connected with the 

 oak, learning, and magic, the following words Dair and Drus, 

 signifying Oak, Darmhaigh (pronounced Drew), meaning oak 

 plain, and Druidh or Draoi, meaning wise-man, charmer, or 

 magician, seem to provide a very natural derivation. 



It is beyond doubt that Druidism is Celtic and. existed in 

 its pure state among the tribes of ancient Britain. The evidence 

 as to the existence of Druids in Ireland is contained in the 

 Tripartite Life, in which a special garment for wizards is 

 referred to, called the Tonach Druadh or Vestis Magica. 

 There is also St. Patricks hymn entreating Christ's aid against 

 the spells of women, smiths, and druids. In the " Feast of 

 Bricriu " Cathbhadh appears in the role of a Filidh (seer or 

 poet), though elsewhere he is mentioned as the Druid of 

 Concubhar's court. Further evidence of a Druidic regime in 

 Ireland presents itself in a Cork and Kerry version of the Lord's 

 prayer, in which we find " na lig sinn i n-draoidheachd " 

 (allow us not into Druidism or WizaTdry), instead of the usual 

 " lead us not into temptation." These, to my mind, present 



