AlSk£Sr  mfm'  \       Founding  of  Phila.  College  of  Pharmacy.  183 
Wonderful  tales  had  our  fathers  of  old 
Wonderful  tales  of  the  herbs  and  the  stars — 
The  Sun  was  Lord  of  the  Marigold, 
Basil  and  Rocket  belonged  to  Mars. 
Pat  as  a  sum  in  division  it  goes — 
(Every  plant  had  a  star  bespoke)  
Who  but  Venus  should  govern  the  Rose? 
Who  but  Jupiter  own  the  Oak? 
Simply  and  gravely  the  facts  are  told 
In  the  wonderful  books  of  our  fathers  of  old. 
Wonderful  little,  when  all  is  said, 
Wonderul  little  our  fathers  knew. 
Half  their  remedies  cured  you  dead — 
Most  of  their  teaching  was  quite  untrue. 
"Look  at  the  stars  when  a  patient  is  ill, 
(Dirt  has  nothing  to  do  with  disease), 
Bleed  and  blister  as  much  as  you  will, 
Blister  and  bleed  him  as  oft  as  you  please." 
Whence  enormous  and  manifold 
Errors  were  made  by  our  fathers  of  old. 
Yet  when  the  sickness  was  sore  in  the  land, 
And  neither  planets  nor  herbs  assuaged, 
They  took  their  lives  in  their  lancet-hand 
And,  oh,  what  a  wonderful  war  they  waged ! 
Yes,  when  the  crosses  were  chalked  on  the  door — 
Yes,  when  the  terrible  dead-cart  rolled, 
Excellent  courage  our  fathers  bore — 
Excellent  heart  had  our  fathers  of  old, 
Xone  too  learned,  but  nobly  bold 
Into  the  fight  went  our  fathers  of  old. 
If  it  be  certain,  as  Galen  says, 
And  sage  Hipprocrates  holds  as  much — 
"That  those  afflicted  by  doubts  and  dismays 
Are  mightily  helped  by  a  dead  man's  touch," 
Then,  be  good  to  us,  stars  above ! 
Then,  be  good  to  us,  herbs  below! 
We  are  afflicted  by  what  we  can  prove, 
We  are  distracted  by  what  we  know. 
So — ah,  so! 
Down  from  your  heaven  or  up  from  your  mould, 
Send  us  the  hearts  of  our  fathers  of  old ! 
