10 THE NEW ZEALAND FAMILY HERB DOCTOR. 
history tells us of a truly great medical man, named 
Hippocrates, a Grecian. He was the first to give a detailed 
account of man’s wonderful mechanism. He also classified 
the symptoms and stages of fever and other diseases. An 
interesting story is told of his skill: After he had retired from 
busy life to a quiet farm, a terrible plague broke out in 
Athens. The people were dying in numbers. The king or 
governor sent for him, and as he was doubtful of his prompt 
obedience, an armed band carried with it orders to bring him 
at once. He came and carefully examined some of the stricken 
ones, then gave orders for immense bonfires to be kindled in 
the city, so as to purify the atmosphere. He ordered the 
patients hot baths and hot medicated wines. It is said that 
in a few days the plague was stayed. This man is now called 
the Father of Medicine, although his title may well be 
disputed, as there were doubtless many wise and successful 
physicians before him. After him came Esculapius, Galen, 
and others, men who were successful in their calling, as their 
remedial agents were of a simple botanic or organic nature. 
We read that one of the physicians of Julius Cesar wrote 
an article extolling the virtues of a plant named Wood Betony, 
which we find an excellent remedy in headaches of the chronic 
form. With the decline of the Roman Empire and the unholy 
alliance between church and state, inaugurated by the great 
Constantine, came the dominion of priestcraft, which gradually 
took into its own unskilful hands the healing of the sick. 
The scientific treatment, if it ever was worthy of the name, 
gave place tothe empirical; charms, incantations, and holy relics, 
were principal in their materia medica; then came holy water from 
wells consecrated to holy virgins and saints, some simple herbs, 
and prayer concluded their stock in trade. With the dawn of the 
Reformation this priestly monopoly was invaded and broken up 
in England. For a long time the art of surgery was practised 
by the barbers in London. Some of these became noted 
experts, and prompted by selfish motives, and perhaps by 
better ones, they petitioned Henry VIII. for a monopoly, 
which he, with the consent of Parliament, granted ; giving the 
