Page:A short history of nursing - Lavinia L Dock (1920).djvu/39

23 Care of Sick in Ancient World 23 progress died away and medicine as a progressive science became extinct. These ancient civilizations have nothing to tell us of our special subject of nursing, but they were the home of so many old beliefs that „ ^ , Babylon have descended to modern times as and rank yet widespread health supersti- Assyria tions, that their scanty mediasval records are of great interest. Assyria and Babylon gave the securest asylum to the theory of demonology, or possession of the sick person's body by evil spirits, which persisted long and with terrible results. In elaborating this belief, that disease was caused by angry or malignant demons, the Assyrians created whole armies of good and bad spirits or angels, leaving man helpless before them except as he could invoke the aid of one against another. The idea, too, of sin as a cause of disease seems to have been emphasized if not originated by these peoples, and led to the adoption of ceremonials, such as purification by fire and water to atone for and cleanse from sin, and of sacrifices, often of a very cruel character, and requiring the offering up of human life. The Assyrians were especially warlike and ferocious, and these characteristics were reflected in many of their beliefs and medical practices. The legend of sin as cause of illness