Page:Greek Biology and Medicine.djvu/55

 The tone of this great aphorism$16$ is in accord with Hippocrates' great and serious view of medicine and the noble calling of the physician. Futurity might well be grateful to him for the high ethics of his vast authority. Sage hints as to the physician's demeanor are given in these works. Says the little piece which is called Nomos, the Law or Canon: "Medicine is of all the arts the most noble; but owing to the ignorance of those who practice it ... it is far behind the other arts. ... As the mute figures on the stage have the shape, dress and appearance of actors, and yet are not, so physicians are many in title, but very few in reality.

"Whoever is to acquire a competent knowledge of medicine ought to have the following advantages: a natural disposition; instruction; a favorable position for the study; early tuition; love of labor; leisure. First of all, a natural talent is required, for when Nature opposes, everything else is in vain; but when Nature leads the way to what is most excellent, instruction in the art takes place, which the student must appropriate to himself by reflection, early becoming a pupil in a place well adapted for instruction. He must also bring to