Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 19.djvu/251

* THEEAMENES. 207 THERAPEUTICS. sent to Lysander to arrange a peace, but, after remaining in Lysaniler's quarters more than three months, until tlie Athenians were reduced to such a state of suffering that they were ready to submit to any terms, he returned to report that he could accomplish nothing, but that an em- bassy must be sent to the Spartan ephors. Being a second time sent forth, this time to Sparta, he concluded ii peace unfavorable to the Atheni- ans. He was chosen one of the Thirty Tyrants who were set up at Athens, but, taking sides against the more violent members of that body, he was accused by Critias of being a traitor and was put to death. Consult Pijhlig. Drr Atliener Theramencs (Leipzig, 1877). THERAPETJT.a; (Xeo-Lat. nom. pi., from Gk. depairevrris, therapeutcs, attendant, servant, from efpcnreOeLf, therapeucin, to attend, from ecpd-iruiv, therapOn, attendant; connected with Lat. firmus, strong, Skt. dhar, to hold). The name given to an ascetic sect in a Greek treatise 0)1 the Contemplative Life or the True Virtues, which on the basis of Eusebius's testimony ( Hist. Eecles. ii. 16, 17) has been attributed to Philo Judseus. It is thought by some scholars to be- long to the close of the third century and to de- scribe, not a Jewish sect, but Christian monks living in Egypt.' On this theory the author, a Christian who flourished shortly before the days of Eusebius, wrote the treatise as a panegyric on asceticism. He uses as illustrations the customs prevailing in his days among ascetics and more particularly in his own country, Egypt, and in order to add weight to his utterances he puts his treatise under the name of Philo. Conybeare, Wendland, and others maintain the genuineness of the work. The Therapeutae are described as living chiefly on the lake JIarcotis, near Alex- andria, and having also numerous colonies in other parts of the world. Consult: Lucius, Die Therapeuten and ihre Stcllung in der Geschiehte der Askese (Strassburg, 1880) ; Conybeare, -P/ii7o, About the Contemplative Life (Oxford. 1895) ; Wendland, Die Therapeuten (Leipzig, 1806). THERAPEUTICS (from Gk. eepairtuTtKbi, therapcutikos, relating to medical treatment, from ^epareuTiJs, therapeutes, attendant, serv- ant ) . The branch of medicine which has as its object the cure of disease. The conception of dis- ease which is found among primitive races is associated with the idea of demon possession. The earliest therapeutic measures were devoted to driving out these demons from the bodies of their victims. Two methods were employed: one consisted in the recital of charms or magic over the ailing part, or over the sick person : and the other consisted in the internal administration or the external application of certain aromatic or bitter herbs. In the early history of both East- ern and Western nations there was a blending of the office of priest and physician. Among the an- cient Egyptians the treatment of disease had ac- quired a character which was by no means un- scientific. They used many remedies of vegetable, mineral, and animal nature, a number of which are of acknowledged value. Careful directions are to be found as to the administration of drugs as well as the indications for their use. Egyptian physicians' knowledge of hydrotherapy, dietet- ics, and hygiene was far advanced. Among the Hebrews the infliction and cure of diseases is on various occasions in Scripture ascribed to tho direct interposition of God. Their methods of trcatmAt consisted princijially of strict hygienic means, careful attention to diet, ablution, sepa- ration, and combustion of infected garments. A large list of remedies is mentioned in the Bible. The Babylonians had no practitioners of medi- cine; they exposed their sick in public places in order that travelers might communicate their ex- periences as to the best mode of cure. In As- syria the sick were similarly exposed, and purges, emetics, and blisters were employed as matters of routine for three days successively each month. We know also that they used salt and alum, as well as fumigations with mixtures of various drugs. The Chinese assert that with them the study of medicine was coeval with the foundation of their empire. They possess ex- tensive works on treatment which are of great antiquity. Ginseng they regarded as a panacea, and also emploj'ed opium, mercury, and a num- ber of other drugs of value. The Greeks may have borrowed something from the Eastern na- tions of their knowledge of medicine and treat- ment; but researches have shown that under the scientific spirit of Hippocrates they had evolved a sj'stem which commands respect. Hippocrates ascribed disease to alterations of the humors of the bod_y (the blood, phlegm, and yellow and black bile). He employed baths, diet, exercise, blood-letting, the actual cautery, and other sur- gical means, and also an extensive series of medicines derived from mineral, vegetable, and animal sources. The Alexandrian School, which succeeded the Hippocratean, opposed bleeding and returned to simple remedies. This sect was followed by the Empiricists, who followed ex- perience as their sole guide. Then came the Methodic School, which rejected all previous theories and explained all normal and abnormal processes by the contraction and relaxation of the pores of the body. They regarded all medi- cines as possessing astringent or relaxant quali- ties, and their choice of remedies depended upon which effect upon the pores they aimed to se- cure. Galen represented the highest develop- ment of Greek medicine. He explained the operation of drugs by reference to their elemen- tary qualities, heat, cold, dryness, and moisture. In the early periods of Roman history medicine was practiced by the slaves and freedmen and its highest development was reached under the influence of the Greek School. In the Dark Ages medicine was practiced by the monks. Magic and astrology were potent influences. During this time the doctrine of 'signatures' arose. Accord- ing to this idea a remedy was chosen on account of its fancied resemblance in form or color to the organ affected. To this doctrine we trace the introduction into medicine of such drugs as the bloodroot and liverwort. The old Galenists used only organic drugs, but in the fifteenth century under Paracelsus and his followers there was an overthrow of the older methods. He first introduced chemical agents (employing mercury in syphilis) and substituted tinctures, essences, and extracts for various disgusting preparations. Toward the middle of the eighteenth century the practice of therapeutics had reached a most complicated stage. There were theories and counter-theories and physicians were prescribing huge doses of unpleasant mixtures in the hope