Page:The growth of medicine from the earliest times to about 1800.djvu/228

 whom the Emperor Justinian intrusted the rebuilding of the church of St. Sophia in Constantinople; Metrodorus, a celebrated grammarian and the honored teacher of the youth belonging to the highest circles of that metropolis; Olympius, a leading authority in jurisprudence; and Dioscorus, a prominent physician in his native city. Alexander received his first instruction in medicine from his father, but he obtained his real training from a physician who was the father of his most intimate friend Cosmas, and who, throughout Alexander's entire subsequent career, proved most helpful in advancing his interests. At first he traveled extensively, visiting in succession—probably in the capacity of a military surgeon—Italy, Northern Africa, Gaul and Spain. Afterward, he settled permanently at Rome and practiced medicine there during the remainder of a long life. Puschmann, the translator of his writings, seems disposed to believe that he was both a teacher and a practitioner of medicine during his residence in that city. When he became too old to bear the heavy burdens of medical practice, he wrote an account of his life,—a life which was rich in professional experience,—and thus built for himself "a monument more striking and more durable than the splendid temple erected by his eldest brother." (Meyer, quoted by Puschmann.)

Various circumstances justify the conclusion that Alexander of Tralles was a Christian. His style of writing is simple and direct, and he states his views with a degree of modesty which wins for him at once the sympathy and confidence of his readers. He gives full and generous recognition to the great physicians who lived and wrote before his time, and more especially to Hippocrates. On the other hand, he does not hesitate, when he believes that he is right, to put forward views which are in direct antagonism with those of even so great an authority as Galen. In the domain of therapeutics, says Puschmann, Alexander was decidedly superior to Galen. His teachings