Isis. The Egyptians had many books of great antiquity upon this subject: many of which were attributed to Sesorthrus or rather Tosorthrus, who was supposed by some to have been the same as Esculapius above mentioned--" ός Ασκληπιος παρα Αιγυπτίοις εκληθη δια ιατρικην. There was also a king named ” Athoth the son of Menis, of still greater antiquity, who is thought to have been the second prince who reigned in Egypt. It is said of him, that he was greatly skilled in all branches of physic; and to have left behind him treatises upon the structure of the human body.---3 Ιατρικην τε εξήσκησεν, και βιβλες ανατομικάς συνε γράψει. Euseb. Chron. p. 14. Syncellus speaks of these medicinal books of Athoth---4 έ φέρονται βιβλοι ανατομικαι, ιατρος γαρ ην. What are stiled books and treatises are supposed to have been originally hieroglyphical writings upon obelisks; or else in the syringes or sacred recesses, which were formed in rocks of Upper

'Eusebii Chron. p. 14. 1. 46. See Syncellus, p. 57. Expressed sometimes Athosthis-Alwolks.

2

.3

According to Seleucus they amounted to 20,000, according to another person to 36,525. But this is a mistake of the writer, by whom we have it mentioned.-See Jamblichus, sect. 8. P. 157.

4 Syncellus, p. 54.

H

Egypt. They are by Manetho attributed to Hermes of whom we have an account given by Clemens of Alexandria, that he composed forty-two books concerning all sciences; of which six related to medicine.---' Avo μev ouv και τεσσαράκοντα άι πανυ αναγκαιαι τῷ Ἑρμῇ γεγονασι βιβλοι, ὧν τας μεν λς την πασαν Αιγυπ τιων περιέχουσας φιλοσοφίαν οι προειρημενοι εκμαν. θανεσι, τας δε λοιπας εξ, δι παροφόροι, ιατρικας

Strom. 1. vi. p. 758.

→ O TasoPogor (expavarga), from hence I should judge, that the Pastophori were physicians; if the word be of Grecian etymology.

*

Clemens describes a sacred procession in Egypt: in which different persons have particular things to carry. Among others the Pastophori have delegated to them the six medical books of Hermes. They are supposed to be stiled Pastophori from carrying the pastum, or robe, of Isis. But I should think, that they were so named from the things, which they, at the very time, bore in their hands, the treatises of physic. Παςα, καταπατα, επιπαςα, are all terms used in physic and from hence I imagine both the books, and the priests that bore them, were denominated. Pastillus is a diminutive from pastus, π×505; and plainly relates to pharmacy, as we learn from Celsus. Malagmata, atque emplastra, pastillique, quos reoxix85 Græci vocant. 1. 5. c. 17. Ουδεν ποττον έρωτα πεφύκει φαρμακον αλλο, Νίκια, ετ' εγχρισον (εμοι δοκει) ετ' επιπαςον.

Theoc. Idyl. xi. v. 1

* See Clemens Pædagog. l. 3. p. 253.

κείων

ουσας, περί τε της τ8 σωματος κατασκευής, και περι νόσων, και περί οργανων, και φαρμάκων, και περι οφθαλμών, και το τελευταίον περί των γυναι There are forty-two books of great consequence, which are ascribed to Hermes. Of these thirty-six contain all the philosophy of the Egyptians; and from these the persons before mentioned get their information. With the remaining six the Pastophori are particularly concerned: for they relate to pharmacy; and are treatises concerning the management of the body; also about different distempers; about medical instruments; and medicines; and complaints of the eyes and lastly, concerning feminine disorders.

That this learning was originally consigned to the cryptæ or sacred caverns of Egypt, and to obelisks, is mentioned by Manetho of Sebennys, which shews its great antiquity :

Εξ αδύτων ἱερων βιβλων, βασιλευ Πτολεμαιε, Και κρυφίμων στλων, ὡς ἑυρατο πανσοφος Έρμης,

Μυριοισι μιτοισι ζηλον το μαθημα καθεύρον.

In consequence of this the Egyptians were always famed for their knowledge in medicine;

Πασοφορίου, το τον παρόν φερον, Hesych. θα παραφαρείου, το Φέραν τον παςον. Suidas.

I Αποτελεσματ. 1. 5. v. 1.

:

and their physicians were held in great repute. We find even in later times, when their country was in a manner ruined, that a 'king of Persia, upon a grievous hurt received, applied to the adepts in Egypt for assistance, in preference to other countries. Herod. 1. 3. p. 262. And though they did not in this case succeed; yet we learn so much from the history, that they had not yet lost their pristine reputation. They were in great numbers in Egypt each distemper having its proper physician, to which his practice was confined....: Μιης νουσε έκαστος ιητρος εςι, και ου πλεόνων. Πάντα δε ιητρών εςι πλεα. Each phy sician is confined to onedisease; and engages with no more. The whole country abounds with the professors of medicine. The people seem to have been liable to many distempers; some of which were epidemical: as we find them to be at this 3 day. The Egyptians were continually providing against disorders; and they had persons, who pretended to foretel their coming both upon 4 man and beast. In the time of

1 Darius, upon a luxation of his ancle.

2 Herod. 1. 2. c. 84. p. 141.

3 See Prosper Alpinus, 1. 1. c. 13, 14. p. 23, 24.

4

έτι δε νόσους κοινας ανθρωποις η βόσκημασιν εσομένας προσε pasc. Diod. 1. 1. Diod. 1. 1. p. 73. D.

2

Moses we read of a particular distemper called the 'botch of Egypt: and the diseases of the country are mentioned in more places than one of scripture. In consequence of this the people were in à continual state of3 purgation; and reposed a great confidence in their physicians: who were maintained at 4 of the public. These joined astrology to physic; upon which they founded their pretended foresight in respect to impending maladies; and in consequence of it they were continually prescribing antidotes and preventives to the people.

the

expence

The Propriety of the Judgment.

I thought it necessary on many accounts to give this history of physic, as recorded by the

I Deuteron. c. xxviii. v. 27.

* The Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt upon thee. Deut.

c. vii. v. 15.

If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, &c. Moreover, he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt. Ibid c. xxviii. v. 58, 59, 60.