a history of science-1-第34章
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nth century。 To have forecast even dimly this newest phase of chemical knowledge； across the abyss of centuries； is indeed a feat to put Democritus in the front rank of thinkers。 But this estimate should not blind us to the fact that the pre…vision of Democritus was but a slight elaboration of a theory which had its origin with another thinker。 The association between Anaxagoras and Democritus cannot be directly traced； but it is an association which the historian of ideas should never for a moment forget。 If we are not to be misled by mere word…jugglery； we shall recognize the founder of the atomic theory of matter in Anaxagoras； its expositors along slightly different lines in Leucippus and Democritus； its re…discoverer of the nineteenth century in Dalton。 All in all； then； just as Anaxagoras preceded Democritus in time； so must he take precedence over him also as an inductive thinker； who carried the use of the scientific imagination to its farthest reach。 An analysis of the theories of the two men leads to somewhat the same conclusion that might be reached from a comparison of their lives。 Anaxagoras was a sceptical； experimental scientist； gifted also with the prophetic imagination。 He reasoned always from the particular to the general； after the manner of true induction； and he scarcely took a step beyond the confines of secure induction。 True scientist that he was； he could content himself with postulating different qualities for his elements； without pretending to know how these qualities could be defined。 His elements were by hypothesis invisible； hence he would not attempt to visualize them。 Democritus； on the other hand； refused to recognize this barrier。 Where he could not know； he still did not hesitate to guess。 Just as he conceived his atom of a definite form with a definite structure； even so he conceived that the atmosphere about him was full of invisible spirits； he accepted the current superstitions of his time。 Like the average Greeks of his day； he even believed in such omens as those furnished by inspecting the entrails of a fowl。 These chance bits of biography are weather… vanes of the mind of Democritus。 They tend to substantiate our conviction that Democritus must rank below Anaxagoras as a devotee of pure science。 But； after all； such comparisons and estimates as this are utterly futile。 The essential fact for us is that here； in the fifth century before our era； we find put forward the most penetrating guess as to the constitution of matter that the history of ancient thought has to present to us。 In one direction； the avenue of progress is barred； there will be no farther step that way till we come down the centuries to the time of Dalton。
HIPPOCRATES AND GREEK MEDICINE These studies of the constitution of matter have carried us to the limits of the field of scientific imagination in antiquity； let us now turn sharply and consider a department of science in which theory joins hands with practicality。 Let us witness the beginnings of scientific therapeutics。 Medicine among the early Greeks； before the time of Hippocrates； was a crude mixture of religion； necromancy； and mysticism。 Temples were erected to the god of medicine； aesculapius； and sick persons made their way； or were carried； to these temples； where they sought to gain the favor of the god by suitable offerings； and learn the way to regain their health through remedies or methods revealed to them in dreams by the god。 When the patient had been thus cured； he placed a tablet in the temple describing his sickness； and telling by what method the god had cured him。 He again made suitable offerings at the temple； which were sometimes in the form of gold or silver representations of the diseased organa gold or silver model of a heart； hand； foot； etc。 Nevertheless； despite this belief in the supernatural； many drugs and healing lotions were employed； and the Greek physicians possessed considerable skill in dressing wounds and bandaging。 But they did not depend upon these surgical dressings alone； using with them certain appropriate prayers and incantations； recited over the injured member at the time of applying the dressings。 Even the very early Greeks had learned something of anatomy。 The daily contact with wounds and broken bones must of necessity lead to a crude understanding of anatomy in general。 The first Greek anatomist； however； who is recognized as such； is said to have been Alcmaeon。 He is said to have made extensive dissections of the lower animals； and to have described many hitherto unknown structures； such as the optic nerve and the Eustachian canalthe small tube leading into the throat from the ear。 He is credited with many unique explanations of natural phenomena； such as； for example； the explanation that 〃hearing is produced by the hollow bone behind the ear； for all hollow things are sonorous。〃 He was a rationalist； and he taught that the brain is the organ of mind。 The sources of our information about his work； however； are unreliable。 Democedes； who lived in the sixth century B。C。； is the first physician of whom we have any trustworthy history。 We learn from Herodotus that he came from Croton to aegina； where； in recognition of his skill； he was appointed medical officer of the city。 From aegina he was called to Athens at an increased salary； and later was in charge of medical affairs in several other Greek cities。 He was finally called to Samos by the tyrant Polycrates； who reigned there from about 536 to 522 B。C。 But on the death of Polycrates； who was murdered by the Persians； Democedes became a slave。 His fame as a physician； however； had reached the ears of the Persian monarch； and shortly after his capture he was permitted to show his skill upon King Darius himself。 The Persian monarch was suffering from a sprained ankle； which his Egyptian surgeons had been unable to cure。 Democedes not only cured the injured member but used his influence in saving the lives of his Egyptian rivals； who had been condemned to death by the king。 At another time he showed his skill by curing the queen； who was suffering from a chronic abscess of long standing。 This so pleased the monarch that he offered him as a reward anything he might desire； except his liberty。 But the costly gifts of Darius did not satisfy him so long as he remained a slave； and determined to secure his freedom at any cost； he volunteered to lead some Persian spies into his native country； promising to use his influence in converting some of the leading men of his nation to the Persian cause。 Laden with the wealth that had been heaped upon him by Darius； he set forth upon his mission； but upon reaching his native city of Croton he threw off his mask； renounced his Persian mission； and became once more a free Greek。 While the story of Democedes throws little light upon the medical practices of the time； it shows that paid city medical officers existed in Greece as early as the fifth and sixth centuries B。C。 Even then there were different 〃schools〃 of medicine； whose disciples disagreed radically in their methods of treating diseases； and there were also specialists in certain diseases； quacks； and charlatans。 Some physicians depended entirely upon external lotions for healing all disorders； others were 〃hydrotherapeutists〃 or 〃bath… physicians〃； while there were a host of physicians who administered a great variety of herbs and drugs。 There were also magicians who pretended to heal by sorcery； and great numbers of bone…setters； oculists； and dentists。 Many of the wealthy physicians had hospitals； or clinics； where patients were operated upon and treated。 They were not hospitals in our modern understanding of the term； but were more like dispensaries； where patients were treated temporarily； but were not allowed to remain for any length of time。 Certain communities established and supported these dispensaries for the care of the poor。 But anything approaching a rational system of medicine was not established； until Hippocrates of Cos； the 〃father of medicine；〃 came upon the scene。 In an age that produced Phidias； Lysias； Herodotus； Sophocles； and Pericles； it seems but natural that the medical art should find an exponent who would rise above superstitious dogmas and lay the
