the evolution of modern medicine(现代医药的演变)-第3章
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region〃 about himto use Prof。 Gilbert Murray's phrase and were
responsible for everything he could not understand； and particularly for
the mysteries of disease。 Pliny remarks that physic 〃was early fathered
upon the gods〃； and to the ordinary non…medical mind； there is still
something mysterious about sickness； something outside the ordinary
standard。
＇*＇ II Chronicles xvi； 12。
Modern anthropologists claim that both religion and medicine took
origin in magic； 〃that spiritual protoplasm；〃 as Miss Jane Harrison calls it。
To primitive man； magic was the setting in motion of a spiritual power to
help or to hurt the individual； and early forms may still be studied in the
native races。 This power； or 〃mana；〃 as it is called； while possessed in a
certain degree by all； may be increased by practice。 Certain individuals
come to possess it very strongly： among native Australians today it is still
deliberately cultivated。 Magic in healing seeks to control the demons； or
forces； causing disease； and in a way it may be thus regarded as a 〃lineal
ancestor of modern science〃 （Whetham）； which； too； seeks to control
certain forces； no longer； however； regarded as supernatural。
Primitive man recognized many of these superhuman agencies relating
to disease； such as the spirits of the dead； either human or animal；
independent disease demons； or individuals who might act by controlling
the spirits or agencies of disease。 We see this today among the negroes of
the Southern States。 A Hoodoo put upon a negro may； if he knows of it；
work upon him so powerfully through the imagination that he becomes
very ill indeed； and only through a more powerful magic exercised by
someone else can the Hoodoo be taken off。
To primitive man life seemed 〃full of sacred presences〃 （Walter Pater）
connected with objects in nature； or with incidents and epochs in life；
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which he began early to deify； so that； until a quite recent period； his story
is largely associated with a pantheon of greater and lesser gods； which he
has manufactured wholesale。 Xenophanes was the earliest philosopher to
recognize man's practice of making gods in his own image and endowing
them with human faculties and attributes； the Thracians； he said； made
their gods blue…eyed and red…haired； the Ethiopians； snub…nosed and black；
while； if oxen and lions and horses had hands and could draw； they would
represent their gods as oxen and lions and horses。 In relation to nature and
to disease； all through early history we find a pantheon full to repletion；
bearing testimony no less to the fertility of man's imagination than to the
hopes and fears which led him； in his exodus from barbarism； to regard his
gods as 〃pillars of fire by night； and pillars of cloud by day。〃
Even so late a religion as that of Numa was full of little gods to be
invoked on special occasionsVatican； who causes the infant to utter his
first cry； Fabulinus； who prompts his first word； Cuba； who keeps him
quiet in his cot； Domiduca； who watches over one's safe home…coming
（Walter Pater）； and Numa believed that all diseases came from the gods
and were to be averted by prayer and sacrifice。 Besides the major gods；
representatives of Apollo； AEsculapius and Minerva； there were scores of
lesser ones who could be invoked for special diseases。 It is said that the
young Roman mother might appeal to no less than fourteen goddesses；
from Juno Lucina to Prosa and Portvorta （Withington）。 Temples were
erected to the Goddess of Fever； and she was much invoked。 There is
extant a touching tablet erected by a mourning mother and inscribed：
Febri divae； Febri Sancte； Febri magnae Camillo amato pro Filio meld
effecto。 Posuit。
It is marvellous what a long line of superhuman powers； major and
minor； man has invoked against sickness。 In Swinburne's words：
God by God flits past in thunder till his glories turn to shades； God by
God bears wondering witness how his Gospel flames and fades； More was
each of these； while yet they were； than man their servant seemed； Dead
are all of these； and man survives who made them while he dreamed。
Most of them have been benign and helpful gods。 Into the dark
chapters relating to demonical possession and to witchcraft we cannot here
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enter。 They make one cry out with Lucretius （Bk。 V）：
O genus infelix humanum； talia divis Cum tribuit facta atque iras
adjunxit acerbas！ Quantos tum gemitus ipsi sibi； quantaque nobis Vulnera；
quas lacrimas peperere minoribu' nostris。
In every age； and in every religion there has been justification for his
bitter words； 〃tantum religio potuit suadere malorum〃〃Such wrongs
Religion in her train doth bring〃yet； one outcome of 〃a belief in spiritual
beings〃as Tylor defines religion has been that man has built an altar of
righteousness in his heart。 The comparative method applied to the study of
his religious growth has shown how man's thoughts have widened in the
unceasing purpose which runs through his spiritual no less than his
physical evolution。 Out of the spiritual protoplasm of magic have evolved
philosopher and physician； as well as priest。 Magic and religion control
the uncharted spherethe supernatural； the superhuman： science seeks to
know the world； and through knowing； to control it。 Ray Lankester
remarks that Man is Nature's rebel； and goes on to say： 〃The mental
qualities which have developed in Man； though traceable in a vague and
rudimentary condition in some of his animal associates； are of such an
unprecedented power and so far dominate everything else in his activities
as a living organism； that they have to a very large extent； if not entirely；
cut him off from the general operation of that process of Natural Selection
and survival of the fittest which up to their appearance had been the law of
the living world。 They justify the view that Man forms a new departure in
the gradual unfolding of Nature's predestined scheme。 Knowledge； reason；
self…consciousness； will； are the attributes of Man。〃＇1＇ It has been a slow
and gradual growth； and not until within the past century has science
organized knowledge so searched out the secrets of Nature； as to control
her powers； limit her scope and transform her energies。 The victory is so
recent that the mental attitude of the race is not yet adapted to the change。
A large proportion of our fellow creatures still regard nature as a
playground for demons and spirits to be exorcised or invoked。
＇1＇ Sir E。 Ray Lankester： Romanes Lecture； 〃Nature and Man；〃
Oxford Univ。 Press； 1905； p。 21。
Side by side； as substance and shadow〃in the dark backward and
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abysm of time；〃 in the dawn of the great civilizations of Egypt and
Babylon； in the br
