Galen : a bibliographical demonstration in the library of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, December 9th, 1891 / by James Finlayson.

  • Finlayson, James, 1840-1906.
Date:
1892
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Galen : a bibliographical demonstration in the library of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, December 9th, 1891 / by James Finlayson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    as in the reproduction of Linacre's Latin translation of ol one of his works printed in Cambridge in 1521. We know that Pergamum was a great medical centre, for it was the seat of an important temple dedicated to the god of healing; we also know that a large statue of vEsculapius, with the figure of a serpent, was a prominent feature of this building. I have not been able to hnd any representation of this particular statue, but the illustration of a statue of vEsculapius in Pettigrew's Biographical MeTnoirs, vol. i, London, 1838-40, may serve to indicate the prominence given to the serpent in such representations of this god. This figure of the serpent at the temple in Pergamum has been generally supposed by writers on the history of medicine, to aflord an explanation of the reference to Satan in the message to the Church at Pergamum, in the Book of Revelation (ii, 13); the words (in the Revised Version) where Satan's throne is and where Satan dwelleth being understood as referring to the image of this serpent on the great temple there. In another chapter we find a similar association of ideas in the phrases that old Sprpent called the Devil and Satan (xii, 9) ; and again, that old Serpent which is the Devil and Satan (xx, 2). iEsculapius with his serpent was undoubtedly a leading divinity in Pergamum, although there were temples there to other deities also; moreover, it seems certain that Pergamum was regarded as one of the principal seats of this god; both of these relationships are indicated by iEsculapius being named Pergameus Deus. Biblical critics, however, are not quite clear that this reference to Satan's throne is indubit- ably applicable to the serpent on the temple there, although it would seem that no better interpretation is available (see art. Pergamos in Smith's Dictionary of the Bible). Refebences to Chbistianitt. This allusion to Pergamum, in the book of Revelation, leads one to ask what opinion, if any, did a learned and acute man like (Jalen express regarding the growing body of Christians, who were then beginning to influence the history of the world ? From the Life of Galen prefixed to Kiihn's edition, I find two references to the Christians.^ On referring to these, the first is found to occur in the treatise De Pulsuum Differ- entiis, lib. ii, where in the course of an argument he says : Unless one, from the very outset, were to imitate the school of Moses and Christ, and listen to principles laid down with- out any demonstration, and that too when it is least becom- ing to do so (Kiihn, vol. 8, p. 579). The idea in the other reference is somewhat diff'erent; it refers to the tenacity with which the Jews and Christians held to their principles. In resenting the obstinacy with which his opponents in argu- ment refuse to admit his conclusions, he says: For sooner would the disciples of Moses and Christ depart from their own system than those who have been given over to sects, and been constituted philosophers and physicians (lib. iii, Kiihn, vjl. 8, p. 657). Another passage has been quoted from Galen, by his Arabian biographer Abu-l-Faraj.' The passage is stated < The writer there says: Acerrimus est Galonus contra Christlanos et .ludacos eisque succenset, quod legibus nulla, earum doiuonstratione facta obtemperant. Kiihn, vol. 1, p. xlii. •■• Aboul Faradj (Gregory), often called Pliarnjius and Bar- Hcbraeus, lived in the thirteenth century; he was a Jacobite Clinslian. See Dicliniinnire dcs Sciences Mcdicales : Biographic Muiicale. Paris, IS20 ; also, Lcclerc (Lucien), lltsloirc de la Medccine Arabc, tome i, Pans, iHTfi, p, liil.