to Materia Medica. Indeed, this branch of ancient science remained as he left it till the times of the Ara- bians ; and these, though they enlarged the supply of drugs and pharmacy, yet copy and repeat Dioscorides, as, indeed, Galen himself often does, on all common sub- ject-matter. Above 90 minerals, 700 plants, and 168 animal substances are said to be described in the re- searches of Dioscorides, displaying an industry and skill which has remained the marvel of all subsequent com- mentators. Pliny, copious, rare, and curious as he is, yet, for want of scientific medical knowledge, is little esteemed in this particular branch, save when he follows Dioscorides. The third volume of Paulus ^Jffin. (ed. Sydenham Soc.) contains a catalogue of medicines sim- ple and compound, and the large proportion in which the authority of Dioscorides has contributed to form it will be manifest at the most cursory inspection. To abridge sucli a subject is impossible, and to transcribe it in the most meagre form woidd be far beyond the limits of tliis article.
III. Pathology in tJm Bible. — Before proceeding to the examination of diseases in detail, it may be well to ob- serve that the question of identity between any ancient malady known by description and any modern one known by experience is often doubtful. Some diseases, just as some plants and some animals, will exist almost anywhere ; others can only be produced within narrow limits depending on the conditions of climate, habit, etc. — and were only equal observation applied to the two, the habitat of a disease might be mapped as accu- rately as that of a plant. It is also possible that some diseases once extremely prevalent may run their course and die out, or occur only casually ; just as it seems cer- tain that, since the Middle Ages, some maladies have been introduced into Europe which were previously mi- known. See Bihlioth. Script. Med. (Geneva, 173 1 ) , s. v. ; Hippocrates, Celsus, Galen; Leclerc'sBisim-y of Medicine (Paris, 1723 ; transl. London, 1799) ; Freind's History of Medicine.
1. General Maladies. — Eruptive diseases of the acute kind are more prevalent in the East than in colder climes. They also run their course more rapidly ; e. g. common itch, which in Scotland remains for a longer time vesicular, becomes, in Syria, pustular as early some- times as the third day. The origin of it is now sup- posed to be an acarus, but the parasite perishes when removed from the skin. Disease of various kinds is commonly regarded as a divine infliction, or denounced as a penalty for transgression; "the evil diseases of Egypt" (perhaps in reference to some of the ten plagues) are especially so characterized (Gen.xx, 18; Exod. xv, 20; Lev. xxvi, 16; Deut, vii, 15; xxviiir60; 1 Cor. xi, 30) ; so the emerods [see Haemorrhoids] of the Philis- tines (1 Sam. V, 6) ; the severe dysenterj' (2 Chron. xxi, 15, 19) of Jehoram, which was also epidemic [see Blood, Issue of; and Fever], the peculiar symptom of which may perhaps have been prolapsus ani (Dr. Mason Good, i, 311-13, mentions a case of the entire colon exposed) ; or, perhaps, what is known as diarrhcea tubidaris, formed by the coagulation of fibrine into a membrane discharged from the inner coat of the intestines, which f^i^s the mould of the bowel, and is thus expelled; so the sudden deaths of Er, Onan (Gen. xxxviii, 7, 10), the Egyptian first-born (Exod. xi, 4, 5), Nabal, Bath- sheba's son, and Jeroboam's (I Sam. xxv, 38; 2 Sara'. ;cii, 15; 1 Kings xiv, 1, 5),are ascribed to the action of Je- hovah immediately, or through a prophet. Pestilence (Hab. iii, 5) attends his path (comp. 2 Sam. xxiv, 15), and is innoxious to those whom he shelters (Psa. Kci, 3-10). It is by Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos associated (as historically in 2 Sam. xxiv, 13) with " the sword" and "famine" (Jer. xiv, 12; xv, 2; xxi, 7, 9; xxiv, 10; xxvii,8,13; xxviii,8; xxix,17,18; xxxii,24,36; xxxiv, 17; xxxviii, 2; xlii,17,22; xliv, 13; Ezek. v,12,17; vi, 11,12; vii, 15; xii, 16; xiv, 21 ; xxxiii,27; Amosiv, 6, 10). The sicknesses of the widow's son of Zarephath, of Ahaziah, Benhadad, the leprosy of Uzziah, the boil
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of Ilezekiali, are also noticed as diseases sent by Jeho- | vah, or in which he interposed (1 Kings xvii, 17, 20; 2 Kings i, 3 ; xx, 1). In 2 .Sam. iii, 29, disease is invoked as a curse, and in Solomon's prayer (1 Kings viii, 37; comp. 2 Chron. xx, 9) anticipated as a cliastisement. Job and his friends agree in ascribing his disease to di- vine inf.iction ; but the latter urge his sinS as the cause. So, conversely, the healing character of God is invoked or promised (Psa. vi, 2; xli, 3; ciii, 3; Jer. xxx. 17). Satanic agency appears also as procuring disease (Job ii, 7 ; Luke xiii, 1 1, IG). Diseases are also mentioned as ordinary calamities; e. g. the sickness of old age, head- ache (perhaps by sunstroke), as that of the Shunam- , mite's son, that of Elisha, and that of Benhadad, and that of Joram (Gen. xlviii, 1 ; 1 Sam. xxx. 13 ; 2 Kings iv, 20; \-iii,7, 29; xiii, 14; 2 Chron. xxii,C).