The Laughable Stories Collected by Mar Gregory John

PROFITABLE SAYINGS AND LEGENDS OF PHYSICIANS. 8 I
''not digested devoureth him that eateth It; eat then
"food in moderation that thou mayest have the power
'to digest it."
CCCXXX. A physician used to say, "He who exer-
"ciseth the duty of marriage overmuch multiplieth the
"destruction of the oil of the lamp of his life; but, how-
"ever, if he wisheth to increase it let him do so, or if
"he pleaseth let him diminish it."
CCCXXXI. Another physician said, "It is meet for
"a physician to heal every sick person with medicines
"which are strange to him, but his diet must consist
"of things which he hath been in the habit of taking,
"because his nature is familiarized with them and will
"receive them; for by strange food it is harmed and
"it revolteth at it."
CCCXXXII. Another physician at the time of his
death said unto his disciples, "Behold, he that pro-
"longeth his sleep, and keepeth his stomach soft and
"his skin moist, his life shall be long."
CCCXXXIII. Another physician said, "That which is
"rarely used for its injurious qualities is better than
"that which is frequently used for the benefits [which
"it giveth]."
CCCXXXIV. Another physician said, "If we had
"been created from one elemental substance we should ^
"never be sick, for there would not have been mingled
"therewith any other natural element which would work
"in opposition thereto."
CCCXXXV. A physician said unto a certain man
who came to him to be healed, "See now, behold we ^
"are three, I, and thou, and the sickness. Therefore
"if thou wilt take my side we two shall be easily able
"to conquer the one which is by itself; but if thou for-