The laughable stories collected by Mâr Gregory John Bar Hebræ

PROFITABLE SAYINGS OF PHYSICIANS AND LEGENDS
ATTRIBUTED TO THEM.
CCCXXV. It is said that Ardashir, the king of the
Persians, never permitted a physician to prescribe for
him until he had had him stung by a viper; if he was
able to heal himself he gave him his daily food and
the physician entered his service.
CCCXXVI. It^was said unto a certain physician by a
sick man, "I have eaten several chickens," and the
physician said to him, "One chicken would have been
"sufficient for thee." The sick man said, "But chickens
"do no harm," and the physician answered, "If a man
"should put on ten silk garments, one over the other,
"he would imagine that he was clothed in a thick cloak."
CCCXXVII. Dixit medicus alius questo cuidam quia
saepe cum feminis coire nequibat, "Came vescere, vinum
"bibe, medicamentis utere in Venerem incitantibus, cum
"petulantibus versare ac lascivis— sic demum virum te
"praestare
poteris."
CCCXXVIII. Medicus quidam cui dixerat aliquis,
"Clamosis ventris inflationibus afficior et ructationibus
"flatuosis," respondit, "Ventrem certe cum strepitu in-
"flant pedita quae nequeunt evadere : de flatuosis tamen
"ructationibus non adhuc legi quid sint."
CCCXXIX. A physician said, "The food which is