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MEDICINE IN ROME. 87
world wide power which was able to contest successfully
the supremacy over the Mediterranean and the lands on
its shores, the immigration from abroad increased to a
remarkable extent. Whoever by birth, ability, talent, or
knowledge overtopped his fellows, betook himself to the
City on the Tiber, since there he might hope soonest to
bring his superiority to a profitable recognition. Thither
flocked a herd of adventurers seeking their fortunes, and
leaving no stone unturned to accomplish their object, as
well as that vast multitude of slaves who were drawn by
rich Romans from abroad in order to minister to their
increased luxury. The inordinate enjoyment of sensual
pleasures resulted in new vices and new diseases against
which help was sought at the hands of foreign doctors.
The Greeks, as heretofore, formed the largest contingent
of the foreign immigration : their tongue and culture were
widely diffused in Rome. Nothing illustrates the import­
ance possessed by Hellenism at that period more, than
that CATO himself, that despiser of all appertaining to
Greece, felt himself impelled to study its language and
literature, and that the same General Lucius ^EMILIUS
PAULUS, who conquered the Greeks on the field of battle
caused his children to be educated by Greek teachers.
Only on the arena of politics and in war did the Greeks
yield to the Romans : in a competition of intellects the
Greeks were victors.
Graecia capta ferum victorem cepit et artes
Intulit agresti Latio.*
Education and medical science experienced in Rome the
most important modifications from this cause. The won­
derful advancement which medical science owed to the
Greeks make it intelligible that every effort was made to
profit by their knowledge and skill in this sphere. The Greek
kunde, Leipzig 1846, S. 208 Anm., and G. PINTO: Storia della Medicina
Roma, Roma 1879, p. 191.
* HORATIUS: Epist, i. 1, v. 156.