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THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 2£1
themselves to this branch of literary activity, prepared
themselves for it by a sound philological training; not a
few of them were teachers of the ancient languages before
they attached themselves to medicine. The knowledge of
Greek passed in those days as a necessary piece of
intellectual equipment for anyone laying claim to be called
an educated doctor; just as to-day such an one is expected
to understand the use of the microscope.
If the literary activity of the doctors, kindled by the
study of humane letters, developed in an unexpected manner
and contributed to the extension of medical knowledge,
thanks are in a large measure due to the art of printing
books which was invented in the 15th century. This art
came suddenly into existence, but not without a history of
derivation from antecedent sources : for it was prepared for
by the arts of wood-carving and copper-engraving and by
the somewhat imperfect method of impression from fixed
types perhaps introduced into Europe from China, and by
other things. Nevertheless it was an extraordinary advance,
when moveable type was first brought into use about the
year 1440. By this the impression of extensive works
and trade on a large scale were first rendered possible.
To be sure printing had at first to contend with many
drawbacks. It was a very tedious process and, consequently
very costly. Thus for example the impression of
the Bible—the first great work which proceeded from the
Mainz press founded by GUTTENBERG and afterwards
belonging to FUST-SCHOFFER—took n years and cost
4,000 gulden before the 12th sheet was completed.
Printing gradually attained to a wider prevalence in proportion
to the improvements introduced into the art.
DAREMBERG estimates the number of medical writings
printed up to the year 1500 as about 800.*
The new discovery exerted a mighty influence upon the
intellectual movements of the 16th century. The pulpit,
which up to this time had been the only place from which
* CH. DAREMBERG: Histoire des sciences me'dicales, T. i, 313.