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338
RECENT TIMES.
surgeons arose almost exclusively from the position of
barbers or bagnio-keepers. They learnt from a master the
treatment of wounds and ulcers, of fractures and dislocations,
and obtained afterwards some further training in
hospitals and in military medical service. Some, such as
HIERONYMUS BRUNSCHWYG, HANNS VON GERSDORF and
FELIX WORTZ acquired considerable operative ability.
The scarcity of educated doctors, which prevailed in
Germany, and the numerous wars and pestilences which, j
that country had to endure in the 16th century, caused j
surgeons to be looked upon as indispensable; it must also
be remembered that besides the treatment of external ailments
that also of diseases affecting the sexual organs fell •
into their hands. Since they frequently surpassed the
physicians in practical dexterity and experience, were in a
position of nearer social relationship with the people, andjf
demanded smaller sums of money for their services, much
favour was shown them. Many were employed as private
medical attendants at the courts of princes, in the public
service, or in prominent positions in the medical service of j
the army. ^
The doctors took a lively share in the intellectual movej
ments of the 16th century. Then, as always, the grea|
majority of them embraced the cause of freedom. It was
but natural that PARACELSUS, inclining as he did to radicalism,
should follow with enthusiasm all currents of thought
which were opposed to existing authorities, and that he
should long to see them increase into a devastating flood.
But men of reflection and cool judgment were also led by
their convictions into- the camp of the Reformation, and
this because they saw that its limits did not exceed the
boundaries marked out by a process of natural development.
The captains of Protestantism bestowed upon
medicine a lively interest. MARTIN LUTHER caused
his son PAUL to study medical science; the latter
afterwards was employed as a physician-in-ordinary at
Gotha, Berlin, and Dresden, and also became known as