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EGYPT. 21
this was written in the seventeenth century B.C. it most
likely represents a later treatment of the original text.
GALEN extracts many passages from it, although it is known
that he had no high opinion of the scientific value of the
work* It is not known whether the six medical books
as well as the remaining thirty-six hermetic books were
lectured upon to all students of the Egyptian temple
schools alike, or only to those who had in view the practice
of medicine. These latter had in any case to study and
master the contents of the medical writings : moreover they
were bound strictly to conform to the rules therein laid
down when engaged later in the practice of their pro­
fession and they drew punishment upon themselves if they
practised in any other way.f
It is not probable that medical teaching confined itself to
the medical works belonging to the hermetic writings or to
the works illustrating these, in which the libraries connected
with the temple schools were without doubt very rich. We
must take it that the students' in addition to this received
practical guidance in the examination and treatment of the
sick. The rule existed in Egypt, that patients should be
brought into the temple, to await help and the alleviation of
their pains at the hands of the priests. The latter were also
called to the dwellings of those sick people who were too
ill to be brought into the temple. Is it not probable that I
the teachers of Medical Science made use of these opportu­
nities to point out to the students the practical carrying out ^
of the theories which they had taught them ? It is also very
likely, that the students assisted, as pupils of the priests,
in the treatment of the sick in the temples, since this may
be looked on as a part of God's service and a religious act.
Moreover, the condition of the healing art in Egypt gives
support to the presumption that their theoretical learning
was made easier to acquire by the help of practical teaching.
From the pictorial representations which have been pre­
served upon the temple walls it is evident that they were
* GALEN : Ed. Kiihn, T. xi, p. 798. t DIODOR. h cap. 82.