0"T' LAERT> "! - USP

62 ANCIENT TIMES.
H- •
use of surgical instruments and apparatus* " In surgical
operations the assistants," as is described in The Doctor's
laboratory,' " in part hold forth that, part of the body on
which the operation is performed and in part hold the rest
of the body secure: and while thus employed must
observe silence, only listening to what the master says."
" The instruments must be so placed that they are not in
the way but are ready to hand when required. If one
of the students hands them to the operator he should lay
them out in order for himself beforehand and be prepared
to execute the orders of the operator." Complete directions
were given to the operator concerning his clothing,
his attitude, the manner in which he; should hold his arms
and how he should place his feet during the operation.
" The nails ought not to project beyond the finger tips and
tftet not to be too short, since use is made of the tips of the
fingers. A man should test this on himself by moving the
fore-finger against the thumb, bending the hand so as to
present a level surface with the finger tips, and then
pressing one hand against the other. It is a very favourable
circumstance for a doctor if the spaces between the
fingers of his hand are large and if the thumb is in good
opposition to the forefinger." " He must accustom himself
to the use of both hands and be able to accomplish the
same tasks with one hand as well, as nicely, with equal
celerity and order, as with the other, without its being
tedious or difficult for him."f The doctors of the Hippokratic
period practised surgery as well as internal medicine.
It appears that as yet there were no specialists]: though
some doctors no doubt by ^preference gave special attention
to particular departments of medical science, for
instance the treatment of the eyes or teeth.§ Surgery
was in a very imperfect state, which is explained by the
neglect of anatomy.
* HIPPOKRATES op. cit. T. ix, 216.
t PLATO: Laws iv, 10.—HIPPOKRATES op. cit.m, 278 et seq., 288. ix, 242.
X CICERO : ,de oratore iii, 333.
§ Cf. BKCKER op cit. S. 59.