There are some arts which to those that possess them are painful, but to those that use them are helpful, a common good to laymen, but to those that practise them grievous. Of such arts there is one which the Greeks call medicine. For the medical man sees terrible sights, touches unpleasant things, and the misfortunes of others bring a harvest of sorrows that are peculiarly his; but the sick by means of the art rid themselves of the worst of evils, disease, suffering, pain and death.

Look well to the spine for the cause of disease.

Through seven figures come sensations for a man; there is hearing for sounds, sight for the visible, nostril for smell, tongue for pleasant or unpleasant tastes, mouth for speech, body for touch, passages outwards and inwards for hot or cold breath. Through these come knowledge or lack of it.

Primum non nocerum. (First do no harm)

Some patients, though conscious that their condition is perilous, recover their health simply through their contentment with the goodness of the physician.

The function of protecting and developing health must rank even above that of restoring it when it is impaired.

Walking is a man's best medicine.