byHippocratestranslatedbyFrancisAdamsMedicineisofalltheArtsthemostnoble；but，notwithstanding，owingtotheignoranceofthosewhopracticeit，andofthosewho，inconsiderately，formajudgmentofthem，itisatpresentfarbehindalltheotherarts。Theirmistakeappearstometoariseprincipallyfromthis，thatinthecitiesthereisnopunishmentconnectedwiththepracticeofmedicine（andwithitalone）exceptdisgrace，andthatdoesnothurtthosewhoarefamiliarwithit。

　　Suchpersonsarelikethefigureswhichareintroducedintragedies，forastheyhavetheshape，anddress，andpersonalappearanceofanactor，butarenotactors，soalsophysiciansaremanyintitlebutveryfewinreality。

　　2。Whoeveristoacquireacompetentknowledgeofmedicine，oughttobepossessedofthefollowingadvantages:anaturaldisposition；

　　instruction；afavorablepositionforthestudy；earlytuition；loveoflabor；leisure。Firstofall，anaturaltalentisrequired；for，whenNatureopposes，everythingelseisinvain；butwhenNatureleadsthewaytowhatismostexcellent，instructioninthearttakesplace，whichthestudentmusttrytoappropriatetohimselfbyreflection，becominganearlypupilinaplacewelladaptedforinstruction。Hemustalsobringtothetaskaloveoflaborandperseverance，sothattheinstructiontakingrootmaybringforthproperandabundantfruits。

　　3。Instructioninmedicineislikethecultureoftheproductionsoftheearth。Forournaturaldispositionis，asitwere，thesoil；thetenetsofourteacherare，asitwere，theseed；instructioninyouthisliketheplantingoftheseedinthegroundattheproperseason；theplacewheretheinstructioniscommunicatedislikethefoodimpartedtovegetablesbytheatmosphere；diligentstudyislikethecultivationofthefields；anditistimewhichimpartsstrengthtoallthingsandbringsthemtomaturity。

　　4。Havingbroughtalltheserequisitestothestudyofmedicine，andhavingacquiredatrueknowledgeofit，weshallthus，intravelingthroughthecities，beesteemedphysiciansnotonlyinnamebutinreality。Butinexperienceisabadtreasure，andabadfundtothosewhopossessit，whetherinopinionorreality，beingdevoidofself—relianceandcontentedness，andthenursebothoftimidityandaudacity。Fortimiditybetraysawantofpowers，andaudacityawantofskill。Thereare，indeed，twothings，knowledgeandopinion，ofwhichtheonemakesitspossessorreallytoknow，theothertobeignorant。

　　5。Thosethingswhicharesacred，aretobeimpartedonlytosacredpersons；anditisnotlawfultoimportthemtotheprofaneuntiltheyhavebeeninitiatedinthemysteriesofthescience。