Inearnest，theyhavereasontorequireaveryfavourablebelieffromtheirpatients;and，indeed，itoughttobeaveryeasyone，toswallowthingssohardtobebelieved。Platosaidverywell，thatphysiciansweretheonlymenwhomightlieatpleasure，sinceourhealthdependsuponthevanityandfalsityoftheirpromises。
AEsop，amostexcellentauthor，andofwhomfewmendiscoverallthegraces，pleasantlyrepresentstousthetyrannicalauthorityphysiciansusurpoverpoorcreatures，weakenedandsubduedbysicknessandfear，whenhetellsus，thatasickperson，beingaskedbyhisphysicianwhatoperationhefoundofthepotionhehadgivenhim:\"Ihavesweatedverymuch，\"saysthesickman。\"That’sgood，\"saysthephysician。Anothertime，havingaskedhowhefelthimselfafterhisphysic:\"Ihavebeenverycold，andhavehadagreatshiveringuponme，\"saidhe。\"Thatisgood，\"repliedthephysician。Afterthethirdpotion，heaskedhimagainhowhedid:\"Why，Ifindmyselfswollenandpuffedup，\"saidhe，\"asifIhadadropsy。\"Thatisverywell，\"saidthephysician。Oneofhisservantscomingpresentlyaftertoinquirehowhefelthimself，\"Truly，friend，\"saidhe，\"withbeingtoowellIamabouttodie。\"
TherewasamorejustlawinEgypt，bywhichthephysician，forthethreefirstdays，wastotakechargeofhispatientatthepatient’sownriskandcost;but，thosethreedaysbeingpast，itwastobeathisown。Forwhatreasonisitthattheirpatron，AEsculapius，shouldbestruckwiththunderforrestoringHippolitusfromdeathtolife:
\"NamPateromnipotens，aliquemindignatusabumbrisMortaleminfernisadluminasurgerevitae，Ipserepertoremmedicinaetalis，etartisFulminePhoebigenamStygiasdetrusitadundas;\"
[\"ThentheAlmightyFather，offendedthatanymortalshouldrisetothelightoflifefromtheinfernalshades，struckthesonofPhoebuswithhisforkedlightningtotheStygianlake。\"