[7] Now those who are buried in deep ignorance of the art cannot appreciate what has been said. In fact such men will be shown up as ignorant of medicine, suddenly exalted yet needing good luck. For should wealthy men gain some remission of their trouble, these quacks win reputation through a double good fortune, and if a relapse occurs they stand upon their dignity, having neglected the irreproachable methods of the art, wherewith a good physician, a
brother of the art as he is called, would be at his best. But he who accomplishes his cures easily without making a mistake would transgress none of these methods through want of power;
1
for he is not distrusted on the ground of wickedness. For quacks do not attempt treatment when they see an alarming
2
condition, and avoid calling in other physicians, because they wickedly hate help. And the patients in their pain drift on a sea of twofold wretchedness for not having intrusted themselves to the end to the fuller treatment that is given by the art. For a remission of a disease affords a sick man much relief. Wherefore wanting a healthy condition they do not wish always to submit to the same treatment, therein being in accord with a physician’s versatility.
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For the patients are in need through heavy expenditure, worshipping incompetence and showing no gratitude when they meet it;
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when they have the power to be well off, they exhaust themselves about fees, really wishing to be well for the sake of managing their investments or farms, yet without a thought in these matters to receive anything.
5
Praeceptiones. Hippocrates. ed. William Henry Samuel Jones. London. 1923.
Funding provided by National Library of Medicine History of Medicine Division.