Paulus, Ægineta

, a native of the island Ægina, now Engia, whence he has his name, flourished, according to Le Clerc, in the fourth century; but with more truth he is placed by Abulfaragius, who is allowed to give the best account of those times, in the seventh. It is said that he travelled over Greece and other countries to gain information respecting the medical art; and that he studied at Alexandria before it was taken and plundered by Amrour, and there copied a part of the works of Alexander Trallian, who was his favourite author. On his return from his travels he made an abridgment of the works of Galen, and wrote several treatises, which are deservedly famous. It appears that his knowledge in surgery was very great; for Fabricius ab Aquapendente, one of the best chirurgical

*

Among these, it seems difficult to believe, that as soon as the grand khan was informed of the arrival of two Venetian merchants, who were come to sell theriaca (or treacle) at his court, he sent before them an escort of 40,000 men, and afterwards dispatched these Venetian ambassadors to the pope, to beseech his holiness to gend him a hundred missionaries. It is equally difficult to beliere that th pope, who doublles had an ardent zeal for the propagation of the faith, instead of a hundred should have sent him only two missionaries. The authors of the Universal History are of opinion that what Mark Paulo wrote from his own knowledge is both curious and true, and where he erred he was probably deceived by his father and uncle.

| writers, has thought fit to transcribe him in a great number of places.

Ægineta’s principal works are, 1. “Salubria de sanitate tuenda priecepta,” Argent. 1511, 8vo. 2. “De re medica libri septem,” Greek, Venice, 1528, fol. and often reprinted both in Greek, Latin, and other languages, with commentaries. 3. “De crisi et diebus criticis, eorumqufc ignis,” Basil. 1529, 8vo. He appears to have been particularly skilful in the disorders of the female sex, and is the first in antiquity who deserves the title of accoucheur. 1

1

Eloy, —Dict. Hist. de Meuicine.