ThesubjectofgymnasticleadsPlatotothesistersubjectofmedicine, , asinsomeotherdepartmentsofknowledge, toademandforgreatersimplicity; physiciansarebecomingawarethattheyoftenmakediseases ‘greaterandmorecomplicated’ bytheirtreatmentofthem (Rep.).Intwothousandyearstheirarthasmadebutslenderprogress; ; , theimportanceofwhichwaswellunderstoodbytheancients; asAristotleremarks, ‘Airandwater, beingtheelementswhichwemostuse, havethegreatesteffectuponhealth’ (Polit.).Foragesphysicianshavebeenunderthedominionofprejudiceswhichhaveonlyrecentlygivenway; andnowthereareasmanyopinionsinmedicineasintheology, ; accordingtohim, ‘theeyecannotbecuredwithouttherestofthebody, northebodywithoutthemind’ (Charm.).Nomanofsense, hesaysintheTimaeus, wouldtakephysic; andweheartilysympathizewithhimintheLawswhenhedeclaresthat ‘thelimbsoftherusticwornwithtoilwillderivemorebenefitfromwarmbathsthanfromtheprescriptionsofanotoverwisedoctor.’ Butwecanhardlypraisehimwhen, inobediencetotheauthorityofHomer, hedepreciatesdiet, ‘bridleofTheages’mightbeaccompaniedbyqualitieswhichwereoffarmorevaluetotheStatethanthehealthorstrengthofthecitizens; (thisisadelicateandsubtleobservation) shouldnotbeamaninrobusthealth; heshouldhave, inmodernphraseology, anervoustemperament; heshouldhaveexperienceofdiseaseinhisownperson, inorderthathispowersofobservationmaybequickenedinthecaseofothers.