Athothis : a satire on modern medicine / by Thomas C. Minor.

avoid discussing professional questions with other physi- cians. He does not contribute to journals on physic, and is, therefore, no scientist." " In other words, because this man is modest and re- tiring, and makes no long-winded orations before those mutual admiration medical societies, he is ignored," said Athothis; " and his careless dress and habits likewise create professional prejudice against him. Know that many of the wisest philosophers and sages were extremely careless as regards dress. Why, all the cynics, including Diogenes, had a contempt for personal appearance, and went unwashed." " Such men are public nuisances," replied Paulus An- drocydes. " Diogenes would have been sent to prison for vagrancy in these days of refinement; for ancient history states that he was a filthy old man in all his habits. Remember the proverb, ' Cleanliness is next to godli- ness.'" " But," interposed Athothis, " transmigration cures many original natural defects, and, speaking of Diogenes, reminds me of the fact that I met him in Portugal about two hundred years ago; he was inhabiting the body of a gor- geous butterfly, and was sipping the nectar from a rose, when he was rudely gobbled up and swallowed by Antis- thenes, who was strutting around in the brilliant plumage of a peacock. As for cleanliness and godliness, they fre- quently exist apart, and you must admit that one of your orthodox disciples, Saint John, never changed his cloth- ing, and neglected ablution, although fond of baptizing others, while good Saint Hilarion could never be induced to even wash his undershirt. Ah! no, dirt, genius, and true piety often go hand in hand. But look I Doctor Soother is questioning the patient."