advanced age. Soranus of Ephesus, the celebrated obstetrician, reported that in his time (second century A. D.) the tomb of Hippocrates was still standing, and that it had been taken possession of by a swarm of bees whose honey was far-famed for its efficacy in curing ulcers of the mouth in children.
Among the pupils of Hippocrates were his two sons, Draco and Thessalus, and his son-in-law, Polybus. Thessalus, in the capacity of a military surgeon, accompanied Alcibiades on his expedition to Sicily, and later in his career he served as private physician to Archelaus, King of Macedonia. It is also believed that a number of the writings in the Hippocratic collection are from his pen. On the other hand, it is a well-established fact that Polybus is the author of a few of these treatises. When Hippocrates gave up the work of teaching, his son-in-law, who was at that time engaged in private practice in Cos, was chosen his successor in the school.
Among the many anecdotes which are related of Hippocrates, there is one which may with propriety be repeated here:—
On the occasion of a visit to Abdera, in the northern part of
Thrace, Hippocrates was requested to examine into the mental
condition of the philosopher Democritus, who was thought by his
narrow-minded countrymen to be insane. Hippocrates found him
deeply engrossed in the study of natural philosophy and asked him
what he was doing. Democritus replied that he was investigating
the foolishness of men. Whereupon Hippocrates reported that he
considered Democritus the wisest of men. (Pagel.)
No better evidence of the true greatness of a man can be
furnished than that which is afforded by the praise of his
contemporaries in the same rank or walk of life; and when
the appreciation comes from such men as Plato and
Aristotle, it constitutes an absolute guarantee that it is
well and honestly earned. To Hippocrates belongs the
singular honor of having won unstinted praise from both
of these great philosophers, Aristotle giving him the title
of "Hippocrates the Great," and Plato comparing him
