branch of Physic, flourish’d and came to the greatest perfection,
whereas, in our Age, every Art grows the more imperfect as it incroaches
on another, and the civil Wars now a Days between _Physicians_,
_Surgeons_ and _Apothecaries_ have been the chief occasions of reducing
Physic to so low an ebb; for whilst these have been fighting for each
others Countries, the Monarchy was usurp’d by _Quacks_ and
_Undertakers_, who are the only _Vultures_ that attend such Battles, in
order to prey immediately on the vanquish’d Enemy. Now did every one
keep to his own Province, as they did formerly in _Egypt_, there would
be none of these Divisions among us, but every Art would flourish and
stand upon its own Basis, and yet, I assure you, it would be found more
difficult to understand, and perform one Art rightly, than to acquire a
superficial Knowledge of many Things, in other Businesses, which relate
little to the Purpose. [Sidenote: No _Quacks_ or _Undertakers_ in
_Egypt_.] To prevent these, there were in _Egypt_ no Pretenders to
Physic in general, nor any Artists who medl’d with anothers Province,
each keeping strictly to his own, as _Herodotus_ assures us in his
_Euterpe_, where he tells us, some only profess’d curing Diseases of the
Head, others of the Ears; some were Oculists, others Tooth-Drawers; some
for particular Diseases in Men, and others for those in Women. In a
word, there were Physicians for every Disease, but none pretended to
more than one. The same thing was observ’d in other Arts, for better
maintaining of which, a Law was enacted, that if any Person exercis’d
more than one Profession or Trade, he should incur the most grievous of
Punishments; and King _Amasis_ also made a Law, That such as had no
Profession or Trade at all, or did not yearly make appear, to the
Governors of the Provinces how they lawfully got their Livelihoods,
should be punish’d with Death. This Law _Solon_ borrow’d of the
_Egyptians_, and carry’d to _Athens_, where he had it put in practice:
Is it not therefore a shame for us, who, no doubt, esteem our selves a
much more polite People than those Heathens were, to suffer a sort of
Men call’d _Undertakers_, to monopolize the several Trades of _Glovers_,
_Milliners_, _Drapers_, _Wax-Chandlers_, _Coffin-Makers_,
_Herald-Painters_, _Surgeons_, _Apothecaries_, and the like.
[Sidenote: _Art_ can never Flourish where they are.]
Art can never flourish where ’tis assum’d by every ignorant Pretender,
nor be brought to any perfection, while practis’d by illiterate Persons.
We may as well expect one, that has never seen a Campaign, should
understand Military Discipline; or one that has never been at Sea,
Command and Steer a Ship rightly, as that an _Upholsterer_, a _Taylor_,
_Joyner_, or the like _Undertaker_, should be well skill’d in the
misterious _Art_ of _Embalming_. These are the present Grievances, as
well in Sciences as Trade, and ’till such Time as _Quacks_ and
_Undertakers_, _Hawkers_, _Pedlers_ and _Interlopers_, and all such
Persons, as were not brought up in the Emploiment they profess, be
remov’d; we can think no otherwise but that _Art_ must sink, Trade be
ruin’d, and every public Office, as well at Court as in the Country, be
ill serv’d: For whence came every Art and Science, nay all kinds of
Learning, to flourish so mightily in _Egypt_? And how came it to pass
the _Egyptians_ so much excell’d, and perform’d more wonderful Works,
than all the World beside, but only by strictly confining every Artist
to his particular Emploiment, and punishing all that any ways interfer’d
with another? But lest we may seem to dwell too long on this Subject,
which we think also more convenient to be discours’d of in another part
of this Book, we will next proceed to consider, besides their Pharmacy,
the extraordinary Skill of the _Egyptians_ in other Branches of
_Physic_, such as _Anatomy_, _Chymistry_, _Surgery_, &c.
[Sidenote: _Egyptians_ well skill’d in _Anatomy_.]
That the _Egyptians_ must needs understand the natural _Oeconomy_ of the
Body, appears in that they were the first that employ’d their Industry
in searching out the inward Nature of Animals by _Anatomy_, and first
open’d Human Bodies to discover their respective Diseases. _Olaus
Borrichius_, _Lib. de Ægypt. Sap._ p. 141. brings many Arguments to
prove their Knowledge in _Anatomy_; and among them, this out of _Aulus
Gellius_, Lib. 10. c. 10. _Veteres Græcos, annulum habuisse in Digito
sinistræ Manus, qui minimo est proximus: Romanos quoque Homines aiunt
sic plerumq; Annulis usitatos; Causam esse hujus rei Appion in Libris
Ægyptiacis hanc dicit; Quod insectis apertisq; Humanis Corporibus, ut
mos in Ægypto fuit, quas Græci_ Ἀνατομὰς _apellant repertum est Nervum
quendam tenuissimum, ab eo uno Digito, de quo diximus, ad Cor Hominis
pergere ac pervenire: Propterea non inscitum visum esse, eum potissimum
Digitum tali Honore decorandum, qui continens & quasi connexus esse in
principatu Cordis videretur_. _That the antient_ Greeks _wore a Ring on
that Finger of the left Hand, which is next to the little one: And it is
likewise said of the_ Romans, _that they for the most part wore their
Rings in the same manner; of which_ Appion, _in his_ Egyptian
_Treatises, gives this Reason; That the_ Egyptians _in Dissecting, and
opening Human Bodies, which was a Custom among them, call’d by the_
Greeks Anatomy, _found a certain slender Nerve, deriv’d from their
Finger above-mention’d, which crept along ’till it inserted it self into
the Heart; wherefore they thought convenient that Finger should chiefly
be adorn’d with such Honour_. _Macrobius_, as quoted by _Polydor
Virgil_, _de Rerum Inventione_, p. 140. affirms likewise, _Quod ille
Digitus annulo ornatur, quia ab eo Nervus quidam ad Cor pertinet_. Also
in _Saturnius_, Lib. 7. c. 13. _Disarius_, in consulting the _Egyptian_
Books of _Anatomy_, says, he found the same. _Orus_ adds, that for this
Reason the _Egyptian_ Priests anointed that Finger with sweet Odours;
which Doctrine however, _Conringius_ says, deserves rather to be laugh’d
at than confuted; nevertheless, _Borrichius_ thinks there may perhaps be
a more secret consent between that Finger and the Heart, than young
_Anatomists_ are aware of, therefore endeavours to prove the same, _p._
143. However, says he, we need not wonder if the _Egyptians_ were
sometimes in the dark, when at this Day the _Anatomy_ of the _Greeks_ is
so empty; and surely ’twas as easie a matter for the _Greeks_ to have
added something more solid, to the _Egyptian Anatomy_, as for us Moderns
to have so much improv’d it after them. But nothing was invented and
perfected at the same Time, therefore we must not imagine the _Anatomy_
of the _Egyptians_ to have been so compleat as ours is now. Yet he that
shall think the wise _Egyptians_ could be so absurd as to believe the
Heart Annually increas’d the weight of two Drams, for the space of Fifty
Years, and afterwards gradually decreas’d for Fifty more, must needs be
guilty of too great credulity, since none can doubt but that Persons of
all Ages were open’d by them, in order to _Embalming_, and therefore
such like Follies must of necessity have been refuted by ocular
Inspection and Demonstration. That which _Conringius_ chiefly builds
upon, is, that all the _Anatomy_ of the _Egyptians_ was only instituted
for the use of _Embalming_; yet, which is likewise confuted by _Pliny_,
Lib. 19. c. 5. where speaking of the _Phthiriasis_, he says, The Cure
thereof was found out in _Egypt_, Kings being accustom’d to Dissect dead
Bodies, for that purpose: The words are plain, _In Ægypto Regibus
Corpora mortuorum ad scrutandos Morbos insectantibus_. This I look upon
to be the chief intent of their _Anatomy_, and not the use of
_Embalming_, since, if we may believe _Diodorus Siculus_, those who were
the _Dissectors_ very probably understood no more than what they were
directed to perform by the _Priest_ and _Scribe_. The same Author
assures us it was even a very unthankful Office to perform that; for no
sooner had they finish’d their Incision, but they were forc’d to run
away, the By-standers most commonly flinging Stones at them, as
abhorring to see them exercise such seeming Cruelty on their Friend or
Relation. Yet this does not disprove their Skill or Practice of
_Anatomy_ for other Purposes, since, besides the foregoing Arguments, we
are assur’d they were well acquainted with _Ostiology_; [Sidenote: And
_Ostiology_.] for _Galen_, Lib. 1. _De admin. Anatom._ advising as well
ocular Inspection as reading good Authors, says, _It is best to be done
at_ Alexandria, _where Physicians, expose to the sight of their
Auditors, the Discipline of the Bones_. On the contrary, tho’ the
_Egyptian Embalmers_ did not rightly understand _Anatomy_, yet is that
_Art_ nevertheless very requisite to be known, by those who would be
thoroughly acquainted with the more exquisite Methods of the Moderns;
for hereby they may be instructed how to keep the Muscles, make
Skeletons, and prepare Schemes of the Nerves, Arteries and Veins, as
likewise to preserve the Brain, Lungs, Stomach, Bowels, _Uterus_, and
other curious Preparations, which serve instead of Books or Pictures for
the Instruction of young Pupils, and refreshing the Memories of more
experienc’d Practicers. In a word, I may justly say, to _Anatomy_ are
owing those rare Inventions of _Steno_, _Swammerdam_, _Ruysh_,
_Blanchard_, _Bilsius_ and others, for their new Methods of _Embalming_.
[Sidenote: _Chymistry_ Invented by _Hermes_.]
As _Chymistry_ is said to have had its Rise in _Egypt_, so is it also
generally suppos’d to have been invented by _Hermes_. But that this Art
was somewhat different from what we at this Day understand by that
Denomination, appears from the Etymology of the Word, which the _Greeks_
call, χημεία, ἡ τοῦ ἀργύρου καὶ χρυσοῦ κατασκευή, _al._ χυμία, i. e.
_Fusio Metallorum_; _præfixo artic. [Sidenote: The _Art_ of making
_Gold_ and _Silver_.] Arab_, Al, _Alchimy_, _Chymistry_; or, The Art of
melting and counterfeiting Metals. _Suidas_ likewise calls _Chymistry_,
The preparation or making of _Gold_ and _Silver_. This was the true
_Philosophers Stone_ which so enrich’d that Kingdom, and brought all
their Arts to a mighty Perfection; and in quest of which, so many
Persons of all Nations have since fruitlesly consum’d both their Lives
and Fortunes. Whereas, on the contrary, by this Art the Wealth of the
_Egyptians_ was increas’d to that immense degree, that they study’d
means how to expend what they had heap’d up. On this occasion _Pliny_,
Lib. 36. c. 12. thus writes: _Dicuntur_, says he, _obiter & Pyramides in
eadem Ægypto, Regum Pecuniæ otiosa & stulta Ostentatio_. But besides
their _Pyramids_, their _Obelisques_, _Colossus’s_, _Monuments_,
_Pensile Gardens_ and _Cities_, their _Labyrinth_, Lake _Mœris_, and the
like stupendious Works, which cost so many Millions of Talents, are
sufficient Arguments of their Skill in _Alchymy_, whence they receiv’d
so vast a supply of Riches. ’Tis recorded of _Ptolomy Philadelphus_, he
spent at one pompous Show at _Alexandria_, and that even when _Egypt_
was declining, 2239 Talents, as _Athenæus_ reckons up, _Deipn._ Lib. 5.
c. 8. Not to mention their Statues and Temples of entire Gold, or the
Cedar Ship, built by _Sesostris_, which was 280 Cubits in length, the
outside cover’d with Gold, and the inside with Silver, as _Diodorus_
asserts. We have a sufficient remarkable instance of their great Riches
in the Tomb of _Osymanduas_, describ’d by the same Author, about which
there was a Circle of Gold 365 Cubits in compass, and one Cubit thick,
which Circle was afterwards carry’d away by _Cambyses_, the _Persian_
Monarch, when he conquer’d _Egypt_; besides which, as _Marcellinus_,
Lib. 6. reports, he took out of _Thebes_ 300 Talens of Gold, and at
least 2300 of Silver. Now, since no Authors mention any Gold Mines in
the Time of _Osiris_ or _Hermes_, whence can we imagine they should
acquire such exceeding great Wealth, but from the _Chymic Art_ of
transmuting Metals? Besides the _Egyptian_ Mines, which perhaps were
afterwards discover’d, could yeild but little Profit, because of the
vast Expence and Labour they must be at in Digging them. What farther
seems to confirm their Knowledge in this misterious _Art_, is that, as
_Suidas_ reports, the Emperor _Dioclesian_ upon his taking _Alexandria_,
search’d with the utmost diligence for all these _Chymical_ Books,
written by the Ancients, and burn’d what he found, both to prevent the
_Egyptians_ growing thereby Rich and Rebelling against him. It was
nevertheless thought, the Art of making Gold remain’d for some Time,
among the _Egyptians_ of the first Rank, at _Colchis_, and that by
_Jason_’s Golden Fleece, was meant a Book of _Chymistry_ written on
Sheep-skin or Vellum, which he fetch’d from thence. However, at last
this _Art_ was lost, and perhaps for these following Reasons: [Sidenote:
How the _Egyptians Arts_ came to be lost.] _First_, Because the
_Egyptian_ Priests, who were Masters of all Sciences, conceal’d their
_Chymistry_ as much as might be, lest others, excited by their
Happiness, might envy their Treasure, and consequently hasten their
Ruin. _Secondly_, Because these Priests were so obstinate and resolute,
they would rather chuse to suffer the greatest Tortures than discover
their Art. _Thirdly_, In that their _Chymical Books_, &c. being written
in secret Characters, and consequently understood by few, were laid up
in Subterranean Vaults, or private Recesses of their Temples, for fear
of the Incursions of their Enemies, thro’ which means some never came to
light. And, _Lastly_, by reason of the hostile Invasions of the
_Persians_, _Ethiopians_, _Romans_ and others, who ransack’d the Temples
of _Memphis_, _Thebes_ and _Alexandria_, where these _secret Arts_ were
kept, burnt that famous Library of _Ptolemy Philadelphus_, which
contain’d about 700000 Volumes, and destroy’d in like manner the
_Serapion_. All this consider’d, we need not wonder if this, as well as
their _Art_ of _Embalming_, be lost. But ’tis farther to be noted, as
their _Chymistry_ was very profitable to them in making Gold and Silver,
[Sidenote: The _Art_ of tinging _Glass_ and making Artificial _Stones_.]
so in teaching them how to give beautiful Tinctures to Stones and Glass,
as also Enamel, make Pastes, and the like, was equally curious and
delightful. They were wont to make Drinking-Glasses, call’d
[3]_Allassontes_, which would change colour like a Pidgeons Neck; one of
which, as _Vopiscus_ relates, being presented by an _Alexandrian_ Priest
to the Emperor _Adrian_, was esteem’d by him as a great Gift and rare
Invention. They could likewise tinge the _Lapis Obsidianus_ and
_Cyanos_, with various beautiful Colours, as _Pliny_, _Lib._ 36. _c._
26. and _Lib._ 37. _c._ 9. relates. Also _Seneca_ _Epist._ XC. tells us
_Democritus_, by being well acquainted with the _Egyptians_, discover’d
how to soften Ivory, and by boiling a Stone, learn’d how to convert it
into an Emerald; for those People are said to have made Gems so
artificially, they imitated the natural both in lustre and hardness.
Moreover, _Appion Plistonices_ writes, there was to be seen in the
Labyrinth of _Egypt_ a Colossus of _Serapis_ 9 Cubits high of an entire
Emerald, which surely must have proceeded from a Chymical Operation,
since neither of the _Indies_ have hitherto been able to produce the
like Rarity. By all this ’tis plain the antient _Egyptians_ knew the
more secret and profitable part of _Chymistry_, but whether that
relating to Physic was practis’d by them, in the same manner as with us,
is a Matter of some concern in _Embalming_, but, by reason of the
scarcity of their Monuments or Books, not so easie to determine. Yet
that they were not wholly ignorant thereof, appears by their _Æs ustum_,
_Ærugo_, _Alumen ustum_, _Diphryges_, _Misy_, _Sory_, _Nitre_, _Sal
Armoniac_, _Salts_ latent in Ashes, _Calcinations_, and the like
Operations which require the help of Fire; [Sidenote: The _Art_ of
_Distilling_, _Calcining_, &c.] as also in that they were acquainted
with the _Art_ of _Distilling_, whereby Bodies were made Incorporeal,
rarify’d into Fumes, and afterwards kept from evaporating by help of
_Alembics_, _Matrasses_ and _Retorts_ well luted to their Heads and
Receivers. These Vessels were made of Glass, and some of them with their
Figures have been describ’d by _Zosimus_, an antient _Chymist_ of
_Panopolis_, in his Book περὶ ὀργάνων καὶ καμίνων, from whence _Olaus
Borrichius_ had his Plate in his Book _De Hermetis Ægyptiorum
sapientia_, p. 156. Now certainly, after all has been said, no Body will
pretend to dispute the use of _Chymical_ Preparations in _Embalming_,
[Sidenote: _Chymical Medicines_ useful in _Embalming_.] who has heard of
the wonderful Effects of the _Spiritus Solomonis_, the _Spiritus
universalis Clauderi_, the _Spiritus Matricalis Blancardi_, the _Sal
enixum Paracelsi_, _Sal mirabile Glauberi_, _Succinum liquidum
Kerkringij_, the _Arcanum Bilsij_, and other Chymical Spirits, Tinctures
and Balsams, too many to be enumerated here, therefore I intend to
describe them at large in my _Pharmacopœia_.
Footnote 3:
Ἀλλάσσοντες, i. _Variantes, Sc. Calices, quod essent versicolores_.
[Sidenote: _Surgery_ Invented and Improv’d in _Egypt_.]
_Surgery_, which was another branch of their _Physic_, was, as
_Sanchuniathon_ asserts, invented by _Æsculapius_ the _Egyptian_, first
of that Name, Son of _Jupiter_, and Brother of _Mercury_, who reign’d at
_Memphis_ according to the report of _Clemens Alexandrinus_. After his
Name several others were so call’d, who, in succeeding Ages, contriv’d
any new Methods of dressing or binding up Wounds, or added any thing
else which was curious to _Surgery_. This _Art_ increas’d much in
_Egypt_, as _Celsus_ Lib. 7. _Præf._ witnesses; and _Philoxenus_, a very
good Author, compos’d many Books thereof. _Egypt_ also was the chief
place famous for _Surgery_, insomuch that _Cyrus_ King of the
_Persians_, when he found no Remedy for a Disease in his Eyes, among his
own _Physicians_ and _Surgeons_, friendly besought _Amasis_ King of
_Egypt_, that he would send him an Oculist, whom he accordingly receiv’d
with desir’d Success, as _Herodotus_ in his _Thalia_ acquaints us.
Likewise both the _Greeks_ and _Romans_, in case of necessity, requir’d
and receiv’d the like Benefit from the _Egyptians_; but that their
_Surgery_ was so complete as ours is now, none will allow, nevertheless,
this must be granted, that they had some Medicaments which we stand in
need of; for _Dioscorides_, Lib. 5. c. 158. and _Pliny_, Lib. 36. c. 7.
make mention of the _Lapis Memphitis_, which being powder’d and mix’d
with Vinegar, they us’d to anoint any part with which they intended to
Burn or Cut, and it so stupify’d it without any danger, that the Patient
underwent the Operation almost without any Pain.
[Sidenote: How useful in _Embalming_.]
_Surgery_ therefore being of that antiquity, and so well known by the
_Egyptians_, ’twill be expected I should apply it to our Subject of
_Embalming_: Wherefore, as was before mention’d, _p._ 177. there being
several Persons employ’d to _Embalm_ a Corps, as they were directed by
the _Physician_, so one of those, to wit the _Embalmer_, we take to be
properly a _Surgeon_, inasmuch as by understanding the nature of
Fermentation and Putrifaction, both of the Juices and Blood, as also how
to cure Mortifications in the Living, he might thereby be better enabl’d
to prevent the like Qualities in the Dead. This he is likewise more
capable of, by being well acquainted with Galenical and Chymical
Medicines, and Anatomical Preparations and Experiments; in which
Matters, seeing _Physicians_ are generally most knowing, _Santorellus_
thought it their Property, and consequently wrote a Book on this
Subject, entitl’d, _Post Praxis Medica_, which shews what a Physician
has to do after his Patient is dead, _viz._ To prescribe proper Remedies
for _Embalming_ him, as the _Egyptian Priests_ or _Physicians_ were wont
to direct their Operators to do. So that ’tis plain, the true Office of
the _Physician_ was to prescribe, the _Apothecaries_ to compound
Medicines, anoint the Body, _&c._ and the _Surgeons_ to _Embalm_ and
roul it up; [Sidenote: It teaches the _Art_ of _Bandage_.] an _Art_
which scarce any of our Moderns can equal, and perhaps I may have been
the first that has imitated it, as Mr. _Talman_, one of our _Masters_ of
_Anatomy_, can witness I perform’d on the Body of Sir _Robert Jeffrys_,
whom we _Embalm’d_.
[Sidenote: A _Surgeon_ the proper _Embalmer_.]
He therefore whom the _Egyptians_ call’d the _Embalmer_, was strictly
speaking the _Surgeon_, for as much as the _curing the Corps_ was to be
perform’d by a manual Operation, and local application of Medicines, a
Thing which requir’d much care, skill and dexterity, and which, a Person
that is not as well acquainted with this, as Balsamic Medicines, can
never perform as he ought, or be able to invent any new Method; whereas
_Frederic Ruysch_, a good _Physician_, a great _Anatomist_ and Reader of
_Surgery_ at _Amsterdam_, was well skill’d in this _Art_ of _Embalming_,
as his several Preparations of the Veins, Arteries, _Uterus_, &c.
testifie, all which, Doctor _Brown_, President of the College of
Physicians _London_, affirms he saw most accurately done at _Ruysch_’s
House at _Amsterdam_, and which he particularly mentions in his Book of
Travels, _viz._ The Lymphatic Vessels so preserv’d, that their Valves
were very perspicuous, and the very minute Vessels of an excarn’d Liver
clear and shining. He likewise says, he saw the Muscles of Children
dissected and kept free from Corruption; as also an entire Body
preserv’d, and the Face of one without the least spot, change of colour,
or alteration of the Lineaments, from what might be expected after
Death, and yet _Ruysch_ had kept them Two Years, and hop’d so to
continue them.
We have insisted the longer on _Physic_ and its particular Branches,
such as _Anatomy_, _Chymistry_, _Surgery_, &c. in as much as they not
only teach how to prevent and cure Diseases, but likewise to _Embalm_
dead Bodies. Yet seeing the _Egyptians_ were famous in other Arts and
Sciences, such as _Painting_, _Carving_, _Architecture_, _Astronomy_,
_Geometry_ and the _Mathematics_, some of which conduc’d very much to
their _Embalmings_, and others to the erecting and compleating their
_Pyramids_ and _Monuments_; it may not be impertinent to enquire into
those Arts, by which _Egypt_ grew into such repute, that it was
generally esteem’d, in respect to its Magnificence, [Sidenote: _Egypt
Mistress_ of the _World_, and _Mother_ of all _Arts_ and _Sciences_.]
_The Mistress of the World_; to its Fertility, _The Magazine or
Store-House of the World_; and to its Antiquity, _The Origin, or Mother
of all Arts and Sciences_. This Digression I hope will be the more
pardonable, in that it will be somewhat diverting to the _Lovers_ of
_Art_, and also help to give a true Notion of the several Ceremonies and
great Expences us’d about their _Embalm’d_ Bodies. [Sidenote:
_Egyptians_ their _Antiquity_.] We will first therefore begin with their
_Antiquity_, for from thence we may expect the first Progress or
Invention, tho’ perhaps not the Perfection of _Arts_; in which point the
_Egyptians_ would make us believe, the first Men were form’d in their
Country, and give so great a number of their Kings, and so long a
duration of their Reigns, as to deduce their Origin some Thousands of
Years before the Creation of the World; asserting also that they were
govern’d by the Gods about 25000 Years, before their Kingdom fell into
the Hands of Men: But however questionable this Tradition may be, yet is
it not to be doubted but the _Egyptians_ were of very great _Antiquity_,
and perhaps the antientest People of the World, from whom _Laws_,
_Arts_, _Sciences_ and _Ceremonies_ were first deriv’d to other
Countries. [Sidenote: Their _Inventions_.] Now the Inventions commonly
attributed to them are, _Geometry_, _Arithmetic_, _Music_, _Astrology_,
_Physic_, _Necromancy_ or _Sorcery_, _Carving_, _Painting_, _Enameling_,
_Fluxing_ of _Metals_ and _Stones_, curious Works in _Glass_, and making
of fine _Linnen_, _Mathematical Machines_ and _Automata_, _Pneumatic_
and _Hydraulic_ Engines, and various other _Mechanical Curiosities_; in
a word, all kinds of _Learning_ and _Ingenuity_, but more particularly
they were the first Inventors of the _Art_ of _Embalming_. Some of these
we have already mention’d, therefore shall only speak of those not
hitherto treated of. _First_ then, The _Thebans_ boast they were the
most antient _Philosophers_ and _Astrologers_, [Sidenote: _Astrology._]
as having found out the first Rules for the Improvement of those
_Sciences_, since they most accurately observ’d the Courses of the Sun,
Moon and Stars, their Eclipses, Constellations, Risings, Aspects and
Influences, dividing thereby their Years into Months, and grounding
their Divinations on their hidden Properties; yet did they so manage
their Prognostications, that they could certainly foretel every
particular Event.
[Sidenote: _Mathematics._]