This work is quoted by Galen as one of the acknowledged books of Hippocrates,[144] and is admitted by Erotian into his list of genuine works; nay, it appears from the latter that it had been commented upon by Bacchius. Of the modern authorities, Foës and Littré concur with the ancient in admitting its claims, but it is rejected by Lemos, Mercuriali, Haller, Gruner, Grimm, and Kühn. No one who reads it carefully can fail to remark that, as stated by Galen,[145] it is a compendium of the work “On the Articulations,” so that whoever admits the latter to be genuine must acknowledge the treatise now under consideration to be one which embodies the opinions of Hippocrates, whether it were actually composed by him or not. Taking all this into account, it appears to me superfluous diligence in modern critics to search out grounds for questioning its authenticity.
X. Περὶ τῶν ἐν κεφαλῇ τρωμάτων—On Injuries of the Head.
This work is acknowledged as genuine by all the authorities, ancient and modern. The only objection to its genuineness is the appearance of certain interpolations towards the end of it.[146] This, however, as we have remarked above (No. III.), is a mode of vitiation from which few ancient works are altogether exempt.
XI. Ὂρκος—The Oath.
This interesting little piece is quoted as genuine by Erotian,[147] Theodore Priscian,[148] Soranus Ephesius,[149] St. Jerome,[150] Gregory Nazianzen,[151] Suidas,[152] and Scribonius Largus.[153] It is also received as such by Foës, Gruner, and Littré, but is rejected by Mercuriali, Schulze, Haller, Kühn, Ackerman, and other modern authorities, as quoted by Ackerman. The only reasonable grounds which I can see for questioning its authenticity is the silence of Galen with regard to it; but when we take into account that Galen has nowhere given an entire list of what he considers to be the genuine works of Hippocrates, this omission on his part may be merely incidental, and is not of much weight. On the other hand, the argument which M. Littré seeks to establish in favor of its authenticity on fancied allusions to it by Aristophanes[154] and Plato,[155] appears to me to have no weight; indeed, he himself gives up the former in another place.[156]
I have met with the following English translations of this piece, and no doubt there may be others:
“The Protestation which Hippocrates caused his Scholars to make, by Peter Low; Lond. 1597.”
“——, by Francis Clifton, M.D.; Lond. 1734.”
The translation by Low is in a quaint and antiquated style; that by Clifton is carefully done.
XII. Νόμος—The Law.