Not every tongue offers us collections to be translated, nor are all those that are available yet translated, but we may give a few of Spanish origin, taken from the collection of Melchior de Santa Cruz which are the flowers of Spanish Apothegms and wise or witty sayings.
Like jesters of all other nations the Spaniards saw fit to heap sarcasms on the medical profession.
We can only assume that in those days doctors had not reached the heights of sapience they have since attained.
And also, we must remember that it was the custom for the unlearned to poke fun at the scholars, hence all professions felt the satiric lash.
At the table of Pope Alexander the sixth, the company debated one day, if it were advantageous to a state to have physicians in it? The greater part held not; and alleged, as a reason, that Rome had passed her first, and best, six hundred years without them. But the pope said, he was not of that opinion, for were there no physicians, the multitude of mankind would be so great, that the world could not contain them.
A Biscayan clergyman, a follower of the cardinal Don Pedro Gonzales de Mendoza, pulled one day a pistol out of his pocket. The cardinal saw him, and reproved him, saying, “That it was indecent for a clergyman to carry arms.” The Biscayan answered, “Most reverend lord, I do not carry arms to hurt any man, but to defend myself against the dogs of this country, which are remarkable for fierceness.” The cardinal said, “I can tell you a charm against dogs. You need only repeat any verse of the gospel of St. John.” The Biscayan replied, Yes, my lord, but that does not apply in every case, for many of our dogs do not understand Latin.