The Siamese who handed down proverbs
before the 19th century · Siam · A proverb. "Doctor" here is probably the old sense of a learned man rather than a physician.
An elephant though he has four legs may slip; and a doctor is not always right.A proverb from John Bowring, The Kingdom and People of Siam (1857), as reprinted in George B. Bacon, Siam, the Land of the White Elephant · in place of the original: the English translation by John Bowring (1857)
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Saul-miti-yuballidh
c. 8th–7th century BC · Assyrian Empire · The whole body of the letter after the greeting. Sayce remarks of it that human nature is much the same in all ages of the world.
Bau-gamilat, the handmaid of the king, is constantly ill; she cannot eat a morsel of food. Let the king send orders that some physician may go and see her.A clay-tablet letter from the royal archive at Nineveh · A. H. Sayce, Babylonians and Assyrians: Life and Customs (1899) · in place of the original: the English translation by A. H. Sayce (1899)
A man cured by the king's physician
c. 8th–7th century BC · Assyrian Empire · Sayce quotes from the middle of the letter, so it begins in mid-sentence. Before this the writer prays Ishtar of Erech (Uruk) and Nana to grant the king long life.
… he sent Basa the physician of the king my lord to save my life and he has cured me; therefore may the great gods of heaven and earth be gracious to the king my lord, and may they establish the throne of the king my lord in heaven for ever; since I was dead, and the king has restored me to life.A clay-tablet letter from the royal archive at Nineveh · A. H. Sayce, Babylonians and Assyrians: Life and Customs (1899) · in place of the original: the English translation by A. H. Sayce (1899)
Ardi-Nana Ardi-Nanâ
7th century BC · Nineveh, Assyria · A court physician's report to the king on a patient. Sayce's book spells his name Arad-Nana. The translation is Johnston's, as Sayce reprints it.
All is going on well with the poor fellow whose eyes are diseased. I had applied a dressing covering the face. Yesterday, toward evening, undoing the bandage which held it (in place), I removed the dressing. There was pus upon the dressing, the size of the tip of the little finger. If any of your gods set his hand thereto, let him say so. Salutation for ever! Let the heart of the king my lord be rejoiced. Within seven or eight days the patient will recover.A clay-tablet letter from the royal archive at Nineveh · A. H. Sayce, Babylonians and Assyrians: Life and Customs (1899) · in place of the original: the English translation by Christopher Johnston (1899)
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