Traditional history relates that, in his rambles one day, Hermes saw two snakes fighting, and, laying his wand—which was originally an olive-branch received from Apollo—between them, was delighted to discover that it had the power of putting an end to the encounter, and of turning the two into friends. Hence the presence of the two serpents on the wand, the _virga_ of the Romans. The tradition was likely in the nature of an after-thought. If the two serpents be taken to represent two contending persons, or nations, the mission of the ambassador with his wand or mace, the symbol of authority, is well indicated. [Illustration: FIG. 5.—THE CADUCEUS OF HERMES.] The two serpents on the caduceus have been taken to be male and female, and in an amatory mood.[176] Thus, says Aubrey, “The caduceus of Mercurie is adorned with two serpents in the posture of generation.”[177] Pliny expressed an opinion similar to that of Aubrey.[178] This view was adopted by the London medical publishers, the Churchills, as will be seen on looking at the title-page of their books issued until recently. For instance, on the title-page of Pettigrew’s “Superstitions Connected with Medicine and Surgery,” issued in 1844, between two concentric circles surrounding the caduceus, are the words, _Irrupta tenet copula_, with _Literis medicina_ on the serpents. Later, the first phrase was dropped and the other put in its place. For some years caduceus and all have very properly been left out. Hermes was accorded some functions by the Greeks which may well cause the physician to feel that it is not very complimentary to associate either him or the caduceus with his art, even if he be one who regards it chiefly as a trade. Thus, Hermes, being an adept thief, was classed as the god of rogues. And this brings to mind the remark of some one, that, if medicine be a trade, it is the trade of all others the most exactly cut out for a rogue. Again, it was the function of Hermes, very like that of the archangel Michael, “to draw the souls from hollow graves,” and “drive them down the Stygian waves,” with his caduceus, as we are told by Virgil.[179] It is hardly a part of the physician’s function, I submit, to drive souls “down the Stygian waves;” certainly, no one professes to do it. CHAPTER IX. ÆSCULAPIUS AND THE SERPENT. The serpent is undoubtedly the most significant of all medical symbols. Even Æsculapius assumed such a form, and was sometimes so represented by sculptors. It was to him the most sacred of all animals. Down through the ages this remarkable fact has been kept in view, and to-day it is almost as patent as ever.