made him sit at the royal table and did everything possible to render court life attractive; but liberty was denied him, which was the one thing that Democedes most ardently desired. The only use which the latter made of the great influence which he had obtained over Darius was to save the Egyptian physicians from the death by crucifixion which the king had decided to inflict upon them for their lack of skill. The means of escape finally presented themselves to Democedes in a most unexpected manner. Atossa, who was the wife of Darius and also the daughter of Cyrus, was afflicted with a swelling of the breast which developed into an abscess and began to burrow into the neighboring tissues. After, for a time, concealing the trouble through a sense of false modesty, she made up her mind to consult Democedes. He had the good fortune to cure her of this malady in a relatively short time. As preparations were then being made to send a number of spies to Greece with instructions to examine the coast carefully for the purpose of determining at what points the defenses were sufficiently weak to render an attack by the Persians reasonably sure of success, Democedes asked permission of Darius to accompany these men as their guide. His request was granted; and, as soon as the expedition reached Tarentum in Calabria, he delivered the Persian spies into the hands of Aristophilides, the king of that country, and then fled in all haste to Crotona, his native city. Shortly afterward these Persians, having been set at liberty by Aristophilides, made the attempt to capture Democedes and carry him off by main force, but the citizens of Crotona thwarted the attempt and compelled the men to return to Asia. Democedes then married the daughter of Milo, the athlete, and history furnishes no information regarding the subsequent career of this extraordinary man. Daremberg calls attention to certain excellent proverbs which may be found in the writings of the Greek poets and which are of some interest to physicians. The following may serve as examples of those most widely known:--[23] Joy is the best physician for fatigue. (Pindar, 522–442 B. C.) The good physician is he who knows how to employ the right remedies at the proper time; the poor one, he who, in the presence of a serious illness, loses his courage, becomes flustered, and is unable to devise any helpful method of treatment. (Aeschylus, 525–456 B. C.) Physician, heal thyself. (Euripides, 400–406 B. C.) Advice given to Phaedra by her nurse:-- If thou hast some ailment which thou dost not care to reveal to men, here are women who are competent to treat the condition properly. (Euripides.)