GENTLEMAN IN CHARGE. Most learned doctors, professors of medicine, who are assembled here; and you other gentlemen, dependable executors of the faculty’s decisions, surgeons and apothecaries and the entire company as well, health, honor and wealth and a good appetite. Learned confreres, I am unable personally to have sufficient admiration for what a fine invention the medical profession is; what a fine thing it is and a good discovery. such is that blessed medicine, which, by its name alone, a surprising miracle, for so long a time has made so many different sorts of people live a long life. Throughout the entire world we see the great interest present where we are; and that well-to-do and insignificant people are infatuated with us. The whole world, rushing for our remedies, considers us deities, and you see the princes and kings submitting to our orders. So it is our wisdom, good sense and prudence to work hard to keep us well credited, wanted, and honored; and to be careful not to admit into our learned group anybody except qualified individuals who are fully deserving of occupying such honorable positions. That is why you are now summoned here and I do believe you will find deserving qualities in the learned man who is present here; and whom I am giving to you to question about whatever you want, and to use your capabilities to examine him in depth. FIRST DOCTOR Sir, you are in charge. If you and so many doctors and illustrious assistants who are learned and have a baccalaureate, and whom I honor and esteem, grant me permission, I will ask the cause and reason why opium induces sleep. BACCALAUREATE HOLDER An educated doctor is asking me the cause and reason why opium induces sleep. My answer to that is because there is in it a sleep-inducing power which by its very nature relaxes the senses. CHORUS A really, really, really good answer. You really deserve to enter into our learned group. A really good answer. SECOND DOCTOR Sir, you are in charge. Provided it isn’t displeasing which it actually isbn’t kindly allow, along with all the learned doctors, and well-intended assistants, that he explain to me a little, the a priori and evident reason why rhubarb and senna are prescribed to purge both biles from us. If he answers this, he will be very capable. BACCALAUREATE HOLDER I, who am here providing explanations, have been asked by an educated doctor for an a priori and evident reason why rhubarb and senna are always prescribed for us to purge both biles. My answer to you is that it is because there is in them a purgative power which naturally empties out those two biles.