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Osler, William, 1849-1919

"A Series of Lectures Delivered at Yale University on the Silliman Foundation in April, 1913"

An interesting feature, from which it is lucky that we have
in these days escaped, is the application of the "lex talionis"--an eye
for an eye, bone for a bone, and tooth for a tooth, which is a striking
feature of the code.
Some of the laws of the code may be quoted:

Paragraph 215. If a doctor has treated a gentleman for a severe wound
with a bronze lances and has cured the man, or has opened an abscess of
the eye for a gentleman with the bronze lances and has cured the eye of
the gentleman, he shall take ten shekels of silver.
218. If the doctor has treated a gentleman for a severe wound with a
lances of bronze and has caused the gentleman to die, or has opened
an abscess of the eye for a gentleman and has caused the loss of the
gentleman's eye, one shall cut off his hands.
219. If a doctor has treated the severe wound of a slave of a poor man
with a bronze lances and has caused his death, he shall render slave for
slave.
220. If he has opened his abscess with a bronze lances and has made him
lose his eye, he shall pay money, half his price.
221. If a doctor has cured the shattered limb of a gentleman, or has
cured the diseased bowel, the patient shall give five shekels of silver
to the doctor.


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