ETHICS IN 3000 B.C.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 3233, 3 July 1928, Page 7

ETHICS IN 3000 B.C.

THE CARE OF THE EYES

The laws of King Hammurabi, who ruled 'over Babylon and Mesopotamia, have recently been discovered /'and a few months after the discovery the French Government copied, transcribed and translated the code, which has been published and edited by distinguished scholars. The following passages are interesting:— "If a doctor has opened an abscess of the eye for a gentleman with a bronze lancet and has cured the man, he shall take ten shekels of silver.

"For a poor man, five shekels of sil-

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"If he be a gentleman's servant, the master of the servant shall give two shekels of silver to the doctor.

"If the doctor has,opened an vabscess of the eye for a gentleman and has caused the loss of the gentleman's eye, one shall cut off his hands.

."If the slave of*a poor man, he shall render slave for slave, if he dies. ■ "If the eye is loat, he' shall pay money, half the price of the slave."

These are interesting as proof that even then the eve- was considered" most important. The methods are, of course, primitive when compared with modern surgery and the rules governing it. .But, as regards the care of the sight no better advice can be given than to consult Messrs Barry and Sargent Ltd., next sale day (July 13) at their rooms with Mr-Chas. Fisse. They are opticians of the highest standing in their profession.