Letter 31: A Decree concerning Physicians.
A Decree concerning Physicians.
That the science of medicine benefits humanity is plainly confirmed by experience. The sons of the philosophers are right to proclaim that this science, too, descends from heaven — for through it, the weakness of our nature and the disorders that attack us are corrected.
Therefore, in accordance with reason and justice, and in harmony with the acts of former emperors, we decree out of our benevolence that henceforth you [physicians] shall live free from the burdens imposed on senators.
[This edict, also preserved in the Theodosian Code, was Julian's last known legislative act before leaving Constantinople. It confirmed the immunity from civic obligations that Constantine had granted to physicians, and probably applied to the heads of medical faculties.]
Human translation — Tertullian Project
Latin / Greek Original
[Πρός: Ἰουλιανοῦ νόμος περὶ τῶν ἰατρῶν.]
Τὴν ἰατρικὴν ἐπιστήμην σωτηριώδη τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τυγχάνειν τὸ ἐναργὲς τῆς χρείας μαρτυρεῖ. διὸ καὶ ταύτην ἐξ οὐρανοῦ πεφοιτηκέναι δικαίως φιλοσόφων παῖδες κηρύττουσι. τὸ γὰρ ἀσθενὲς τῆς ἡμετέρας φύσεως καὶ τὰ τῶν ἐπισυμβαινόντων ἀρρωστημάτων ἐπανορθοῦται διὰ ταύτης. ὅθεν κατὰ τὸν τοῦ δικαίου λογισμὸν συνῳδὰ τοῖς ἄνωθεν βασιλεῦσι θεσπίζοντες ἡμετέρᾳ φιλανθρωπίᾳ κελεύομεν τῶν βουλευτικῶν λειτουργημάτων ἀνενοχλήτους ὑμᾶς τοὺς λοιποὺς χρόνους διάγειν.
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