as in all else, the Greeks remained the sole teachers of Europe for
ages after. But against such a malady as this, the most skilful
physicians could do nothing, and those who attempted to exercise their
skill caught the plague themselves, and for the most part perished.
Still less, as we may well suppose, was the benefit derived from
amulets, incantations, inquiries of oracles, or supplications at
temples; and at last, finding no help in god or man, the Athenians
gave up the struggle, and resigned themselves to despair.

It is recorded as a curious fact, showing the strange and outlandish
character of the pestilence, that the birds and animals which feed on
human flesh generally shunned the bodies of those who died of the
plague, though they might have eaten their fill, for hundreds were
left unburied. The very vultures fled from the infected city, and
hardly one was seen as long as the pestilence continued.

The fearful rapidity with which the infection spread caused a panic
throughout the city, and even the boldest were not proof against the
general terror. If any man felt himself sickening of the plague, he at
once gave up all hope, and made no effort to fight against the
disease. Few were found brave enough to undertake the duty of nursing
the sick, and those who did generally paid for their devotion with
their lives. In most cases the patient was left to languish alone, and
perished by neglect, while his nearest and dearest avoided his
presence, and had grown so callous that they had not a sigh or a tear
left for the death of husband, or child, or friend. The few who
recovered, now free from risk of mortal infection, did what they could
to help their suffering fellow-citizens.

The mischief was aggravated by the overcrowded state of the city,