

ACE'SIAS ('Akesias), an ancient Greek physician, whose age and country are both unknown. It is ascertained however that he lived at least four hundred years before Christ, as the proverb Akesias iasato, Acesias cured him, is quoted on the authority of Aristophanes. This saying (by which only Acesias is known to us,) was used when any person's disease became worse instead of better under medical treatment, and is mentioned by Suidas (s. v. 'Akesias), Zenobius (Proverb. Cent. i. § 52), Diogenianus (Proverb. ii. 3), Michael Apostolius (Proverb. ii. 23), and Plutarch (Proverb. quibus Alexandr. usi sunt, § 98). See also Proverb. e Cod. Bodl. § 82, in Gaisford's Paroemiographi Graeci, 8vo. Oxon. 1836. It is possible that an author bearing this name, and mentioned by Athenaeus (xii. p. 516, c.) as having written a treatise on the Art of Cooking (ho phartutika), may be one and the same person, but of this we have no certain information. (J. J. Baier, Adag. Medic. Cent. 4to. Lips. 1718.)

W. A. G.

