E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Em’pirics.
Quacks. A school of medicine founded by Serap’ion of Alexandria, who contended that it is not necessary to obtain a knowledge of the nature and functions of the body in order to treat diseases, but that experience is the surest and best guide. They were opposed to the Dogmatics (q.v.). (Greek, peirao, to try, which gives the Greek empeiria, experience.)
