Machaon's task was more especially to heal injuries, while Podalirius had received from .his father the gift of "recognizing what was not visible to the eye, and tending what could not be healed."
The Homeric heroes themselves are repre sented as having considerable skill in surgery, and as able to attend to ordinary wounds and injuries, but there is also a professional class, represented by Machaon and Podalirius, the two sons of Asclepius, who are treated with great respect.