Bhagvat Singh

“ If the question be approached with an open mind, without bias or prejudice, it will no doubt be found that the West, far more advanced though it be, may yet have something new to learn from the East. Those who have the advantage of being acquainted with both the systems are of opinion that, divested of all the exaggerations in which the Indians are prone to indulge, and of their tendency to consecrate all their sciences, and apotheosise their great men, the Hindoo system of medicine can, on the whole, bear comparison with the Western. ”

“ If the Medical Science of India, in its palmy days, has directly or indirectly assisted the early growth of the Medical Science of Europe, it is but fair that the latter should show its gratitude by rendering all possible help to the former, old as it is, and almost dying for want of nourishment. ”

“ While the world at large has been busy confining its attention to dead matter and its properties, the Hindoo from the very dawn of history has devoted himself staunchly to the study of the spirit. Professor Max Muller justly observes that the Indian Aryan lives this life with a full consciousness of his being a temporary sojourner, who has no permanent interest whatever in the things of this world. Being given to spiritual pursuits rather than to earthly comforts, he is by nature better fitted to solve the problem of existence which puzzles many a thinker and metaphysician of our age. ”

“ It is therefore aptly said that a country is not without men, and men are not without diseases ; so a physician's livelihood is always ensured. A practitioner knowing one hundred remedies for any one disease is called a Vaidya, one with a knowledge of two hundred remedies for any one disease is called a Bhishak, and to one who is acquainted with no less than three hundred remedies for each and every affection is applied the term Dhanvantari. The knowledge of diseases and the knowledge of the drugs are of equal importance to a physician. ”

“ These diseases are great impediments to our worldly affairs and bring on premature death. In the face of such enemies, how can men be happy ? It is necessary therefore to find remedies for such diseases." They turned to sage Bharacl- vaja, and thus addressed him : —
"O sage, thou art the fittest person among us : Go thou to the thousand-eyed Indra, who has systematically studied the Ayur Veda, and by acquiring from him the knowledge of that science free us, sage, from the scourge of diseases." ”

“ THE Hindoos hesitate to give any system the name of science or Shastra, if it does not directly or indirectly lead to a correct knowledge of the Kosmos, and to the attainment of beatitude and deliverance from all pain and misery. ”

“ The Indian Medicine deserves preservation and investigation. It is the business of all seekers after truth—be they Europeans or Hindoos — to take up the question in the spirit of fairness and sympathy. ”

“ We are, in our Eastern Empire, not brought into contact with savage tribes who melt away before the superior force and intelligence of Europeans. Rather are we placed in the midst of great and ancient peoples who attained a high degree of civilisation when our forefathers were barbarians, and had a polished language, a cultivated literature, and abstruse system of philosophy, centuries before English existed even in name. ”

“ One should never be without a walking-stick, as it protects him against beasts, prevents fatigue, and "adds dignity to the individual." He should not look at the reflection of himself in water, nor should he enter the water stark naked. One is to be always industrious, and should never neglect the calls of nature. An old man, a pandit, a doctor, a king and a guest should always be respected. The organs of sense should be neither overtaxed nor allowed to remain idle. It is harmful to see the rising or the setting sun, to carry any burden on the head, or to sleep on a torn bed or under a tree. ”

“ A physician is required to be always clean and tidy. For it is said that a physician who is dirtily and shabbily clad, conceited, foul-tongued, vulgar, and goes to a patient unasked, is not respected even though he be as clever as Dhanvantari. ”

“ The ultimate object of Medical Science is therefore stated to be to gain that knowledge which consists in discriminating the principles of the material world from the cognitive principle, the immortal soul. According to Hindoo doctrine, the whole creation is the result of the coming together of Purusha (spirit) , and Prakriti (matter) . The spirit is infinite, immortal, sentient and blissful. Matter is lifeless, but possesses a creative force and properties of goodness, passion and apathy. Some say that matter has no separate existence at all. ”

“ The physician is required to note the patient's appearance, eye, tongue, skin, pulse, voice, urine, and faeces. The examination of the pulse is, however, considered the most important of all, as furnishing the best criterion of the phenomena and progress of disease, and it is the one usually depended upon by the native doctors. In order to know the precise character of the pulse, the radial artery at the wrist is usually chosen. In case of a male patient, his right pulse is generally felt, and in case of a female the left. ”

“ The demoniacal diseases of the Hindoos are but other words for hysteria, epilepsy, dancing mania, and other disorders of the nervous system. It is also asserted by those who have had opportunities of learning and practising medicine, both on the Eastern and the Western principles, that Indian medical science has reached its highest standard of excellence in Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Hygiene, while the Western science is far more accurate and far superior in Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, and Surgery. The Indian science may well be proud of its symptomatology, diagnosis, and prognosis ”

“ After intercourse, it is beneficial to bathe, or at any rate to wash the hands, feet, and other parts, drink soup or milk, eat articles of food mixed with treacle, open the windows, and go to sleep. The lamp should be extinguished by the wife, who is then to occupy a separate bed. One should not sleep with the head towards the north. Sleeping with one's head towards the south is supposed to prolong life. One passes a dreamy night by keeping his head towards the west, and gets wealth by keeping it towards the east. ”

“ A patient suffering from a disease belonging to the last class remains well as long as he continues the use of medicine, but relapses as soon as the treatment is stopped, just as a tottering house collapses on the removal of the props. The physician is advised to refrain from treating a disease which is quite incurable.* [2] The other two classes of diseases should be treated with all possible care and skill. In order to acquire success in his profession, the physician is expected to know both the theoretical and the practical sides of the science of medicine. ”

“ It is curious that the sign of the Cross is to be found in almost all the religions of the world, ancient and modern. The Purusha is the instrumental cause of the universe, while Prakriti is its material cause. The human body is therefore believed to be the result of the joint operation of these two principles. ”

“ Such circumstantial evidence has led some European writers — Louis Jacolliot among others— to affirm that if Egypt gave civilisation to Greece and the latter bequeathed it to Rome, Egypt herself received her laws, arts, and sciences from India. There is nothing in the Egyptian medicine which is not in the Indian system, and there is much in the elaborate Indian system that is wanting in the medical science of Egypt. ”

“ A widow or a mendicant is not considered a suitable messenger. When a physician is himself a qualified practitioner, well knowing the virtues and properties of drugs, his work becomes much easier if the messenger who comes for him is exact in his description of the disease, if the person attending the patient is careful in giving medicine at stated times, and if the patient is reasonable enough to follow the directions of the physician, and never to question the efficacy of the medicines prescribed. ”

“ The surgeon, before commencing an operation, is enjoined to equip himself with all the requisites, such as the instruments, salts, bandages, honey, oil, water, etc. He should have practical experience of his art, and should have seen many surgical operations performed by others. He should be intelligent, steady, skilful, and should execute his work with a light hand. He should have by his side steady and strong attendants to assist him. The patient should be allowed to take light food before any operation is performed upon him. ”

“ ANCIENT WRITERS ON HINDOO MEDICINE.
AS has been stated in the preceding chapter, the Hindoos believe that, like all their other sciences, the science of Medicine has been revealed to them. Yajur Veda, Chapter V., speaks of God as "Prathamo Daivyo bhishak," i.e., the "first Divine Physician," "who drives away all diseases." Another Vedic verse addresses Him as "Bhishaktamam tva bhishajam shrnnomi" [1] which means, " I hear Thou art the best among physicians." Elsewhere He is styled "the depositary of all sciences, and physician for all worldly ills." ”

“ Charaka says that one should not sit to dinner facing the north. Manu's dictum on this point is somewhat different. He says that one desiring longevity should face the east while having his meal ; one desirous of fame must face to the south ; of wealth, towards the west ; and one desiring true knowledge should sit looking towards the north (ii. 52) . Should one happen to pass flatus during a meal he is to leave off eating and not to take any food during the day. ”

“ One should not hurry over his meals. Gormandism is to be avoided. Half the cavity of the stomach is to be filled with food, a quarter with water, and the remaining part is to be left empty. Water may be taken now and then during the meal ; if taken in the beginning it retards digestion, and has a tendency to make one lean ; if taken at the end it produces obesity (Vagbhata) . A thirsty man should not eat before quenching his thirst, and a hungry one should not drink before taking some food. ”

“ Cold agents lessen bile and increase wind and phlegm, promote strength and pleasure and improve the blood. When a medicine capable of producing effects similar to the disease to be treated is administered, or, as the Homceopathists would put it, "Similia similibus curantur" it is on the principle that a patient suffering from the effects of inherent heat must be treated with a remedy apparently hot, but really cooling in its effects, and vice versa, or otherwise the result would be disastrous. ”

“ Flowers, moonlight, playing in the water and light and cooling articles of food are salutary. On the other hand, curds, exercise, sour, pungent, hot and acid things, and exposure to the sun, are injurious. This is the most unhealthy season in India, and is aptly described by a common Sanskrit hemistich, "Vaidyasya sharadi mata, pita cha kusumakaras," which means "the autumn is the mother, and the spring the father, of the physician." For the Vaidyas are never so busy as in the two unhealthy seasons, which provide them with the means of livelihood. ”

“ THE Materia Medica of the Hindoos is a marvel to the modern investigator. In it are fully described the properties of drugs belonging to the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms, and of the articles of food essential to the maintenance of health and strength. The theory which forms the basis of the investigation is, that every substance, whether animal, vegetable, or mineral, possesses five properties, namely, Rasa, Guna, Veerya, Vipaka, and Prabhava. ”

“ She then washes her right breast and squeezes out some milk from it. The father or the priest then sprinkles a little water over the infant, reciting an incantation, the mother or the nurse keeping her hand on the right breast all the time. The incantation is to this effect :— "O Child, let the Sea of Milk * [2] fill the Mammae with milk for thee, and be thou strong and happy for ever. lovely-faced lady, let thy child live long by drinking the nectar-like milk, just as the gods are able to live for very many years by drinking the beverage of immortality." ”