LESLIE
HAMILTON
SHIRLAW
25
and ammonia; as well as animal products such as human bones, female and
goat milk, urine, sheep and cattle excreta and feathers. Each drug is called
by a number.
The Agni Purana contains several sections on the treatment of diseases
in bovines, with advice on the precautions to be taken to prevent their out-
break. In the Krsi Samgraha may be found specific rules regarding the con-
struction and sanitation of cow stalls, the keeping and employment of cattle,
with a descr ption of their diseases and treatment. The Parasara and Atri
Samhitas detail the proper uses to which cattle should be put, while the
former also deals with their care in disease and pregnancy. The Sukranti
tells of how to judge a bull's age from its teeth. The Grihya Sutras describe
the ceremonies to be performed when a cow is sick and also the Sulagava
sacrifice for averting cattle plagues. The Matsya Purana describes the proper
type of bull to be used for the Brsotsarga ceremony (i.e. the bull to be set
loose for impregnating the village cows). Charaka states that, for his model
hospital, a ' cow should be also kept, yielding copious milk, of quiet disposition,
healthy, having all her calves living, well tended with food and drink and
kept in a fold that is properly cleaned '. If a cow lost a calf, it is taken as
an indication of ill health. It is interesting to note that Susrutha advocates
the boiling of milk to free it from ' injurious traits '.
Among Asoka's edicts is one regulating the branding and castrating of
bulls. These operations were not to be performed on religious holidays,
from which it is obvious that he regarded these acts as unholy but neces-
sary. He forbids castration absolutely only in the case of cocks which were
merely mutilated to improve their flavour as food. The Katyayana Sranta
Sutra states that the castration of draught animals was usual. Kataulya
remarks on the care of cows and stud bulls ; on the keeping of special cattle
registers in which the cows were divided into different classes and their birth
and manner of death recorded ; and on the government regulations regarding
their fodder. One class of cows comprised ' those with diseased limbs, those
who could not be milked and those that killed their calves '. As the tending
of these was difficult, special cowherds were appointed, who were rewarded
by a share in the turn-out of the herd. The duties of the herdsman included
the application of medicines to diseased animals. They were fined for failure
to cure the cattle in their charge. No mention is made of actual diseases
and their treatment. From all this, it would appear that the herdsmen per-
formed the veterinary services required by their charges. In fact, it seems
probable that the knowledge of cattle medicine was traditional among the
hereditary herdsman class, and that this class, being illiterate, handed it down
by word of mouth. This would account for the lack of literature on the
subject, and the argument is supported by a passage in the Sukraniti, which
runs, ' Only such persons are to be appointed (in charge of cows, etc.) as are
skilful in tending them '.
(D) THE CARE OF SHEEP, GOATS, CAMELS, ETC.
Very little has been written on the veterinary care of animals other than
the horse, elephant and cow. This is remarkable since sheep and goats have
always held an important place in the Indian economy, not only as providers