The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-20

Indian races is genuinely mar
VellOus. Even the Ayur Neda.
the most ancient of all upon
which all the more recent writers
base their work. H. wonderfully accurate
and wise even according 10 thc standards
of to-day. II treats of the subject H.
eight scctiOns-eurgery diseases OF the
head, constitutional disorders. ncrvou-
diseases. children's diseases, antidOtcs FOR
poisons. personal hygiene and the pre-
scrvation Of vigor This in itself is indl-
cation Of shrewd acumen in a prehistoric
medical work The most famous Aryan
writer's Of later periods founded their
work upon H. Charoka on surgery and
Sushruta on medicine are the best known.
ana their trcatises were written many
centuries before the dawn Of the Chris
tan era.
The Hindus i'm those ancient days used
precisely the same methods Of making
diagnoses which the physician Of to-day
employs Percussion ana auscultatiOu.
examination OF the eye. the skin. and the
pulse were the same then as now. Put
out your tongue was the order Of the
Hindu doctor 300 years ago just as it b.
of the Fifth avenue practitioner to-day.
The understanding Of the quality OF the
pulse beat was just as shlful. Tho pulse
that goes with dclirium was described "a
like the running OF a partridge. while the
very faint. irregular. and lauguid pulse
beat WAS interpreted ass the sign Of APP
preaching death The circulation OF the
blood was perfectly understood. 1T j.
distinctly stated that from the heart II
is propelled 10 circulate through the ar
teries and veins. and that it nourishes the
body as water conveyed through the
canal irrigatcs the fields
II is i'm surgery that the most astonish-
ing fcats are recorded. Cranial and alb
doninal surgery-Operatio which II l.
commonly supposed have been possible
only within the memory Of living men
vera per formed many centuries ago by
Hindus surgeons. They were performed.
too. under the influence Of anaesthctcs
and with some sort OF antiseptic precau-
lions. II is related Of King Bhoia OF
Dhar who lived. about \. ID. 9ii. that he
was operated upon for severe pains in
the head After being rendered inscn-
sible by some form OF drug. he was ire
pinned. the cause Of the trouble was re-
moved from the brain. and the wound
was closed up. The operation was COM
pletelv successful and radical cure was
effected. Similar operations are recorded
Of Jivaka. VINO was Buddha's physician.
There is abundant account OF ancient
knowledge Of hydro-therapeutics. diete-
tics climutoloey. MASSAGE hypnotism.
vaccination for smallpox and certain
modern theories I'm gynecology.
There was. however. a good deal OF
superstition and what seems to modern
estimation foolish nonsense mixed up
with ancient medical knowledge and Gus
toms. For example. there was a precept
that the constant use OF the mirror would
improve the complexion The Hindu was
also recommended 20 carry a walking
stick. partly for the very frank reason
that II adds dignity TO the individual"
Prince Thakorc admits that the religious
ana supcrstitiOus features Of ancient
Hindu medical practice have survived
better than the more valuable practical
knowledge. The development of casts
and other prciudces and finally the inva-
sion Of the Mohammodans destroyed
much Of the ancient system. The esd-
once secrris conclusive. however. that The
Iiindus 20lO years ago possessed much
higher medical knowledge than modern
civilization enjoyed within less than halt
a century.