The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-20
THERE is NO NEW THING
Modern Discoveries Prove TO he
Merely Lost Arts.
London Gable in New York Sun.

!
Modern science is robbed of the credit
of several of its most boasted discoveries
by the revelations made in a remarkable
book issued this week from the pen of a
learned Indian prince The volume is
history of Aryan medical science, and the
writer is Thakore Sahib of Gondal.
Prince Thakore is a high authority in
modern as well as ancient medical SCI
ence. He is a Fellow of the Royal Col
lege of Physicians in Edinburgh and he
holds various well-earned honorary de-
! grees from several universities. In MAX
! ing a plea. therefore, for the recognition
! of the achievements of Hindu science he
speaks with an authority which the west
ern world no less than eastern must re-
spect. 1t is to the modern eastern civili-
cation that he addresses himself and as
his message is not too technical, it pos
sesses a fascinating interest for a far
wider public than the membership of the
profession of which he has become dis
tinguished follower.
He recognizes at the outset that it is
hopeless difference in point of view which
| has kept apart the science of the east
and the wisdom of the far older oriental
civilizations. Science as we know it, he
points out, is all Investigation and rea-
soning, holding nothing sacred discard
| ing the old without compunct,on and al
ways esteem-ng the newest as best. Knowl-
| edge, as known in the east, is all authority
and tradition; it is part of religion, sa-
cred and valuable by virtue of it's an
| tiquity. THE Indians" he explains,
trace all knowledge under the sun from
the Supreme High, who is the fountain
head OF learning the source from which
| all knowledge flows. The Veda is sup
posed to be his revealed knowledge" The
science of medicine among the Brahmins
forms part of the Vedas. 1t is called the
"Ayur Veda," or the Science of Life" Its
origin is away back in the days of myth
ology, far. far older than existing hui
man history can trace it. 1t is supposed
to have been composed by Brahma
The medical profession to-day is Justly
proud of it's wonderful progress within
| the past century. Vaccination, anaesthe-
STA, antiseptic surgery are among its
grandest discoveries. All these were prac-
| ticed many centuries ago among the Hin
dus, according to Prince Thakore. Nine
| teenth century physicians have rediscov-
| cred and taken better advantage of them
The existing medical literature of the
| Indian races is genuinely marvellous
| Even the Ayur Veda, the most ancient of
| all, upon which all the more recent writ
| ers base their work, is wonderfully &C
curate and wise even according to the
standards Of to-day. 1t treats of the sub
/ ject in eight sections-surgery, diseases
of the head, constitutional disorders
nervous diseases, childrens diseases an
t.dotes for poisons, personal hygiene, and
| the preservation of vigor. This in itself
| is indicative of shrewd acumen in pre-
historic medical work. The most famous
Aryan writer's of later periods founded
3 1,asv, all.
| and Sushruta on medicine are the best
known, and their treatises were written
many centuries before the dawn of the
! Christian era.
The Hindus in those ancient days used
| precisely the same methods of making
diagnoses which the physician Of to-day
employ. Percussion and auscultation, ex-
| animation 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 1900 years ago, just as 1t is
| of the Fifth avenue practitioner to-day
The understanding of the quality of the
| pulse beat was just as skilful. The pulse
that goes with delirium was described as
| like the running of a partridge, while the
very faint, Irregular and langud pulse
beat was intercepted as the sign of ap-
| preaching death. The circulation of the
| blood was perfectly understood. ut IS
distinctly stated that from the heart it
| is propelled to circulate through the ar
teres and veins and that It nourishes the
body as water conveyed through the canal
| irrigates the fields.
1t is in surgery that the most astonish-
ing feats are recorded. Cranial and alb
dominal surgery-operations which il is
commonly supposed have been possible
only within the memory of living men
were performed many centuries ago by the
| Hindu surgeons They were performed.
| nd 10 N Of ~ Lee
and with some sort of antiseptic precau-
| lions. 1t is related of King Bhoja OF
| Dhar, who lived about A. D. 977, that he
was operated upon for severe pains in the
| head. After being rendered insensible by
some form of drug, he was trephined, the
cause of the trouble was removed from
| the brain, and the wound was closed up.
The operation was completely successful
and radical cure was affected. Similar
| operations are recorded of Jivaka who was
| Buddha's physician. There Is abundant
account of ancient knowledge of hydro
therapeutics, dietetics climatology, mas
sage, hypnotism, vaccination for small
| pox and certain modern theories in gyne-
cology.
There was, however, a good deal of su
| persttion and what seems to modern esti-
/ nation foolish nonsense mixed up with
ancient medical knowledge and customs
For example, there was a precept that the
constant use OF the mirror would improve
| the complexion. The Hindu was also re-
commended to carry a walking stick, part
/ ~ for the very frank reason that II adds
| dignity 20 the Individual" Prince Tha-
kore admits that the religious and SUPER
stitious features Of ancient Hindu medical
practice have survived better than the
more practical knowledge The develop
ment Of casts and other prejudices and
finally the invasion Of the Mohammedans
| dastroved much Of the ancient system The
evidence seems conclusive, however. that
the Hindus 1000 years ago possessed n
much higher medical knowledge than mod
ern civilization enjoyed within less than
half century.
Vengeance. Returned Traveller
have often thought Of that young Mr..