Commentary on the Hindu system of medicine / by T.A. Wise.

  • Thomas Alexander Wise
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Commentary on the Hindu system of medicine / by T.A. Wise. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    58/472 page 26
    The medicines should be collected on a fortunate day, and at a lucky hour. They should be gathered by the physician himself, with suitable prayers. Should a person of another caste touch or pre- pare the medicines,-and not the physician who prescribes, they will be rendered inert, even should a Brahmun have prepared them. When the proper medicine has been gathered and prepared in the prescrib- ed manner, and administered at the proper time, the effect will be as if Vishnu had administered, and entered into the body of the sick person ; but the medicine will be of no use to the sick unless administered by a physician, as it will otherwise be like the lump of prepared clay, without the aid of the potter to fashion it. A phy- sician should, therefore, be his own apothecary, preparing and pre- scribing those medicines which are peculiarly appropriate to each particular case, and being unknown to others, constitutes one of his peculiar excellencies. The qualities of medicines, depend on their colour, smell, and kind of juice. The active power of medicine should be great, but the quantity should be small. These quantities should be carefully observed, and the medicines given at the proper season, and stage of the disease. The person’s disease is then to be examined, the state of the hu- mours and blood; the seven essential parts (dhatu), and lastly the evacuations. He is next to decide on the nature of the disease, administer the proper medicines, and give directions regarding diet and regimen. It is of much importance that the disease be treated at the pro- per time ; and the patient be of the proper degree of strength to admit of the disease being cured. Active treatment should not be employed in a slight disease, nor a mild treatment in an acute disease. Should the treatment employed be doing no good, it should be changed; but when the symptoms are yielding, under a particular plan of treatment, it should be continued. That kind of treatment will be successful which diminishes the disease, by equalizing all the humours ; and that is bad treatment, whith increases one, as it diminishes another humour. The treat- ment should be commenced from the first appearance, of the disease ; _ as it is like fire, poison, or the enemy, and a small portion deranges health. Should a physician exhibit medicines the first day he has seen the patient, without properly ascertaining the nature of the disease, he will be like the angel of death (Yama). Such medicines as cure vital air, bile, and phlegm when diseased, are not disagreeable to the person ; do not produce any bad effects; and,* given at the
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