[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Foreign](https://indike.org/pramana/inf) › [Greek](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr) › [Hellenistic (323–31 BCE)](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.hellenistic) › [Ἰνδικά](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.hellenistic.megasthenes) › 38.1.3 # Ἰνδικά 38.1.3 Ἰνδικά 38.1.3 - **Language:** Ancient Greek ### [38.1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.hellenistic.megasthenes.38.1.3) (12) Τοῦ δὲ μὴ ἀποσείεσθαι τοὺς ἀμβάτας μηδέ τι ἄλλο ἀτάσθαλον ἐργάζεσθαι, τὸν τράχηλον αὐτοῖσιν ἐν κύκλῳ μαχαιρίῳ ὀξέϊ ἐπιτέμνουσι, καὶ τὸν βρόχον κατὰ τὴν τομὴν περι(??)έουσιν, ὡς ἀτρέμα ἔχειν τὴν κεφαλήν τε καὶ τὸν τράχηλον ὑπὸ τοῦ ἕλκεος. (13) Εἰ γὰρ περιστρέφοιντο ὑπὸ ἀτασθαλίης, τρίβεται αὐτοῖσι τὸ ἕλκος ὑπὸ τῷ κάλῳ· οὕτω μὲν ὦν ἀτρέμα ἴσχουσι, καὶ αὐτοὶ γνωσιμαχέοντες ἤδη ἄγονται κατὰ τὸν δεσμὸν πρὸς τῶν ἡμέρων. Cap. XIV. Ὅσοι δὲ νήπιοι αὐτῶν ἢ διὰ κακότητα οὐκ ἄξιοι ἐκτῆσθαι, τούτους ἐῶσιν ἀπαλλάττεσθαι ἐς τὰ σφέτερα ἤθεα. (2) Ἄγοντες δὲ εἰς τὰς κώμας τοὺς ἁλόντας τοῦ τε χλωροῦ καλάμου καὶ τῆς ποίης τὰ πρῶτα ἐμφαγεῖν ἔδοσαν· (3) οἱ δὲ ὑπὸ ἀθυμίης οὐκ ἐθέλουσιν οὐδὲν σιτέεσθαι, τοὺς δὲ περιϊστάμενοι οἱ Ἰνδοὶ ᾠδαῖσί τε καὶ τυμπάνοισι καὶ κυμβάλοισιν ἐν κύκλῳ κρούοντές τε καὶ ἐπᾴδοντες κατευνάζουσι. (4) Θυμόσοφον γὰρ εἴπερ τι ἄλλο θηρίον ὁ ἐλέφας· καί τινες ἤδη αὐτῶν τοὺς ἀμβάτας σφῶν ἐν πολέμῳ ἀποθανόντας ἄραντες αὐτοὶ ἐξήνεγκαν ἐς ταφὴν, οἱ δὲ καὶ ὑπερήσπισαν κειμένους, οἱ δὲ καὶ πεσόντων προεκινδύνευσαν· ὁ δέ τις πρὸς ὀργὴν ἀποκτείνας τὸν ἀμβάτην ὑπὸ μετανοίης τε καὶ ἀθυμίης ἀπέθανεν. > The Indians cure the wounds of the elephants which they catch, in the manner following:— > They treat them in the way in which, as good old Homer tells us, Patroklos treated the wound of Eurypylos, — they foment them with lukewarm water. After this they rub them over with butter, and if they are deep allay the inflammation by applying and inserting pieces of pork, hot but still retaining the blood. They cure ophthalmia with cows' milk, which is first used as a fomentation for the eye, and is then injected into it. The animals open their eyelids, and finding they can see better are delighted, and are sensible of the benefit like human beings. In proportion as their blindness diminishes their delight overflows, and this is a token that the disease has been cured. The remedy for other distempers to which they are liable is black wine; and if this potion fails to work a cure nothing else can save them. > — John Watson McCrindle 1877, Ancient India as Described by Megasthenês and Arrian - [Previous: 38.1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.hellenistic.megasthenes.38.1.2) - [Next: 38.1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.hellenistic.megasthenes.38.1.4) - [Up: 38.1](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.hellenistic.megasthenes.38.1) ## Translations (2) - [Latin translation (Müller)](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.hellenistic.megasthenes*fhg~la-muller.38.1.3) — Karl Müller, Latin - [Ancient India as Described by Megasthenês and Arrian](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.hellenistic.megasthenes~en-mccrindle.38) — John Watson McCrindle 1877, English --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.hellenistic.megasthenes.38.1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.hellenistic.megasthenes.38.1.3) · Pramāṇa