[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) › 38.3 # Ἰνδικά 38.3: Idem XIII, 6 Ἰνδικά 38.3 - **Language:** Ancient Greek ### [38.3](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.hellenistic.megasthenes.38.3) Τῶν τεθηραμένων ἐλεφάντων ἰῶνται τὰ τραύματα οἱ Ἰνδοὶ τὸν τρόπον τοῦτον. Καταιονοῦσι μὲν αὐτὰ ὕδατι χλιαρῷ, ὥσπερ οὖν τὸ τοῦ Εὐρυπύλου παρὰ τῷ καλῷ Ὁμήρῳ ὁ Πάτροκλος· εἶτα μέντοι διαχρίουσι τῷ βουτύρῳ αὐτά· ἐὰν δὲ ᾖ βαθέα, τὴν φλεγμονὴν πραύνουσιν, ὕεια κρέα, θερμὰ μὲν, ἔναιμα δὲ ἔτι, προσφέροντες καὶ ἐντιθέντες. Τὰς δὲ ὀφθαλμίας θεραπεύουσιν αὐτῶν, βόειον γάλα ἀλεαίνοντες, εἶτα αὐτοῖς ἐγχέοντες· οἱ δὲ ἀνοίγουσι τὰ βλέφαρα καὶ ὠφελούμενοι ἥδονταί τε καὶ αἰσθάνονται ὥσπερ ἄνθρωποι· καὶ εἰς τοσοῦτον ἐπικλύζουσιν, εἰς ὅσον ἂν ὑποπαύσωνται λημῶντες· μαρτύριον δὲ τοῦ παύσασθαι τὴν ὀφθαλμίαν τοῦτό ἐστι. Τὰ δὲ νοσήματα ὅσα αὐτοῖς προσπίπτει ἄλλως, ὁ μέλας οἶνός ἐστιν αὐτοῖς ἄκος· εἰ δὲ μὴ γένοιτο ἐξάντης τοῦ κακοῦ τῷ φαρμάκῳ τῷδε, ἄσωστά οἱ ἐστιν. > 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: 38.2](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.hellenistic.megasthenes.38.2) - [Next: 39.1](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.hellenistic.megasthenes.39.1) - [Up: 38](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.hellenistic.megasthenes.38) ## Translations (1) - [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.38.3](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.gr.hellenistic.megasthenes.38.3) · Pramāṇa