History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c22.s1.1

v1.c22.s1.1

Diagnostic skill was the greatest achievement of ancient Indian Medicine. Caraka lays great emphasis on an early and correct diagnosis as the basis of any rational treatment. He devotes two complete *Sthānas*, the *Nidāna* and *Vimāna* in his ‘*Saṃhitā*’ to an exhaustive discussion of the subjects of different diagnostic techniques. Chapter 8 of the *Vimāna Sthāna* is perhaps the most comprehensive and complete discussion of the subject of diagnosis we possess in any ancient medical literature. The physicians conversant with this science, reflecting in all manner of ways, upon everything as far as possible, should then come to a conclusion about the diagnosis of the disease before him and the treatment that should be followed. The physician who fails to understand the constitution of the patient with knowledge and perceptual vision can never treat diseases (CS.VI. 4.13-15).