History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c27.s1: Ethnology
History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c27.s1
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Ethnology
v1.c27.s1.1
Morgan developed a Principle of Comparative Method for interpreting ancient history from the conditions of ancient tribes, while conducting his studies among American aboriginals. Satija (1987) has likewise tried to put on record the Indian folk veterinary practices, using comparative methods, so that their origin may be placed in historical frame of development.
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Primitive human societies in various geographical regions have been using plants and plant products for various remedies. A large number of these folk prescriptions are endemic to certain areas and have survived through ages, from generation to generation through the word of mouth. They do not exist as written knowledge. In aboriginals, who reside in remote areas lacking organized medical infrastructure, dependence on their endemic prescriptions is exclusive.
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A list of ailments for which folk prescriptions are available is given in Table 1. The Table 2 gives names of plants used in same disease conditions by different tribes. Method of agreement in terms of disease conditions calls for a study of common useful factors in various plants used.
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Table 1 — Disease conditions for folk treatment
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| Medicinal Problems | Surgical Problem | Gynaecological Problems |
| Indigestion | Wound | Hypogalactia |
| Colic | Maggot wound | Agalactia |
| Diarrhoea | Inflammation of udder | Anoestrus |
| Retention of urine | | Retention of placenta |
| Haemoglobinurea | Lameness | Prolapse of vagina |
| Pica | Broken limb/fracture | Leucorrhoea |
| Blindness | Dislocation of limb | |
| Dropsy | Gangrene of tail | |
| Insect bite | Conjunctivitis | |
| Allergy | | |
| Rheumatism | | |
| Convulsions | | |
| Eczema | | |
| Mange | | |
| Lice and Ticks | | |
| Stomach worms | | |
| Mastitis | | |
| Pneumonia | | |
| Anthrax | | |
| Haemorrhagic septicaemia | | |
| Black quarter | | |
| Actinobacillosis | | |
| Foot and Mouth Disease | | |
| Rinderpest | | |
| Rabies | | |
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Table 2 — Plants used for same disease condition in different ethnic groups in India
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| Disease condition | Hisar area | Bastar area | Kumaon area | Santhal area | Ladakh area |
| Diarrhoea | *Vernonia anthelmintica* (kaliziri) *Acacia arabica* (kikkar) | - | *Bergenia ligutata* (pakhanbed) | - | - |
| Internal worms | - | *Mucuna prurita* (kawanch) | *Brassica rugosa* (rai) (rai) | - | - |
| Indigestion | *Curcuma zeodaria* (kacuri) | - | - | - | *Prangos pabularia* |
| To induce lactation | *Citrus aurantifolia* (nibu) | - | *Brassica gugosa* | - | - do - |
| Fractures | - | *Coxylospermum religiosum* *Nyctanthes arbortristes* (harsinghar) | - | *Abrus* | - |
| Leucorrhoea | *Caesalpinia crista* | - | *Aesculus indica* | - | - |