History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c4.6

v1.c4.6

Life, in ancient India was conceived as the manifestation of body, senses and spirit. People were equally prone to new fashion and decorated their own bodies, their homes, temples and gods. Effort was also made to upkeep body and mind and free it from diseases. Obviously plant and animal products got their use very early. But how early metals and metallic compounds began to be used in drugs is not known. The classical works (Bṛhat Trayī) have mentioned the use of mercury and metallic compounds. Later works have given explicit details of conversion techniques of mercury and metals into pharmaceutically suitable components through different alchemical processes. Sandle paste, flower and flower extracts were common as traditional cosmetics and perfumes used in temples and houses. Early works contain details of various ingredients for cosmetics, their manufacturing process and various combinations. The dyes, pigments and mordants were well-known for the colouring of textiles and painting of potteries, metallic surfaces and pictures. When the hand woven technique of textile changed with the discovery of loom, the changes both in the composition of fibers and natural dyes and their combinations became faster. Colouring materials were obtained from vegetable products of indigo (nīla), lac (lākṣā), turmeric (haridrā), madder (mañjiṣṭhā) etc. Minerals like lapis lazuli, calamine ferric oxide lime, lead, blue vitriol etc. were also used. The Surgical techniques developed with the process of survival and was obviously considered as one of the important divisions of Ayurveda. The problems like peptic ulcer, perforation, paracentasis, cauterisation, blood-letting, piles and fistula, problems of stone, laparatomy, hydrocele, rhinoplasty etc were tackled. How were these operations possible in the absence of anaesthesia? The nature of operations, dressing, use of alkali of various strengths both for internal and external application, and the use of 101 blunt and 20 sharp instruments indicate that both pre- and post operative phases were taken care of.