[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877) › c3.18 # The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c3.18 The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c3.18 - **Language:** English ### [c3.18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c3.18) If therefore we leave out of consideration the Uttara-tantra of Susruta, the work resolves itself mainly into a treatise on the principles of medicine as bearing on surgical diseases. It would thus appear that from a very early age, Hindu medical practitioners were divided into two classes, namely, Salya chikitsaka or surgeons and Káyachikitsaka or physicians. The surgeons were also called Dhanvantaryia sampradáya after Dhanvantari the reputed teacher of Susruta, or from Dhanvantari the mythological surgeon of the gods. This division existed before the work of Charaka was compiled, for as pointed out by Kavirája Brajendrakumar Sen Gupta, Charaka, like our modern physicians, refers his readers to surgeons when surgical aid is necessary, as for example in the passage quoted below. † We may conclude, therefore, that Charaka is the oldest treatise on Medicine and Susruta the oldest treatise on Surgery now extant. - [Previous: c3.17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c3.17) - [Next: c3.19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c3.19) - [Up: c3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c3) ## Linked texts (3) - [Carakasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.samhita.caraka) — Agniveśa (Āyurveda) & Caraka, Sanskrit - [Suśrutasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.med.samhita.susruta) — Suśruta & Nāgārjuna (siddha/alchemist), Sanskrit - [Ratnagotravibhāga](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.darsana.yogacara.ratnagotravibhaga) — Sāramati & Maitreyanātha, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c3.18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.dutt-1877.c3.18) · Pramāṇa