The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s2: Weights and Measures
The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s2
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Weights and Measures
c4.s2.1
The scales of weights and measures used in ancient days differed in different parts of the country. Separate scales are described by modern compilers, under the names of *Mágadhi*, *Kálinga*, *Cháraka*, *Sausruta*, etc. The number of *gunjás* making a *tolá* varies in these scales from forty to ninety-six. The scale of weights and measures in ordinary use in Bengal, at the present day, has the *gunjá* (seed of *Abrus precatorius*) for its lowest weight. The *gunjá*, however, is divided into fractional parts by other seeds, thus eighteen mustard seeds, four grains of paddy, three grains of barley and two grains of wheat are respectively said to be equal to one *gunjá* गुञ्जा. This scale is as follows :— 6 *Gunjás* make one *áná*. 12 *Gunjás* make one *máshá* माषा. 8 *Máshás* or 16 *ánás* make one *tolá* तोला. 8 *Tolás* make one *pala* पल. 8 *Palas* or 64 *tolás* make one *seer* सेराव. 2 *Seers* make one *prastha* प्रस्थ. 8 *Seers* make one *ádhaka* आढ़क. 32 *Seers* make one *drona* द्रोण. 100 *Palas* or 12½ *seers* make one *Tulá* तुला.
c4.s2.2
In the scale above described ninety-six *gunjás* make one *tola*. It would seem, however, that in ancient days Susruta’s scale of forty *gunjás* to a *tolá* was in general use, for the doses of powders, confections, decoctions, etc. given in the older works, are considered monstrous for the present age, and much smaller doses are given in practice. Orthodox physicians explain the large doses by saying that they were intended for a superior race of men of ancient days. The subject is involved in much obscurity and this is scarcely the place to discuss it thoroughly. In giving the doses of medicines described in this work, I will state the quantities now prescribed by native physicians in current weights, hence they will differ from the Sanskrit texts from which the prescriptions will be translated.
c4.s2.3
There is a peculiarity in fluid measures which must also be noticed in order to prevent misapprehension of the Sanskrit texts. When a fluid article is ordered in measures of a *prastha* or two *seers* and upwards, twice the quantity mentioned should be taken. Thus if in a preparation it is stated, take of solid paste of certain substances one *seer*, oil two *seers*, and water eight *seers*, the quantities actually taken are solid paste one *seer*, oil four *seers* and water sixteen *seers*. In measures below two *seers* or in those indicated by *pala* such as eighty *palas*, sixty *palas* etc, the quantities are not doubled.
c4.s2.4
The doses of medicines are not fixed. They are regulated by the age, strength, and digestive power of the patient, the nature of the illness, the state of the viscera and humours, and lastly by the properties of individual drugs.
c4.s2.5
Supposing the full dose of a medicine for adults to be two tolás, the doses for children of different ages would be as follows :— For infants a month old, one gunjá, and an additional gunjá for each additional month. For children a year old, the dose would be one máshá or twelve gunjás, and an additional máshá for every year, till the full dose of sixteen máshás or two tolás is reached at the sixteenth year. From sixteen to seventy the full dose should be used, after which it should be again gradually reduced. When infants are unable to take decoctions and other bulky medicines, their nurses are made to take them. Sometimes small quantities of medicines are applied to the nipples, and the infants made to suck them.
c4.s2.6
Medicines may be administered during four periods of the day, namely, sunrise, mid-day, evening and night. Sometimes they are administered frequently. Morning is regarded as the best time for administering such medicines as purgatives, emetics, decoctions and pills which are generally given once daily. When no specific direction is given regarding the time of administration, morning must be taken for granted. Very often one sort of medicine is given in the morning and another in the afternoon. Some medicines for dyspepsia are given before, along with, and after meals.