The Classical Doctrine of Indian Medicine: Its Origins and its Greek Parallels c13.18

c13.18

The theory of phlegm in Plato is quite similar to that of the *śleṣman* of Indian doctors. Plato has described the phlegm before indicating its rôle in diseases. "Serosity (*ikhor*) when it comes from the blood is sweet, the one that comes from black and acid bile is malignant, above all, when because of the action of heat, it gets mixed with the salted quality. Another type of serosity is formed from new and tender flesh, dissolved in the air . . . we call it white phlegm (*leukhon*)" (83c-d). Suśruta, on his side, teaches: "The phlegm is white, heavy, unctuous, viscous and cold. But, sweet when it is not burnt; when burnt, it can be salty".² Although the formation of the phlegm is taught differently in the Greek and Indian texts, and although only the Greek text brings in the black bile, both agree on a theory which is quite strange and to which the observation of real facts does not naturally lead, namely the passage of the phlegm from sweet to salt under the action of heat.¹