The Classical Doctrine of Indian Medicine: Its Origins and its Greek Parallels c14.37

c14.37

On the other hand, and above all, it should be observed that precise enquiries which help us to obtain deep knowledge are often those which take place without much noise and we have the proof that such enquiries have been made on India inside the Persian administration. Strabo tells us that one of the rare authors for whom he has great regard among those who have written on India following the expedition of Alexander, namely, Patrocles¹ had said that the companions of Alexander had only an extremely superficial knowledge of India, whereas Alexander himself could have been better informed, as he had got detailed descriptions from people knowing the country well. Patrocles was able to see these reports as an act of special favour by the treasurer Xenocles (II, 1, 6). These exact reports were therefore secret or at least were not written for being circulated and largely known. Their authors being men