The Classical Doctrine of Indian Medicine: Its Origins and its Greek Parallels c15.8

c15.8

The Accadian manual published by Mr. Labat consists of five parts. The first gives a series of prognostics drawn from signs observed by the exorcist when he goes to the house of the patient. It refers, therefore, as has been noted by Mr. Labat, more to divination concerning the patient than to medicine. The type of indications is as follows: "If, in the street, he (the exorcist) sees a potsherd planted (in the earth), anxiety will not approach that patient". Or "If he sees a table for offerings (?), the patient in question has been seized by some charm, he will remain ill and then die" (Table I, 2-3). In the latter case a diagnosis concerning the medical origin of the disease precedes the prognostics. This first part, designated according to its commencing words, *When the exorcist goes to the house of the patient*, also carries the enigmatic designation of *Sick Muscles*.