The Classical Doctrine of Indian Medicine: Its Origins and its Greek Parallels c15.9

c15.9

The second part, *When thou approachest a patient*, after reminding the doctor of the necessity, for his personal safety, of performing a prophylactic charm prealably, enumerates the signs presented by the patient at the time of the doctor's approach and which reveal the origin of the disease, most often due to the "hand" of such and such a divinity, which has put itself over the sick person. For example: "If he is 'struck' in the cranium: the 'hand' of Papsukkal . . . If, being 'struck' in the cranium, his ears do not hear: the 'hand' of Istar' " (Table III, 9-10). The prognostic often follows or is given alone, without a prealable diagnosis.