[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Science, technology and education](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science) › [Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.jolly-1901) › c13.4 # Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c13.4 Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c13.4 - **Language:** English ### [c13.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.jolly-1901.c13.4) The cult of seven small-pox sisters whom the above seven forms of \*śītalā\* evidently correspond and particularly the \*śītalā\* is even at present very much spread in North India. \*Śītalā\* rides on an ass, she resides in the \*nimba\* tree, that is why the patient is also fanned with \*nimba\* leaves, \*nimba\* leaves are hung in the door of the patient's room and are put in a waterpot in the patient's room. \*Śītalā\* is specially worshipped by women and children, because the above sixth variety of \*śītalā\* is confined to children. \*Camariyā\*—the oldest of the small-pox sisters whom a particularly bad form of small-pox with confluent pustules is attributed, corresponds to the eighth \*carmajā\* or \*camaragoṭī\*. In south India also the divination of small-pox is a common practice. A goddess \*Basurī\* prevailing there in the 17th century is perhaps to be identified with \*masūrī\*.⁴ At present small-pox is evidently the most prevalent children's disease and one of the most dangerous diseases in India⁵. In view of the above information small-pox appears as a difficult, complicated and epidemic disease from \*Mādhavanidāna\* onwards. In AHr it is considered as dangerous; in Su, AS it is only a light skin-trouble which, according to Wise⁶, is to be considered as a mild form of the later epidemic small-pox, and in the oldest medicine it is completely absent. The often expressed view that small-pox existed in India much earlier than in Arabia and that it reached Arabia from India is thus in no way to be considered as certain; still less acceptable is the view of Chevers⁷ that the priests of \*śītalā\* were the oldest vaccinators. No trace of any vaccination can be discovered in older medical literature⁸, the worship of \*śītalā\* as small-pox goddess is foreign to it and no personification of the small-pox appears among the numerous ancient personifications of children's diseases. - [Previous: c13.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.jolly-1901.c13.3) - [Next: c13.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.jolly-1901.c13.5) - [Up: c13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.jolly-1901.c13) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.jolly-1901.c13.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.science.jolly-1901.c13.4) · Pramāṇa