Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c9.2

c9.2

It is also not immaterial as to which text-book (śāstra) the pupil chooses, since many text-books are current among the physicians. Only such text-book is suited for study as is tested, recognised, easily understood, properly arranged and complete (Car 3. 8. 3). The study consists of learning by heart when the pupil reads the sūtras serially, utters them loudly and often repeats them (Car 3.8.6). It is, however, not sufficient simply to learn them by heart. The teacher should explain every word of the text and the pupil should repeat the explanations. Memory without knowledge would be useless, just like a donkey carrying sandalwood; it only feels the load, without being delighted by its fragrance (Su 1. 4. 3-4). Along with learning and teaching Caraka also speaks of discussions with specialists in different branches. They consist partly of peaceful conversations and partly of disputations, and advance the knowledge, insight, elocution and reputation. Suśruta stresses the necessity of practical training, for even a very learned physician would be incapable of practice without practical training. At the same time, on account of his surgical point of view, he emphasises methodical instruction in surgical operations. So one should demonstrate to the pupil the process of deep cuts, sections and cross-sections on various kinds of gourds and cucumbers, watermelons, superficial parts of filled leather-bags, bladders (of animals) and pockets, the process of curetting on stretched and hairy animal-hides, the process of opening on the blood-vessels of dead animals, or a lotus-stalk, the process of probing on openings of a worm-eaten wood, bamboo, reed, objects like reed in general or dried large bottle-like gourds, the process of removing on the flesh of certain fruits or on the teeth of dead animals, the process of squeezing on a board smeared with wax, the process of suturing on the ends of two pieces of thick linen or soft leather, the process of bandaging on the limbs of a doll made of stuff or other material, the process of cauterizing and branding on tender flesh etc. (Su 1. 9).