A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c25.174

v1.c25.174

The chapter begins with stressing the importance of protecting wealthy people, and in particular a king, from being poisoned, and the place of the court physician as the one chiefly entrusted with this task (8.2–3).292 Kings are said to be vulnerable to diseases on account of their way of living (8.3). Precautions concerning the royal meal (8.4–5) and some general characteristics of poisoned food (8.6)293 are described, followed by the signs of poisoning exhibited by a series of dietary items (8.7–8).294