A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c26.s2.55

v1.c26.s2.55

An element thought to be inspired by Buddhism concerns the way to manage diseases which are incurable, but, nevertheless, amenable to palliative treatment (yāpya). Both Saṃgraha (Sū.2.30) and Hṛdaya (Sū.1.32) deal with this subject. These conditions should be treated as long as a remnant of āyus (the allotted span of life) remains. The conviction of K. Butzenberger and M. Fedorova 195 that this represents an effort to mitigate the āyurvedic principle of rejection of incurable cases may be out of proportion. Yāpya diseases were not rejected in āyurveda and even those classified as pratyākhyeya (suitable to be refused) were accepted after giving a warning that the hope of complete recovery should be given up. 196 Nevertheless, a remarkable verse of the Saṃgraha lays stress on the physician’s duty to attend to an incurable patient until he breathes his last (caramocchvāsa). 197