A History of Indian Medical Literature v2.c29.214

v2.c29.214

⁵⁵⁸ Cf. Su.Sū.46.78; A.s.Sū.7.74 (*śalyaka*). P. Rāy and H.N. Gupta (1965): *Acanthion leucura*, the porcupine. P.V. Sharma: porcupine. Gulabkunverba: pangolin. R.K. Sharma and Bhagwan Dash: idem. Properties of the flesh are mentioned at Ca.Sū.27.71cd–72ab and Su.Sū. 46.82ab. The flesh of the *śalyaka* is permitted to *brāhmaṇas* (*Manusmṛti* 5.18); the animal is known to Vedic texts (see H. Lüders, 1942: 38; A.A. Macdonell and A.B. Keith, 1967). The *śallaka* is probably a pangolin (see G.J. Meulenbeld, 1974: 508). Two members of the family *Manidae* occur within Indian territory: *Manis crassicaudata* Gray, the Indian pangolin, distributed throughout the country, and *M. pentadactyla* aurita Hodgson, the Chinese pangolin, restricted to the northeastern region; the populations of both species are greatly reduced due to killing for the alleged medicinal value of the scales and flesh. See on these species of *Manis*: E. Balfour (1967): II, 851–852, (1968): III, 106; S. Chakraborty, 1986: 324; F. Finn (1929): 261–263; R.E. Hawkins (1986): 434; S.H. Prater (1971): 301–303; J.E. Tennent (1861): 46–49; WIRM VII, 221–222.