Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c18.16

c18.16

**Factors of Success in Treatment.** The success of medical treatment depends on other factors, though the most important factor is the physician, who is compared to the Adhvaryu without whom the other three priests, the Udgātā, the Hotā, or the Brahmā cannot properly perform the sacrifice. He is also likened to the helmsman who can successfully handle a boat even if it lacks its rudders. But his work depends upon the efficiency of Nurses (*parichāraka*) and the quality of medicines together with the subject of treatment, viz. the patient. An efficient Nurse should be possessed of many virtues: he should be full of fellow-feeling (*snehayukta*), should not be hostile to anyone, should be physically strong, skilled in keeping up the suffering patient (*vyādhitarakshaṇam*), able to apply the prescriptions of the physician (Vaidyavākya-kṛit), and untiring in his work. As regards the quality of medicines to make them efficacious, their raw materials or sources (like the medicinal plants) should be grown properly, gathered in proper time, duly measured, should be palatable and mixed up with due degrees of smell, colour, and taste, capable of curing ailments, not repulsive, not producing any undesired effects, and should be given in proper condition. The patient also should be one who is patient under suffering, is suffering from a curable disease, possessed of materials for treatment, free from greed, full of faith in God and obedience to the directions of his Doctor [*ib.*, ch. 34].