Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c26.3

c26.3

**Features of Medical Education.** The story of Jīvaka, as related above, brings to light the following points: (1) Taxila must have been the most renowned seat of medical education in the country when it attracted students from such a distant part of the country as Rājagṛiha; (2) the course of medical studies there extended to a period of seven years, after which a practical examination was held, putting to the test the student's knowledge of medical botany, or his first-hand acquaintance with the medicinal plants and their properties; (3) the principal cities of India like Sāketa, Benares, or Rājagṛiha were in no want of renowned physicians whose fees for treating dangerous diseases and serious cases amounted to figures which would put to shame the earnings of modern physicians; (4) considerable progress was achieved in surgery when such difficult operations were successfully carried out as those upon the skull, or the belly to set right twisted intestines; (5) the range of practice of successful physicians covered an extensive area, embracing several provinces. Jīvaka of Rājagṛiha had calls from Sāketa, Benares, Vesālī, and Ujjenī, bringing him phenomenal earnings; (6) the success of the surgical operations must have depended upon the use of antiseptic medicines. Jīvaka's ointments must have been of this character.