Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c31.14

c31.14

**Medical Science.** Of Medical Science, he mentions eight sections treating respectively of (1) sores, inward and outward, (2) diseases above the neck, and (3) below it, or bodily diseases, (4) demoniac diseases due to attack of evil spirits, (5) the Agada medicine, i.e. antidote or medicine for counteracting poisons, (6) diseases of the children from the embryo stage to the sixteenth year, (7) the means of lengthening life, and (8) the methods of invigorating the legs and body. “These eight arts formerly existed in eight books, but lately a man epitomized them and made them into one bundle. All physicians in the five parts of India practise according to *this book*, and any physician who is well versed in it never fails to live by the official pay.” I-tsing himself claims to have made “a successful study in medical science”, but finally gave it up as it was not his proper vocation. But he explains why this subject was a part of the compulsory course of elementary studies for all, including those intended for monkhood. “Is it not a sad thing,” he asks, “that *sickness* prevents the pursuit of one's duty and vocation? Is it not beneficial if people can benefit others as well as themselves *by the study of medicine?*” (p. 130). I-tsing mentions the principal medical herbs in India (p. 128) and the “rules on giving medicine” (ch. xxviii), which insisted on fasting as an effective cure (p. 133), by practice of which “each man is himself the king of physicians, and anyone can be Jīvaka” (ib.). There is a reference to the use of Tea (p. 135) and the *universal* disuse of any kind of onions in India (p. 137) which, because they “have a foul smell and are impure”, are not to be eaten “except in case of illness” (p. 138). The surgical processes of cauterizing with fire or applying a puncture are also referred to (p. 129).