Hindu Medicine c7.26

c7.26

The first feature, the many-sided approach, shows the elaborate and circumspect character of medical magic. It is far from being primitive: it utilizes the knowledge of many substances and experiences, techniques and general ideas, and it combines them to secure the defeat of the demons of disease. On the other hand, the array of means, in assailing the demonic power, betrays some incertitude as to the desired outcome of the treatment. In a way, it seems doubtful how far one alone of these magic remedies would go toward bringing about the expected result. The transferring of the disease to the sun; the red amulet moistened with the ambrosial fluid of immortal life; the milk-potion fortified with the virtue of the amulet; the reddish dish of rice, and the ablution with what remains of it, after the patient has partaken of it; and, finally, the transferring of the jaundice into the yellow birds; none of these by itself seems to be considered wholly reliable in its effect. With this kind of treatment, the intention is to be on the safe side. It combines all that experience and thoughtful intuition have gradually contributed to tradition.