Hindu Medicine c7.304

c7.304

That it should be necessary for the physician to propitiate and conjure the forces of nature which he wishes to serve him, is commonly believed. The Hindu doctor uses caustics (kṣāra) for the treatment of skin-diseases, fistulas, abscesses and other ailments. For preparing these caustics he needs wood-ashes. Being his own apothecary, he sets forth in search of a tree, the wood, leaves, roots and fruits of which will constitute part of the raw material (Su. I, 21).