Omitting further notice of the component parts of the body, we turn to the "nature of temperaments," and find a man with too much bile described thus:

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his fortune is bad, his hair becomes soon grey, the upper part of his head bald, and his skin wrinkled, as if by age. He eats much, and dislikes warm articles of food; is soon angry, and is as soon pacified; is of moderate strength, and does not live long. His memory is good, and he is a good man of business, and speaks accurately, and to the purpose. His appearance is fine, and in company he excels in speaking."1

Temperament is affected by climate.

cranes,

"The moist country (Anûpa) is intersected by rivers; . . the air is cool. There, lilies and other water-flowers abound: geese, ducks, fish and serpents, are numerous. In such a situation the inhabitants are unhealthy, and are short-lived. There, diseases of air and phlegm abound; and the inhabitants are fat, indolent and weak. In such situations the juices of the body require to be dried by the use of hot, dry, and light food, in small quantities; so as to strengthen the internal fire."

In the hot, hilly country, where arid plains are covered with dwarf trees and prickly shrubs, the inhabitants have little muscle and large bones. The diseases of air and bile are most frequent. The climate is healthy, and the inhabitants are good workmen, and long-lived.

Under the head of Personal Duties, Dr. Wise speaks of diet, saying, that "The medical writers usually commence the cure of a disease by arranging the diet that is to be followed by the sick person. So much do the Hindu physicians rely upon diet, that they declare that most diseases may be cured by following carefully dietetic rules; and if a patient does not attend to his diet, a hundred good medicines will not remove the disease. The generality of diseases being supposed to be produced by derange

ment of the humours, if one or more are morbidly increased in quantity, their indications of cure are commenced by promoting the just balance of elements and humours."

In the chapter on pharmacy, it is said that the Hindu physicians participated largely in the error of employing drugs, without examining sufficiently the properties of simple medicines, and supposed they augmented efficacy by multiplying ingredients. In confirmation of this remark, we may refer to an ancient prescription, transcribed by Dr. Rutherfurd Russell, consisting of forty-six separate items. Much good advice is given in the ancient Hindu works on choosing herbs which are well-grown in a good soil. Those from the Himalaya mountains are the best, as the juice of such plants is usually the strongest; and medicines must be fresh, have their proper smell, and, after a year, must be thrown away. Cowherds, hunters, &c., may be employed to collect medicinal plants; but a Brâhman should be preferred, particularly if he is poor.

Better advice is that the physician himself "should penetrate forests and climb mountains, to examine the plants in their natural situations; and this physician "should not despise the information obtained from hunters and shepherds, who may have had opportunities of witnessing their effects." 3

In a division of Susruta's work on antidotes, which is called the Kalpasthâna, medicinal drugs and plants are arranged as : tuberous and bulbous roots, bark of roots, bark of large trees, fruits and seeds, acrid and astringent vegetables, milky plants, gums and resins. This work appears to give the earliest information on medical geography.

When treating on modes of administering medicines, we find it observed that

46

'Medicines, given in too small doses, will be like throwing a little water upon a large fire, which rather increases than diminishes it."

Wise, Hind. Med. p. 98.

2 Heroes of Med., p. 123.

3 Wise, Hind. Med. p. 25.
4 Royle, p. 54.

TREATMENT OF VARIOUS DISEASES.

357

And again, if the medicine is given in doses which are too large, it will be liable to produce other diseases.1

In treating of the digestive organs in the sixth chapter, Susruta says that dyspepsia results when a person is sleepy or in a passion, afraid, grieved or fatigued at the time of eating; when he sleeps during the day instead of at night, and eats at irregular times. When there is want of digestion, it is said further, although a dyspeptic man may think his appetite good, and eat food, it does not nourish his body, but acts as a poison in destroying him.

Some other diseases are enumerated, under distinct heads; as diseases of the mind, diseases of the head and neck, and diseases of the chest, including asthma, cough, and heart disease. Diseases caused by poisons and hydrophobia are also touched on. The last book treats on the diseases peculiar to women and children, concluding with "Diseases produced by Devils," which terrible class of disorders is by no means peculiar to women and children. On the contrary, evil spirits are represented as being ever present on the watch to seize upon all unguarded persons. Those who are attentive to religious duties, and respectful towards holy men, escape these afflictions; but the person who omits prescribed ceremonies is taken possession of by any lurking demon,-be it Vetâl, Pisâcha, Srî-sarpa, &c.

In commencing this chapter we felt that medical science appeared in ancient India like a phantom; for although it is a reality, we do not see it affecting society there as it does in other ancient countries. We never hear of physicians, whether Hindu or foreign, as residing at the courts of sovereigns in India. Physicians never assist in the plots of Hindu fiction, nor do physicians appear on battle fields or at death beds, either in history or poetry. Nevertheless, medicine and surgery are facts in ancient India; and the treatment indicated in certain critical cases led Professor Wilson to observe, that "the operations are rude,

'Wise, Hin. Med., pp. 127, 128.

2 Ibid, p. 329.

and very imperfectly described. They were evidently bold, and must have been hazardous: their being attempted at all is, however, most extraordinary, unless their obliteration from the knowledge be considered a still more remarkable circumstance. It would be an inquiry of some interest, to trace the causes of the disappearance of surgery from amongst the Hindus: it is evidently of comparatively modern occurrence, as operative and instrumental practice forms so principal a part of those writings which are undeniably most ancient, and which, being regarded as the composition of inspired writers, are held of the highest authority."

This inquiry is connected with the progress of manners; "for the persons, whoever they were, who wrote in the character of Munis, or deified sages, would not have compromised that character by imparting precepts utterly contrary to the ritual or the law, or at variance with the principles and prejudices of their countrymen." And in alluding to certain passages in Susruta and his commentator Vâgbhata, Professor Wilson says there is much in them "which is utterly irreconcilable with present notions, and we must, therefore, "infer that the existing sentiments of the Hindus are of modern date, growing out of an altered state of society, and unsupported by their oldest and most authentic civil and moral, as well as medical institutes." 1

'H. H. Wilson's Works, vol. iii. p. 391.

Constellations in Rig-Veda.-Moon, month.—Calendars for regulating religious ceremonies.-Investigation of the Surya-Siddhanta.—Aryabhata,—accurate observations, A.D. 500.-Varâhamihira, astronomer and astrologer.—Bhâskarâcharya.-Algebra.—Our figures derived from old Sanskrit letters.—Decline of astronomy in India.

EASTERN nations have ever loved to contemplate "the floor of heaven, thick inlaid with patines of bright gold."

The sun, the moon, planets, stars, and eclipses, were watched by Hindus with adoring reverence, until in later times they became to them bright pages wherein "to read the fate of men and empires." But we shall find that they were astronomers before they became astrologers, and that they were star-gazing poets before they became astronomers.