216 THE HISTORY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



The teacher shall read from the holy books step by step, and verse 

 by verse ; he must speak distinctly, but without undue exertion, 

 neither too rapidly nor too slowly, neither through the nose, nor 

 with any indications of impatience." 



The theoretical education of the student took place in the open 

 air, frequently in groves. The practical instruction consisted in the 

 visiting of patients, the practice of surgical operations upon models 

 made of wood covered with wax, also on soft fruits, and the punc- 

 ture of leather sacks ; the extraction of teeth was practiced on the 

 dead body and upon animals. The students also accompanied the 

 teacher on journeys in search of medicines, and to study the dis- 

 eases of other regions. In order to practice his profession, it was 

 necessary that the student had the consent of the rajah (ruler), who 

 watched over the execution of the regulations for the practice of 

 medicine. 



We see here that these Aryans were further advanced in some 

 things even than the enlightened citizens of this boasted country, 

 for they did not allow even the graduated student to practice medi- 

 cine without the consent of the recognized authority ; and, further, 

 the practice of medicine was regulated by the authorities. Quacks 

 and empirics probably, then as now, were vampires of civilization, 

 sucking the life-blood of the people ; but, nevertheless, the people 

 had means of distinguishing the accredited man from the swindler, 

 and the title of " doctor " was worth something more than the paper 

 it was written on, which is not at present the case in the United 

 States of America. 



" Not seldom, however, through the carelessness of the rajah, 

 unsuitable doctors were admitted to practice. Such men flatter the 

 friends of the sick, are very attentive, take less pay, are bold-faced, 

 and never attribute the poor results of their p>ractice to their own 

 ignorance. The educated 'practitioner must flee the company of 

 such men as a thicket full of ravenous animals. The reward of 

 the practitioner must be ordered according to the means of the pa- 

 tients. It is dishonorable to demand pay of Brahmans, relations, 

 friends, and the unfortunate. The doctor shall take no other pay 

 from women than refreshment. The kings have especial doctors ? 

 who take part in the wars ; others must be present in the kitchen 

 to prevent poisoning." 



In the " Laws of Manu " it is written that " the doctor who 

 mishandles animals shall receive the lowest, while he who mistreats 

 human beings shall receive the highest punishment." 



The Indian doctors possessed but little real knowledge of anato- 



