TUE HISTORY OF YETEKINARY MEDICINE. 213 



wrath on the children of men. Appeasement was their only source; 

 and, at the cessation of the ravages, choice oiferings of thankful- 

 ness betokened the gratitude of sutfering man. 



" Charaka" and " Susruta'' are the names which have come to 

 118 of the two earliest medical authors in the Sanskrit tongue. 



The earliest source from which our knowledge of Indian medi- 

 cine is derived is taken from the hynms of the "Rig -Veda," about 

 1500 n. I'.* lu the " Artharva-Yeda'' diseases are looked upon as 

 evil spirits which overcome human beings, or as the results of the 

 displeai^ure of the gods, or as the intiuences of the sorceries of wicked 

 men. The most wonderful healing attributes were accorded to the 

 soma-plant. The Aswin, a twin god, were looked upon as Ilygeia 

 by the Greeks, i. e., as the gods of health : they made the lap of 

 woman fruitful ; they knew the plants which were endowed with 

 health-giving properties ; they kept the altar-fires burning. At a 

 later period they are described as the physicians of the gods. Be- 

 sides them, the god Agni, the god of lire, was looked upon as the 

 new awakening of spring ; Rudra, of the air, the winds, and the 

 earth. 



These early authors also ascribed healing qualities to the action 

 of cold water : 



" Two winds move slowly here and there, from ocean, and from distant lands ; 

 Power move thee, move thy suffering forth ; 



"Wind, move healing this one to, and move, wind, his suffering forth. 

 The gods have thee hither sent with all the means of healing overspent." 



•' Full of healing power is the watery wave ; the water cools the fever's heat : 

 Full of healing power against all pests, health bring to thee the water's flood." 



" The good magi are under the protection of gods, in order that 

 they may combat evil spirits." 



The essence of life is embodied in the air (the respiration). 

 Vital Power, Vital Spirit, are often spoken of. The doctor per se 

 \9. only mentioned in the more recent sections of tlic "Rig -Veda." 

 " The wishes of men vary : the wagoner seeks for wood, the doctor 

 for patients, and the priest for libations." 



In the Hrahmanical period of the Aryan people, the priests ap- 

 pear to have also busied tliemselves with the practice of healing. 

 At this period the doctor seems to have taken a much-respected 

 place among these people. A completely educated doctor must 



* Tills information with regard to ancient medical history \^ taken from TTaescr, 

 " Gcachichtc dcr Mcdicin." 



