22 



ON HYGIENE IN 



strengthen the feet and protect them. The umbrella protects 

 the person from rain, wind and dust. A stick protects the 

 person against beasts, and prevents fatigue. 



16. Physicians. — According to Hindu mythology one of 

 the precious gifts obtained by the churning of the ocean by 

 the gods or Devas and demons (giants) or Asuras was the 

 physician in the person of Dhanvantari, carrying in his 

 hand the water of life, Amrita, drunk by immortals. 

 "We also read that the physicians to the gods of the vedas 

 were the two Aswins, sons of Surya, the sun, otherwise 

 personifications respectively of light and moisture. Dhanvan- 

 tari called also Devadasa, having, it was said, practised 

 medicine with great success in Heaven, descended to earth 

 to cure men's diseases, and to instruct them in preventive 

 (hygiene), as well as in curative medicine. He subsequently 

 became King of Kasi or Benares. 



The first member of the Vaidya or medical caste was 

 of miraculous birth. Subsequently Manu laid down laws 

 with reference to the science of medicine and its professors, 

 the aptness of many of which must still be acknow- 

 ledged. For example, he thus describes the necessary 

 qualities of a medical student : He should be of respectable 

 birth ; inquisitive, observant, not covetous, jealous nor lazy ; he 

 should be a philanthropist, and his disposition should be 

 amiable and happy. The indications of such qualifications are 

 an agreeable voice, a small tongue, eyes and nose straight, thin 

 lips, teeth short which do not expose the gums, and thick hair 

 which retains its vigor. As to his duties he should know the 

 causes and varieties of disease and the means of preventing 

 and curing them; he should be acquainted with his profes- 

 sion ; he should be acquainted with anatomy ; some severe 

 diseases are cured immediately by a good physician, but 

 simple diseases are increased much by the want of early 

 assistance ; these principles were laid down more than 



