12 



ON HYGIENE IN 



tanks or reservoirs from which the water was distributed by 

 canals, so that the country might be equally irrigated. 



6. Public Health. — Of the condition of public health 

 during the Vedic period we learn that the people were 

 afflicted with few bodily pains, the reason assigned being 

 that the seasons were genial, the remark indicating that 

 climate conditions in their relation to health were observed. 

 At that time, and for long after, physicians were believed 

 capable of recovering persons bitten by venomous snakes, 

 notwithstanding that in the treatment of such accidents they 

 trusted to the then ordinary appliances of their sciences, 

 namely, charms and incantations. 



Manu was the first known improver of conditions having 

 reference to public health. According to that ancient 

 sage " The king is to cause broad roads, drinking fountains, 

 and market-places to be constructed in his territory ; maga- 

 zines of various kinds to be prepared ; herbs or medicines, 

 roots and fruits to be collected ; and to provide four sorts of 

 physicians ; to repress drinking shops, procuresses, loose men, 

 gamblers and such like ; to provide for the welfare and subsist- 

 ence of the poor, orphans, old men, and widows." But the 

 first real progress in matters of this nature took place 

 many generations afterwards, namely, under Sandracottus. 

 He utilized the philosophers or learned class by engaging 

 them in the work of experiment and observation with a view 

 to improve the productions of the earth, especially animals- — 

 in other words he established agri-horticultural institutions. 

 Monks there were to seek out and relieve poverty and 

 suffering; and in fact such works appear to have been carried 

 out in India from time immemorial. The circumstance is 

 also mentioned that as the people had a very temperate 

 climate they were not subject to many varieties of disease. 

 Among the many works of philanthropy performed by 

 Asoka, " the Sorrowless," he established medical dispensaries 



