49 
thcirAntidotes ; mention of the Diseases of Women and 
Children; with valuable notices relating to Surgery, Medi- 
cine, Materia Medica, and Pharmacy. 
It will no doubt excite surprise, to find among the great 
operations of these ancient surgeons, those of Lithotomy 
and the extraction of the Foetus ex utero ; and that no 
less than 127 surgical instruments are described in their 
works. But I think the Professor of Surgery will agree 
with them when they declare, that " the first, best, and 
most important of all implements, is the hand," and 
cannot but be pleased to have his branch of the profession 
described, as " the first and best of the medical sciences, 
less liable than any other to the fallacies of conjectural and 
inferential practices, pure in itself, perpetual in its appli- 
cability, the worthy produce of Heaven, and certain source 
of fame. 1 ' 
With respect to Medicine, there are descriptions of the 
number, the origin and seat of diseases, with their symptoms, 
diagnosis and prognosis ; accompanied, of course, with 
copious instructions respecting diet and treatment. Distinc- 
tions are drawn between a theoretical and practical, and 
observations made, as well on the character as on the 
duties of a Physician. Passages on the latter subjects 
having been translated, (one of which I owe to the kindness 
of Professor Wilson,) it will be seen, from his verbatim 
translation, that these early Hindoos had no contemptible 
ideas on the subject: — 
" Having completed the indispensable course of study, 
practice is then to be as indispensably acquired ; for he, who 
is versed in both, deserves to be honoured as the chief of 
physicians. As it is said (verse), he who is acquainted with 
the science of medicine only from studying the books which 
treat of it, and is not well grounded in the practice also, is 
bewildered when called upon to attend the sick, like a 
H 
