61 
the prescribing of Nux vomica in paralysis and dyspepsia, 
and the revival of the use of Croton Tiglium. From the 
mixture, however, of much ignorance and absurdity with 
what is valuable, many will be apt to despise altogether 
the Medicine of the East. But if it be recollected how 
long in Europe prevailed the influence of Galen ; as well 
as how many absurd formulas still figure in some conti- 
nental Pharmacopoeias, as also how comparatively recent is 
the time since our own was so greatly improved ; some 
feeling of humiliation will control the pride with which we 
now view the medical sciences. As records of early civi- 
lisation, and as elucidating the history of medicine, a more 
bars, plates, and probes. The application is useful in many cases, as to 
the temples and forehead, for head-aches ; to the eye-lids, for diseases of 
the eyes ; to the part affected, for indurations in the skin ; to the sides, for 
spleen and liver ; and to the abdomen, for mesenteric enlargements. As 
amongst the Greeks, however, the chief use of the cautery was in the case 
of hemorrhages, bleeding being stopped by searing the wounded vessels." 
— " If leeches, when applied, are slow and sluggish, a little blood may be 
drawn from the part by a lancet, to excite their vivacity ; when they fall off, 
the bleeding may be maintained by the use of the horns and gourds, or the 
substitutes already mentioned, for the cupping glasses of our own practice." 
— " The operations are rude, and very imperfectly described. They were 
evidently bold, and must have been hazardous: — their being attempted at 
all is however most extraordinary, unless their obliteration from the know- 
ledge, not to say the practice, of later times, be considered as a still more 
remarkable circumstance. It would be an inquiry of some interest, to 
trace the period and causes of the disappearance of Surgery from amongst 
the Hindus — it is evidently of comparatively modern occurrence, as ope- 
rative and instrumental practice forms so principal a part of those writings, 
which are undeniably most ancient ; and which, being regarded as the com- 
position of inspired writers, are held of the highest authority." 
Besides these sacred writings, there are many valuable professional tracts 
which correspond with, and are, in fact, commentaries on them. These 
are said to have been composed by prophets and holy men ( Magha Reeshees), 
to whom is generally given a divine origin. 
The different nations of India have their respective medical authors. In 
the Peninsula and the South of India, in Tamul ; those of the Telingas 
in Teloogoo ; in Bengal and the Northern Provinces, the works in use 
among the Hindoos are in Sanscrit ; while among the Mahomedan popu- 
lation, Persian works and translations from the Arabic are chiefly in use. 
