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Indian
:
The practices of ancient Hindu, or Vedantic, medicine (1500-1000
bc) are described in the works of two later physicians, Charaka
(lived about 2nd century ad) and Susruta (lived about 4th century
ad). Susruta gave recognizable descriptions of malaria, tuberculosis,
and diabetes. He also wrote about Indian hemp, or Cannabis, and
henbane for inducing anesthesia, and included specific antidotes
and highly skilled treatments for bites of venomous snakes. An ancient
Hindu drug derived from the root of the Indian plant Rauwolfia serpentina
was the source of the first modern tranquilizer. In the field of
surgery, the Hindus are acknowledged to have attained the highest
skill in all antiquity. They were probably the first to perform
successful skin grafting and plastic surgery for the nose.
With
the rise of Buddhism the study of anatomy was prohibited, and with
the Muslim conquest of India, beginning around 1000 bc, the field
of medicine further declined and ultimately stagnated. Nevertheless,
much valuable knowledge concerning hygiene, diet, and surgery was
passed to the West through the writings of Indian physicians.
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