Page:A Short History of Aryan Medical Science.djvu/46

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ANCIENT WRITERS ON.
[Chap. II.

disease, namely Bahya (external), Abhyantara (internal), and Bahirantara (exter-internal). The disease in its first stage is curable ; in the second, when the joints become involved, it is cured with difficulty ; while in its third stage, when it spreads both externally and internally, the affection is pronounced as altogether incurable. One afflicted with the malady becomes lean and weak, his nose sinks down, his gastral fire becomes dim, and his bones turn dry and crooked. Mercury, catechu, Spilanthes oleracea, and honey in certain proportions, are recommended as a remedy. Other recipes are also given. Bhava Mishra was the first to make mention of certain medicinal drugs of countries other than India. For instance he mentions

"Badakshani Naspasi," i.e., "Amrita," fruit of Badakshan.

"Khorasani Vacha," i.e., Acorus Calamus of Khorasan ;

"Parasika Vacha," i.e., Acorus Calamus of Persia ;

"Sulemani Kharjura," i.e., date fruit of Suleman.

Bahava Mishra was an inhabitant of Benares, where he is said to have had no less than four hundred pupils.