deinonslrjiLe the lessons ou^ practical anatomy. We come acrosj; such terms as the heart, stomach, brain, intestines, anus, liver, spleen, uterus etc', iv the Rigveda, and the Aitaj-e3'a Brdhmana (i). There is an entire hinn (Rik) devoted* to the subject and treatment of Phthisis ( Knja Yakshma) which becomes utterly unintelligible in the absence of an accurate knowledge about the structure of lungs, and mechanism of the human heart. The Vtdic Arya fully understood the resultant nature of the human organism. The Rik Mantra, which to this day is recited on the occasion of a funeral ceremony, ampl}' testifies to the fact that he used to look upon his mortal frame as the product of the combination of the five physical elements (2). He understood the effects of different drugs upon diges- tion and the office which the tendons, muscles, flesh and nerves, etc. respectively serve in the economy. It is in the Sushruta Samhita that we find a systematic attempt at arranging together the facts of anatomical observation. The age of Sushruta, the Acharyic age of the Ayurveda, was a period of scientific investigation. The sturd}- Aryan colonists exchanged their simple mode of living for luxuiy and ease. The number of general diseases was great. In
(1) (
Indic characters)
(2) The iialuie of the huiiiaii body as tile resulting efi'ect of the C(im-
hinatidii dftlu' live elementals havcheen clearly described in the verse.
(Indic characters)
- Rik Samhita X M. 16 S. 3.
Which l)eing translated reads :— Let his eye go t(j the sun, let his breath. wind nVx with the wind'of the atmosphere, and to the sky. earth and the cereals the parts which hae spriint; out of them. Cvc.
