Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

Everyone who takes the slightest interest in the history of the medical sciences finds fascinating reading in the literature of Indian Medicine. In this edition of Charaka-Samhita we have ssmething better than the scrappy extracts which occasionally reach us. Carefully read, it will give us a thoroughly good idea of ancient Indian Medicine, which means a pretty fair idea of the modern article. Its appearance in short monthly instal¬ ments will enable even our busy physicians and pharma¬ cists to read it without being greatly burdened.

But, considering the age in which it appeared, CharakaSamhita is truly a wonderful production, and, questions of present utility aside, we can heartily agree with the sentiment here quoted : “ Modern criticism and scholar¬ ship have clearly established that the people of ancient India constituted the oldest, the most civilized, and the most philosophic section of the Aryan race* and that they gave to the rest of the world its literature and science, in fact, its materials of thought and culture of every kind. That the greatest medical work of such a people should remain a sealed book to the largest portion of mankind,

' is a slur on civilization.” From this point of view alone, the publisher deserves the thanks of the entire civilized world for undertaking the translation, a work which, performed in the manner in which he is performing it, is really stupendous. It is to be hoped that the two pro¬ fessions in America will not be slow in lending their sup¬ port to the 'enterprise by becoming subcribers to the work.

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(The Cblttge hnd Clinical Rectirch, Philadelphia;

September , 1893. )

An Interesting Revival. — In this practical age tve are apt to overlook much that is being done to enrich medical literature and to add to the general store of professional knowledge in other countries, especially in those whose language is not intimately allied to our own. It may interest many Of oui' readers, especially those of a literary turn, for instance, to know that in India one of the oldest medical writings of that empire, “ Charaka-Samhita,” is being translated, arid that at least two of the fasciculi have already appeared, published by Abinash Chandra Kaviratna, of Calcutta.

It is said that the medical literature of ancient arid mediseval India is exceedingly voluminous ; and this revi¬ val of a distinctly valuable medical treatise must be regard¬ ed as important, whether considered philologieally, histori¬ cal^ or from a literary standpoint, by American medical men. Generally speaking, there seems to be more touch between the people of the United States and those of India in matters intellectual than between the Indians and Englishmen. The insular prejudices of the, latter very often stand in the way of their appreciating the literary and scientific remains of that very old country. Very possibly, the politcal supremacy of Englishmen in India lies at the root of this contempt for everything Indian. Be that as it may, the truth is obvious that America always sympathizes with the productions of ancient Indian genius more readily than any other country. America is free from prejudices. This is very probably the cause. The recent labors of Protapa Charidra Roy in publishing an English translation of the great Indian epic, “ Maha-

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bharatam,” are more appreciated in America by American scholars than eyen in Germany.

( North Carolina Medical Journal , March, 1893.)

Chauaka-Samhita. — We have received the fourth fasciculus of his very interesting work. Charaka and Snsruta are the acknowledged authqrities qn Hindu medicine. They are written in Sanskrit, but their true, philosophical and weighty deliverances are being given tq the English-speaking world, through the labors of Avinash Chandra Kaviratna, a distinguished physician of India. It is a great and laborious work he has undertaken, and will be duly appreciated by all who feel an interest in the history of the healing art. The translator has added many foot-notes alluded to in the text, and giving the English and botanical equivalents for the names of Indian drugs.

(American Journal of Pharmacy, February, 1893.)

When noticing the publication of the first fascicule on p. 286 of our last volume, a history of this ancient work was given as far as known, and its importance for the Study of medicine in general, and of materia medica in particular, was pointed out. Three fascicules of the Eng¬ lish translation are now before us, containing seven lessons which treat of longevity ; of drugs ahd gruels useful in curing diverse diseases ; of purgatives and astrin¬ gents ; of proper diet ; of food in different seasons, and of the inadvisability of suppressing the urgings of nature. The explanatory annotations, added by the translator, Will be especially appreciated by the reader. In this

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form the work is unqestionably a most valuable addition to the history of medicine in earlier times, made acces¬ sible to those who are not conversant with the ancient languages of Eastern countries.

( American Journal of Pharmacy, May, 1892.)