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204 of the blood, postural treatment, massage, and anaesthetics, have been referred, to. A reference may also be made to the use of the magnet in therapeutics. Cures by animal magnetism were common in India long before they were recognised by Mesmer in Germany, and subsequently by John Elliotson in England. In the medical works of the Hindoos, doctors curing diseases by hypnotism are styled "Siddha" (en-dowed with supernatural power) ; those curing by means of mineral drugs "Daivi" (divine) ; those curing by vegetable preparations "Manushi" (human) ; and those by surgical operations "Rakshasi" (demoniacal). The names indicate the degree of estimation in which each class was held : and when Manu in his Ordinances directs his followers to "avoid the food of the doctor" (that is, to avoid eating with, or any food touched by a doctor), he evidently refers to the surgeons, and not to the other classes of physicians. The degenerate state to which Indian Surgery is now reduced is chiefly due to this popular prejudice.

The Indian writers have described the medicinal properties of waters of the principal rivers, lakes, wells, and mineral springs of the country,