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 INTRODUCTION

In the study of History of Indian Medicine we laid stress on the necessity of our graduates in medicine for a knowledge of the classical languages, especially Sanskrit, Greek and Latin. We would now request our friends, the Ayurvedic physicians, to acquire some knowledge of one at least of the modern tongues, e. g., English,° French and German. This will give them breadth of outlook among scholars of the world. It would be then easier for them to undertake research according to the comparative method,—a method which when utilised will lead to results which will be simply astonishing,—results, which then subjected to the critical and scientific methods of modern research, will yield a harvest of scientific findings undreamt of by the workers themselves. The task is certainly not an easy one; it will take years of study and application, and the co¬ operation of a host of scientific workers. The discoveries that we shall be able to make, in this field of reseaich, this newly-opened mine of scientific enquiry,—would not be inferior, in novelty or importance, to the brilliant discoveries made by men in any age or climate.

Apart from the systematic enquiry into the medical literature of the world, we should try to collect folk- medicine as it exists in different countries. The immunity of the dairy women to the attack of Small-pox was known to many physicians, but it required a Jenner to test the truth of such a statement by experiments. Popular impressions and beliefs relating to cure of diseases are worthy of examination, and science advances by bringing into view facts previously unknown. A priest or a butcher was certainly not a good anatomist, but there was no doubt that the origin of Human and Comparative Anatomy could be traced to their work. Alchemical experiments did not secure the philosopher’s stone which