Hindu Practice of Medicine

The compilation of the kind. I have undertaken is still a novel thing in India and if it has been intelligently worked up, I have no, manner of doubt that It will meet with the cordial approbation of my kind countrymen. Mere translations cannot now satisfy them. Something in a new form must appear to meet their request. Translations of ancient Hindu medical books-have been unnumbered. I myself have' had the honour of translating some 'of the foremost of them. But they are not in touch with the real need of the people. There is much in them that does- not stand a careful sifting. We can only come in sight of a few isolated truths after journeying through an enormous mass of rubbish. To help any man to learn useless or spurious knowledge is a crime. Those of the nineteenth century, "when every hour must sweat her sixty minutes to the death" cannot afford to be crammed with what they have no business to remember, while there is so much that they must know, if they are not to be handicapped in the race of life. If we can arrive at the same end by two ways-one short and the other long the learner ought not to hesitate as to which he should prefer. Moreover those translated volumes are not within the means of every aspirant for Hindu medical lore, India is now absolutely poor and those votaries for Hindu medicine are the poorest of the Indian people. It may be therefore safely hoped that this Hindu Practice of medicine will be appreciated by them yielding as it does-all the gems of the Hindu medical science in one vessel and that for a nominal price. What is best in a Charaka, a Susruta, a Bhabaprakasa or a Baobhat has been thrown into this Hindu Practice of Medicine. It is indeed an epitome of the whole Hindu medical science. To add to its practical utility, I have put in whatever I have found out by my practice which is tolerably long. I sincerely ignore those little jealousies which do not permit Kabirajes to make a public gift of the fruits of their own labour and experience. If the book tends in any way to spread the knowledge of Hindu system of medicine and if it induces my abler fellow workers to make similar publication of their own discoveries, I shall consider my labours very adequately recompensed.