The Ashtanga-hirudayam is said to have been written by Bagada-Chariar, a Brahtnan convert to Buddh ism ; and the. Travancore people suppose that he obtained his knowledge of medicine from the Buddhists. The book is in Sanskrit, in the Male alam character, written on palm leaves ; but few of the practitioners possess a full copy of it. Thirteen of its chapters, with a Malealam explanation, were printed at the Government Press, Calicut, by Mr. Oopoti Cunnen, deputy-collector, Malabar. The complete book, however, has 120 chapters, and treats on hygiene, gives the outlines of anatomy and physiology, practice of medicine, surgery, ophthalmic medicine and surgery, obstetric medi cine and surgery, and the manufacture and use of various obstetric and surgical medicines.
Kairava-gramam is an epitome of the Ashtanga-hiru dayam. It is on palm leaves, in the Malealam language and character.
Satha-yogam, or the Hundred Modes of Administration, and Sahasra-yogam, or the Thousand Modes of Ad ministration, are partly Sanskrit and partly in San skrit mixed with Malealam, a dialect known as the Mani-prasalam. They are palm-leaf books, in the • Malealain character, and treat on the preparation of medicines, such as eleetuaries, decoctions, etc., the modes of administering them, and their uses.
Prayogasaram describes diseases and their treatment. It is a palm-leaf book, in the 3Ialcalam language.
Yoga ratna-samchayam is a palm-leaf book, in the Male alam language. It is descriptive of diseases and their treatment ; but also indicates needed incan tations and danam,' or charitable gifts distributed for the relief of the patients' ailments.
Yoga Mirtham is in print, also on palm leaves, in the Malealam language. It describes the treatment of disease.
Manbali, a palm-leaf book, in the Malealam language, on the treatment of 'disease.
A few other medical books are still on palm leaves, but have also been printed in Malealam ; they are said to be selections from larger works.
Karnatica.—The race who speak the Canarese tongue have been partitioned by several states, part of them under the Mysore kingdom, part of them under the British Presidencies of Madras and Bombay, and a part in the Hyderabad Govern ment dominions. Their medical practitioners are usually known as Vyda and as Chekichika. The Vyda claim to be learned men who have derived their knowledge from the study of books. The latter believe that experience is the great teacher ; but on the western side of the Canarese country, pandits also engage in the practice of medicine.
Though acknowledging that surgery and mid wifery were formerly regarded as branches of the medical art, and in the possession of books on those two subjects, they are all now-a-days physician purists. They possess printed and written and also palm - leaf books. Those of Charaka, Susruta, the Agni besa, Bhillu Tautra, Parasara Sanhita, Jatukerna Tantra, Atrya San hita, Vagbliata, Neghutra Naker, Chekechasura sungraha, Vidyamruta, Lolumburaja, Sahrung dhara, Madhava Nidana are in Sanskrit, printed in the Nagari character, with a Mahrati com mentary. But they are costly, and the people are poor, and parts only of most of them are purchased by the physicians, relating chiefly to internal diseases, or what may be termed medical ailments. Others, Vidyarnava,* Bliasaja Culpa,* Rasaratnakerra,* Shadrasa Negundo,* Dhanwantari Negundo,* Kasava Nidana,* Raja Negundo,* Sata-sloki, Bhoom - Amruta, Jaga choondari, Sarvangasoondari, are also in Sanskrit. in metre, but are all on palm leaves, and the seven marked with an asterisk are incomplete.
The last two of this series, the Jaga and Sarvan gasoondari, are on the treatment of venereal complaints. Their remaining works are on surgery and midwifery, and are Salaya,.Salakaya, Aupadhanalia, Aurbhara.
In the Madras Presidency, where the spoken cultivated Hindu languages are Tamil, Telugu, Canarese, Uriya, Malealam, and Tulu (the people numbering in all about 30,000,000), we find amongst Hindu practitioners medical books in all the languages, but, with the exception of many of the Tamil works, the writers in which seem to have been original authors, most of the treatises appear to have been translations or compilations from the Sanskrit. The first of these to bo mentioned are the medical books by unknown Authors in Sanskrit :— Silpoey Sastrum, on the arts and manufactures of the Hindus, in Sanskrit, Tamil, and Telugu.
Bhashujah Snrwaswam, on the medicines applicable to a number of diseases.
Vydia Saravali, Sidayoga Ratnavali, Sarasungraham, Shatashuloki, on the medicines applicable to a number of diseases.
Bashajah Sungraham, sometimes called Shatasuloky, medical work by an ancient doctor. The Bavardah Dauyekah and the Chendra Caleh are commentaries on it.