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(218) : Nandanavana
preceptors. The medical scientists of that time were practically creative and theoretically intelligent. They cultivated these qualities, as there were no detractions during their learnings in their places like today. The most recent trend in education is also moving in the socalled backward direction in this regard. The physicians of those days worked privately and as civil servants also. They treated the public, individual and even none or both. They were highly proficient in the eight-fold system of medicine current those days“. (ii) Patients: Though the canons do not contain description about the patients in general; however, Ugrāditya tells us that the patients should have confidence and faith in the physician approved by the state. The physicians, on the other hand, should first examine the patient by methods of (i) seeing (ii) questioning, (iii) touching and (iv) diagnosing about their nature of disease and then treat them accordingly“. The Ayurvedic system mentions eight points of patient's examination, i.e., sight, touch, facial nature, voice, tongue, faeces, urine and nature of pulse and its rate etc. It has to be investigated whether pulse examination got current in Ugrāditya's time, as he has not mentioned this important aspect of patient's examination. (iii) Nurses: Nursing is as necessary for patients as the doctor. Ugrāditya points out that the nurses must be strong willed to serve others. She should be smiling, skilful, kind and patient to the patients and must be able to bear the inconveniences from both sides. However, it is not mentioned whether they should be male or females only. It seems both sexes could have occupation of nurses. (iv) Medicines: It has been said that the canonical age medicines were normally non-violent, herbal, vegetable, mineral, their decoctions, extracts and mixtures. A good medicine is defined as that which is prepared by genuine methods and is disease-curing in small amounts. A nurse must be well-versed in preparing and administration of medicines. Of course, besides medicines, nature cure and demonic cure methods are also included in medicines of canonical times. Topics under Medical Learning
Many canons have indicated the following eight subjects to be taught for physicians during their training with some variance in their Sanskrta names and their order:
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