Charaka And Sushruta Had Pro-Pounded The System
Of Hippocrates Long Before The Time Of Him Who In Europe Is
Supposed
to be the "father of medicine." The Bhadrinath temple of Vishnu
possesses a stone bearing evident proof of the
Fact that Surya-Sidhanta
knew and calculated the expansive force of steam many centuries ago.
The ancient Hindus were the first to determine the velocity of
light and the laws of its reflection; and the table of Pythagoras
and his celebrated theorem of the square of hypotenuse are to be
found in the ancient books of Jyotisha. All this leads us to
suppose that ancient Aryans, when instituting the strange custom
of wearing silk during meals, had something serious in view, more
serious, at all events, than the "dismissing of demons."
- - - - -
Having entered the "refectory," we immediately noticed what were
the Hindu precautions against their being polluted by our presence.
The stone floor of the hall was divided into two equal parts. This
division consisted of a line traced in chalk, with Kabalistic signs
at either end. One part was destined for the host's party and the
guests belonging to the same caste, the other for ourselves. On our
side of the hall there was yet a third square to contain Hindus of
a different caste. The furniture of the two bigger squares was
exactly similar. Along the two opposite walls there were narrow
carpets spread on the floor, covered with cushions and low stools.
Before every occupant there was an oblong on the bare floor, traced
also with chalk, and divided, like a chess board, into small
quadrangles which were destined for dishes and plates.
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