Appendix 1 - Description of a Hospital

Here we would like to refer to the description of a hospital given in the Sūtra-sthāna of the Caraka Saṃhitā,^[1] which is as follows: “First of all, an expert architect should design a good building. The building should be strong and it should not be exposed to winds. However, it should be so constructed as to allow wind through one passage. It should provide for a comfortable moving space. The building should not be situated in a mountainous place nor should it be located near a bigger building. Besides the building should not be exposed to smoke, the sun, water, dust or undesirable noise nor should it have undesirable contacts, tastes, sight or smell. The building should be well equipped with a water reservoir or water pot, mortar, pestle, latrine, bathroom and kitchen.”

As far as medical attendants and other general requirements of a hospital are concerned the text further mentions, ‘… arrangements are to be made for attendants who are endowed with good conduct, cleanliness, character, devotion, dexterity and sympathy and who are conversant with the art of nursing and good in administering therapies. Several such attendants are required for various purposes like cooking, soup, porridge, etc., bathing, massaging, lifting, seating of patients and also for grinding of drugs. These attendants should all be willing workers. People well versed with vocal and instrumental music, panegyrics, recitation of verses, ancient lore, short stories, Itihāsa (the Mahābhārata, etc.), Purāṇa (mythology), and those who can grasp the inner desires, are obedient, and have knowledge of the time and place should also be arranged.

Presence of lāva (common quail), kapiñjala (grey partridge), śaśa (rabbit), hariṇa (black buck), eṇa (antelope), kālapucchaka (black tailed deer), mṛgamārikā (red deer), urabhra (wild sheep) is necessary. There should be a milch-cow of good temper free from diseases with her calf alive. Proper arrangement should be made for her fodder, dwelling and water. Provision should also be made for water vessel (pātrī), spoon (ācamanīya), water tub (udakoṣṭha), big and small earthen jars (maṇika and ghaṭa), frying pan (kumbhī kumbha), bowl (kuṇḍa), saucer (śarāva), ladle (darvī), mat (kaṭa), cover plate (udañcana), cooking pan (paripacana), churning stick (manthāna), leather, cloth, thread, cotton, wool etc.

Arrangements are to be made for bedding, seats, etc. Golden vase and spittoon are also to be provided. Bed sheet, towel, pillow and cushion should be kept there so as to facilitate lying flat, sitting oleation, fomentation, massage, unction, effusion, anointment, emesis, purgation, sthāpana type of enema, anuvāsana type of enema, elimination of doṣas from head and passing stool and urine.

There should also be grinding stones (mortars) -smooth, hard and of medium size along with well cleaned pestles, sharp instruments, accessories, smoking pipe, tube for enema and douche, broom, scales and measuring vessels, ghee, oil, muscle fat, marrow, honey, phāṇita (a sugar cane preparation), salt, fuel, various types of wine like the one prepared of honey, sīdhu, surā, sauvīraka, maireya, medaka, tuṣodaka, curd, whey, udasvit (a mixture of water and butter milk in equal parts), dhānyāmla (sour gruel), śāli (Oryza sativa Linn.), ṣaṣṭika (a variety of Oryza sativa Linn.), mudga (Phaseolus mungo Linn.), māṣa (Phaseolus radicus Linn.), yava (Hordeum vulgara Linn.), tila (Sesamum indicum Linn.), Kulattha (Dolichos bifforus Linn.), badara (Zizyphus jujube Lam.), mṛdvīkā (Vitis vinifera Linn.), kāśmarya (Gmelina arborea Linn), parūṣaka (Grewia asiatica Linn.), abhay ā(Terminalia chebula Linn.), āmalakī (Embilica officinalis Gaertn), bibhītaka (Termenalia bellerica Roxb.), other drugs employed in oleation, fomentation, emesis, purgation, those having the combined action of emesis and purgation, which are known as constipatives, and appetizers and ablatines of v ta, etc., which are carminatives, and such other medicines as are conducive to the treatment of complications, if any, and also those which are useful in and after treatment should also be collected”.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 15.6-7.