Various are the views held by different scholars who closely studied the Tamil language without any bias;
1. Prof. Max Miller: 'Tamil' is the most highly cultivated language and possesses the richest stores of indigenous literature.
2. Rev. Percival: No language combines greater force with equal brevity than Tamil and it may be asserted that no human speech is more close and philosophic in its expression as an exponent of the mind than the same.
3. Dr. Caldwell: The Tamil literature is the only vernacular literature in India which has not been content with imitating Sanskrit, but has honourably attempted to emulate and outshine it. In one of the departments at least-that of emulate and outshine it. In one of the departments at least-that of ethical epigram-Sanskrit has been out-done by Tamil.
Now, coming to Medicine, it is my intention to say a few works about it in general and also in regard to the several indigenous systems now in vogue in our country before I enter into the details of the Tamil Siddha Medicine which is the purpose of the present compilation and the main subject for discussion.
Medicine
Medicine, as every one knows is not merely a science but an art as well. It consists not merely of compounding mixture, preparing decoctions, pills, plasters and drugs of all kinds; but it also deals with the different processes of life. The practice of medicine spoken of here deals not merely with the external body of man but also with the inner man or the soul. The art of Medicine is based on Truth and as such, It is a divine art not to be prostituted for base purpose or for money. The employment of strong will, benevolence, charity, patience etc., is the principle corner-stone in the practice of medicine. It is therefore a holy science and the practice of medicine and the curing of diseases are a sacred mission and as such cannot be understood by those who are undeveloped in their minds or who have made no study of the deeper causes and the aims of the life. There are countless remedies in nature which are Magnalia die i.e., the mysteries of curing and healing hidden from eyes, but open to the spiritual perception of the Wise. A medicine that will do good at one tine will be useless at another according to the prevailing influence of planets and their forces; and therefore a system of medicine without the true knowledge and understanding of natural laws, is likely to do more harm than good. Medical science may be mastered by learning, but medical wisdom can be gained only by a knowledge of Nature or of the Soul.
Medical science in India as practiced by our ancients, has been purely associated with Religion and Philosophy; and as such is evidently based on truth. Modern science knows next to nothing about the cause of action of medicines in the system; and so the drugs administered by modern practitioners cannot effect any radical cure of diseases; but will serve only to drive away the effects of diseases temporarily. The refined natural remedies have almost entirely disappeared from the pharmacopoeia. Many learned doctors of to-day are not aware of the simple fact that organs such as, the heart, lungs, brain, liver and stomach are only the material and the bodily representatives of invisible energies or activities that pervade and circulate the whole cosmic system, just in the same way as the Sun, Moon, Venus, Mars, etc., are the visible representatives of the cosmos.
A system of medicine without understanding and without a true knowledge of natural laws, will therefore remain for ever a system of more opinions, superstitions and of passive observation and inactivity; and this is the fact of the indigenous systems of Medicine in India at the present day. Some may perhaps criticise this on the ground that these views are similar to those held by the Medical school of Dogmatics in the time of Hippocrates, that such knowledge is quite unnecessary because it is unattainable and impracticable and that the simple human experience should be the only guide to practice. But the fact remains that, unless these systems are thoroughly over chronic ailment.