प्राचीन भारत में शिक्षा (डॉ. ए.एस. अल्तेकर - गुरुकुल एवं बौद्ध विहार शिक्षण इतिहास)

Chapter VIII. PROFESSIONAL AND USEFUL EDUCATION. MEDICAL EDUCATION—Its general features—Training in surgery—Arrangements for practical training—Duration of the course and examination—Medical education in later times—Veterinary education—MILITARY EDUCATION—Non-official training agencies— Military schools—professional military coaches—Education of the princes—COMMERCIAL EDUCATION—Its general scope—How it was imparted. TRAINING IN ARTS AND CRAFTS—Society's attitude towards arts and crafts in early and later times—Training given by the apprenticeship system—Workshop atmosphere—Painter's training as an illustration—Efficiency of the training—Was it narrow ? Introduction : In this chapter we propose to take a rapid survey of some of the important branches of useful and professional education and of the ways in which it was imparted. Medical, military and com- mercial education and the training of artists and artisans for sculpture, architecture, painting, smithy, carpentry etc. will principally engage our attention. MEDICAL EDUCATION. Early Progress : Medical science is no doubt of hoary antiquity in India. The Vedic literature refers to the healing feats of Aśvins, who though originally human beings, were later deified by a grateful posterity. This science was fairly well developed by the 4th century B. C., for the Greeks, who had accompanied Alexander the Great, were very well impressed by the skill of Indian doctors in curing the cases of serpent bite. The Jātakas refer to the medical students at Taxila performing operations for cranial abscesses and intestinal displacement.