Picture Details
Hakeem with servant carrying baskets of medicine
Partner:
British LibraryImage reference:
BL.Add.Or.1586Origin:
West, IndiaArtist / Date:
Unknown, c.1856Description:
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Water-colour painting done in the Belgaum style showing a hakeem, practitioner of the Unani system of medicine, accompanied by his servant carrying baskets of medicine on a yoke. The hakeem seen here is of the itinerant kind, who went about visiting houses in order to treat patients. The Unani system of medicine, one of the oldest systems of medicine still practised, was introduced into India by the Arabs about 1351 AD. Diseases are mainly diagnosed by the pulse and the physical examination of urine and stools, the drugs prescribed are of plant, animal or mineral origin. The plant-based drugs are made either from dried fruits like Aamla, leaves like Kaner, roots like Sheetraj, bark like Darchini, whole plants like Chiraita or gums like Hilteet. The baskets with green cloth frills at the bottom indicate the nature of its contents, this being jars of essential raw ingredients for medical treatment.
