Foreword

The knowledge of Indian system of medicine basically exists in the age-old classical texts.

The classical texts can only be used as reference books & not as textbooks for regular study. These reference books can not be used by all students as these are written in Sanskrit. Hence there is a need of textbooks which are based on reference books in which modern advances are also covered & which could be used by ordinary students of Ayurved courses.

Since 1970, when CCIM came into existence, Ayurvedic degree courses both at undergraduate and post graduate levels have same syllabi throughout India. However it was noted that scope & jurisdiction of points mentioned in syllabi vary from state to state & from one teaching institute to the other. The main reason behind these discrepancies was that there is no single comprehensive text book for Ayurvedic subjects which could be followed all over India.

To overcome these difficulties the AYUSH department of Health & Family Welfare ministry, Government of India, New Delhi launched a scheme for publication of text books of various Ayurvedic subjects, The contents of the scheme basically include grant of substantial amount of money for preparing editorial boards, listing eligible and knowledgeable authors, printing etc. In short, everything required for preparing a good text book.

Editorial board was composed of eminent scholars having teaching experience of more than 15 years. It consisted of one Chief Editor, three Co- Editors and three members of the board. One of them was assigned as Executive Editor. Editorial board was entrusted with division of topics and selection of eminent scholars from all over India to author different chapters.

Proposal sent by Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya Pune which fulfilled all requirements for publishing text book of Agadtantra was accepted. The college has completed the task under the guidance of editorial board & presently this book is being published.

I congratulate the editorial board for this exemplary work & good editing.

In fact this book is the first one amongst accepted proposals of Ayurvedic subjects which is being published. I congratulate the authorities of Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya & the editorial board as well as authors & translators who have completed a commendable job.

I am equally glad that simultaneously Hindi translation of this book is also being published. This will enable teaching institutes all over India to impart knowledge of this subject at par and fulfill the objectives of the scheme.

Preface

Agadtantra ,Vyavhaar Aayurved and Vidhivaidyaka is a subject which is increasing in importance day by day. Forensic science is evolving at a very fast pace. Newer compounds appearing every day are making Toxicology an ever changing subject. Parliament and State legislatures are considering and enacting new laws having wide ranging impact on medical practice.

Current textbooks on this subject cover the subject in a fragmented manner. No single textbook covers the whole spectrum of subject. Multi-author books are non existent. There was an increasing need for a textbook which covered the entire subject with sufficient depth. A single author is usually not in a position to have expertise in all topics in the subject.

Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India took an initiative in this situation & announced a scheme for publication of Ayurvedic textbooks in all Ayurvedic subjects in 2004.

We at Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya felt that we were in a unique position to publish textbook of Agadtantra fulfilling the norms of the scheme. We submitted a proposal to the department & it was sanctioned. This textbook is the result of our efforts for last 4 years.

Contributors from all over India were identified and asked to contribute various chapters, Particular emphasis was on contributors having post graduate teaching facilities in Agadtantra.

CCIM has specified 100 lectures for teaching of subject. We have tried to fit the whole syllabus in 100 lectures. In 2005 Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) held a workshop to prepare a curriculum of the subject. This curriculum shaped the architecture of the present book.

Instead of 30 chapters in original scheme, division of syllabus in 100 lectures proved much easier to edit and made textbook much more practical and user friendly.

The book is divided in 5 main sections. These are

1) Agadtantra or Ayurvedic toxicology

2) Modern toxicology                .

3) Forensic pathology

4) Clinical forensic medicine

5) Medical jurisprudence

Some topics which are not included in CCIM syllabus are important from practical viewpoint. These topics are included in the textbook as Uttartantra.

Contents