ABSTRACT
In the modern parlance of medical theory, both contagion and infection involve micro-organisms. Ancient Indian medicine focuses primarily on the theories of the origin of diseases and their transmission through means other than physical contact, which certainly do not include micro-organisms. This chapter examines the sources of ancient Indian medicine from the Veda through classical ayurveda in order to understand fundamental notions about disease transmission and to isolate any evidence that might point to recognition of disease communicated by physical contact. In the earliest or Vedic phase of Indian medicine, healing may be conceived broadly in terms of magical rituals during which specialized priests exorcised demonic diseases by means of spells and amulets or other apotropaic devices. In the earliest or Vedic phase of Indian medicine, diseases were generally thought to be of divine origin and were the result of transgressions against the gods or witchcraft and sorcery.
