KAMALIKA PIERIS

C.G. Uragoda continuing his account of ‘Medicine under Sri Lankan kings”, observed that the ancient records confirmed the existence of hospitals in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.  The only hospital for the laity which had been identified   in Anuradhapura at the time was the one found near Thuparama, probably dated to Kassapa IV.

Udaya 1 who ruled from Anuradhapura had built a hospital in Polonnaruwa. An inscription at Alahana Pirivena, Polonnaruwa   indicated that Polonnaruwa had at least one other hospital apart from Alahana. The inscription spoke of a hospital founded by Doti Valakna, indicating that hospitals were also set up by private individuals.

Records indicate that Pandukabhaya and Kassapa V had built hospitals in Anuradhapura, said Uragoda.There is also reference to a hospital in Anuradhapura built by the son of Mahinda IV.The second pillar inscription at the Dorabawila temple, Kurunegala district, was on   fixing boundary stones for land set apart for a hospital to be built in the inner city of Anuradhapura by Kassapa V, and the lands assigned for its maintenance.  This inscription supported the statement in the Mahawamsa that Kassapa V built a hospital in the town (Anuradhapura) and assigned it villages.

 There were specialist hospitals.   Kassapa IV had built a hospital for combating ‘upasagga’, probably an epidemic disease. If so then this may have been the first infectious disease hospital in the island, said Uragoda.The first maternity home was probably the one built by Upatissa II. There were convalescent homes. Pandukabhaya had established a ‘hall for those recovering from illness” at Anuradhapura.  Buddhadasa and Upatissa II built hospitals for the blind.  Institutions for cripples were established by Buddhadasa, Dhatusena, Upatissa II and Udaya I, noted Uragoda.

Hospitals attached to monasteries have been found at Mihintale, Medirigiriya and Alahana Pirivena in Polonnaruwa.Uragoda has described the Mihintale hospital lay out and services. 

Mihintale hospital had an inner and outer court. The outer court had a main entrance with porters lodge, a refectory, a room for preparation and storage of medicines and a room for hot water baths.  

The inner court had cells, arranged in form of a   square. The four corner rooms were larger than the rest. The rooms opened onto a connecting verandah. They all faced the central courtyard.

The room used for medicine was indentified on the basis of stone querns found nearby. Quern-stones are   used for hand-grinding .The hot water bath had an underground duct for draining away waste water. The remains of the duct have been found.

Uragoda also described   Medirigiriya hospital. Medirigiriya was endowed with lands by Udaya II. Medirigiriya seems to have catered to the laity too, not only monks. The inscriptions found there indicated that the diet included mutton (goat) chicken and fish.

 Two slab inscriptions were found at Medirigiriya, one was in Sinhala script. One inscription recorded the emoluments to hospital staff, including physicians, and dispensers.The highest category was the physicians who were referred to as ‘their lordships’. 

 The other inscription gave the management rules of the hospital. This yields much information about the administration of a hospital in ancient times, said Uragoda.    The hospital was administered by a separate department with its own officer and staff. They were distinct and separate from those who were looking after the patients. The nursing staff were forbidden to take on any work of the administrative staff.

The hospital was regularly inspected by officials from the royal palace.’ ‘Lords of the palace establishment year after year come to investigate the affairs of the hospital’ said the inscription.    

Hospital workers were not to steal hospital items. When caught, it was the physicians who judged the case. Punishment included dismissal.    The nursing staff were not to accept any presents or money from tenants of the land surrounding the hospital. But they could accept gifts from patients.

 Medirigiriya hospital was surrounded by lands rented out for a fee. Those living nearby were forbidden to merry make. Inscription said permission shall be given to tenants of houses to drink liquor, play musical instruments, dance and for other acts of that sort in places belonging to the hospital, but outside its boundaries’  Hospital area was to be a silent zone.

  In Polonnaruwa, a monastic hospital was found near Rankot vihara. The structure was the same as at Medirigiriya and Mihintale. Oblong building with cells facing a central courtyard. A second wing with another central courtyard which held a refectory, toilet, and room for medicine trough. A medicine grinder, scissors, hooked copper instrument probably for incising abscesses, and ceramic jars for storing medicine were found. Also a beautifully dressed medicinal trough.  This is the best preserved of the medicine troughs found so far, concluded Uragoda. (Continued)