Sri Aurobindo

Letters of Sri Aurobindo

Volume 2. 1936

Letter ID: 1754

Sri Aurobindo — Nirodbaran Talukdar

October 17, 1936

T’s case – Salt is usually withheld when there is oedema or puffiness anywhere. Since there is neither, and the kidney is functioning well, we thought we could give it in a small quantity... Any food given him should have carbohydrates – fluids – till the albumin is reduced to a minimum... We can safely allow him to consume his surplus fat a couple of days more. No other go – unless you find something.

No. I find nothing – go ahead and minimise the albumin.

For U’s lipoma, Vijayanand suggested to try a mild mercury ointment. He claims to have cured a goitre by it. Glandular swellings do, at times, respond to mercury, especially if syphilitic. On lipoma, I don’t know. But it may irritate. Opinion?

It is for doctors to decide. The only question is whether any harm is possible by its use. As it is, the lipoma is, I believe, harmless though not ornamental. Mercury being irritant is it likely to make it less benign if there is failure? If not – well.

7.30 p.m.

M came in just now and said about her boil-medicine, “Mixture very bitter, may I take pan after it?” I said, “You may.” Now I hear she is telling people that I’ve advised her to take pān. Ladies in the Asram are really wonderful!!

My dear sir, such ladies are quite wonderful outside the Asram also. M didn’t need to come here to be marvellous in that way.

Reading about T, S, etc., confirms my disgust. You have made fine specimens of them.

Were they all reasonable and consistent in their former life?

You have made them believe that medicines and doctors are no good, but at the same time could not infuse into them sufficient faith in you. Result – they have fallen between two stools!

Well, T and S used both to get cured without need of medicines once on a time. The later development has evidently come for your advantage, so that you may have elementary exercises in samata¹. I have had a lot of schooling in that way and graduated M.A. Your turn now.

They come to the doctors only to be disgusted with the treatment; obviously they come without any faith...

If you had treated them in the pre-Asram period, do you think their comments if not at once cured would have been more filled with a holy awe and submission to the doctors?

Really, they are so touchy, so funny! The more one sees, the more one wants to see! Perhaps you will say – “Judge not lest ye be judged!”

Exactly – for these are poor little uneducated people. But are the big brains at bottom less unreasonable and inconsistent? All alike, sir, in one way or another. Man who is a reasoning animal no doubt, but not a reasonable one.

¹ Equanimity.

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