Why did you say, in N’s case, that doctors can’t say?Sri Aurobindo
Letters of Sri Aurobindo
Volume 2. 1938
Letter ID: 2152
Sri Aurobindo — Nirodbaran Talukdar
July 21, 1938
Why did you say, in N’s case, that doctors can’t say?
Because you say “It may be either” and “if” and “if”. According to any ordinary logic that means “We” doesn’t know but either guesses or infers.
As regards his eyes, it is quite definite – he has trachoma for which the said treatment can be instituted.
No objection to that. I wrote in reference to the doubtful ear.
And as regards his deafness, it is either due to bad throat or otosclerosis, i.e. sclerosis of the bones of the middle ear; in either case iodine can be given.
You didn’t say that. You said “if throat, operation” – if osteo-scl. iodine.
It may be does not = is.
Iodine is very often given, especially collosal iodine injection which is very good. But I heard from Dr. Banerjee that you don’t favour internal iodine medication; is it true?
What’s this word? Cousin of colossal?
Mother does not favour in certain cases; as in those cases it has a bad effect. Can’t say for N. But his subconscious is contradictory like S’s and inclined to say No to any medicine.
And if it is due to his extreme self-annihilation, why not tell him so?
Where did you get this self-annihilation? I wrote self-centredness. N’s self is not annihilated; it is there alive and kicking and governing everything.
What’s the use of telling him? It won’t go by the mere telling.
He comes and bothers and bothers, saying that medicine has no effect, “You are not looking carefully...”
Is his sight really so bad that he can’t take up any work 
the whole day? I don’t know that eyes have to be much used in his electric supervision work.
So he believes.
You don’t allow for the potency of auto-suggestion.
Kantilal had sudden pain on the left side of the chest... I don’t find any localising sign, but I suspect he is going in for pleurisy.
!!!
Guru, what sayest Thou to this poem? Staggered simply, what?
Exceedingly fine again. Often the intuitive again and throughout almost that.