Once upon a time of Shusruta, it was possible for people to imbibe a large proportion of the knowledge available in society. After all, things changed slowly, at a human pace. As they grew up, students learned about what had happened before, and they could keep up with the rate of change as new information came to light. Technology changed slowly. Moreover, it was mechanical, which meant it was visible. Students could explore it, disassemble it and hope to improve upon it. Even though the results could be complex, the reason behind the complexity could usually be seen, examined and talked about. The art of medicine could be lived and experienced. As a result, for two and a half thousand years it was learned and passed down the generations by word of mouth.