According to chapter 1, what should the physician ascertain before starting treatment, and by what means?

Detailed answer

Verse 30 tells the physician to learn the measure of the patient's life through questions, portents, omens, scripture, astrology (ascendant and lunar conjunctions), dreams and divine statements before making efforts at treatment. Verse 31 adds that no one dies without death signs (riṣṭa), which must be searched for carefully, and verses 33-37 describe the messenger's signs and the omens met on the way that point to the patient's death.