History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c21.s4.4

v1.c21.s4.4

Similarly, the use of alkalies prepared in three strength, weak, medium and strong, was practiced for external and internal applications. External application was advised in all sorts of skin ailments, haemorrhoids, fistula-in-ano and other fistulae as well; internally they were used for poison of lingering effect, swelling of the body, loss of appetite, calculi and internal abscesses etc. At present, they are vastly used by followers of Suśruta in the form of ‘Kṣāra-sūtra’ (alkali braided thread) for the treatment of fistula-in-ano cases with excellent results. Moreover, the recurrence of the disease following the use of Kṣāra-sūtra is very minimal.