History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c21.s4.t3.9

v1.c21.s4.t3.9

Following the pre-operative procedure as mentioned earlier adopted in the surgical operation, the pile mass should be pressed by a probe, wiped with a piece of cotton swab or a piece of cloth, caustic (Kṣāra) should be applied on it. Following this application of caustic, the opening of the instrument should be covered by the hand of the surgeon and should let it remain until the counting of one hundred (approximately one minute). Then after wiping, the caustic may be applied again, taking into consideration the strength of caustic as well as the severity of the disease. The application of the caustic should be stopped when the piles show the color of a ripe *jambu* fruit (Bluish black) and get depressed and shrivelled. Thereafter, the caustic should be washed away by sour gruel, curd, butter milk, vinegar or by the juice of citrous fruits. Then the pile mass should be mollified by the application of *ghṛta* or any medicated soothing oil and the instrument should then be taken out.