History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c21.s4.t5: Intestinal obstruction and perforation of Intestines
History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c21.s4.t5
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Intestinal obstruction and perforation of Intestines
v1.c21.s4.t5.1
Laparotomy
v1.c21.s4.t5.2
*Technique* - Cases of intestinal obstruction and of intestinal perforation should be oleated, fomented and anointed and then their abdomen should be incised below the navel, four fingers beyond the hairy line (midline) on the left side, and after bringing out the intestines four fingers in length at a time, they should be inspected carefully and the stones, hair balls or faecoliths obstructing the intestines in the intestinal obstruction should be removed. After applying the honey and *ghṛta* (clarified butter) the intestines should then be put back in their original position and the external abdominal wound should be sutured in routine way.
v1.c21.s4.t5.3
Similarly, in cases of perforation of the intestines, after removing the foreign body and cleansing the intestinal discharges, the edges of the hole in the intestine having been brought together should be got bitten by black ants. When the ants have bitten the intestines their body should be chopped off and removed having the heads behind. Then the suturing should be done as before and other reparative measures should also be taken as described earlier. Black clay mixed with *madhuka* should then be pasted and bandaging completed. Thereafter, the surgeon should cause the patient to be removed to a chamber protected from draught and post-operative instructions should be issued. The patient should be made to sit in a vessel full of oil or *ghṛta* and his diet should consist only of milk.