The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s4.18

c4.s4.18

क्षारकर्म *Kshárakarma* or caustic applications. The ancient physicians of India, like their modern representatives, preferred opening abscesses by caustics, to incising them with the lancet. Hence caustics were described as superior to the lancet, inasmuch as, in addition to opening abscesses, they purified them by removing the derangement of the humours. The ashes of the following plants were used for the preparation of caustics, namely:—