Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c13.44

c13.44

In all kinds of *vṛddhi* riding, physical exertion, cohabitation, suppression of natural excretions, movements, excess in eating, fasts and heavy food should be avoided. In ripe tumours an incision should be taken; a fatty tumour should be wrapped with a piece of cloth and then, after encouraging the patient, should be cut up with a scalpel (*vṛddhipattra*) sparing the testicles and the spermatic cord, and the fat should be taken out, then the wound should be smeared with sulphate of iron and rock-salt, dressed or sewn and treated with oil. In hydrocele a piece of cloth should similarly be laid around and then, as in dropsy (cf. 8.54), an incision should be taken below the spermatic cord with a *vrīhimukha* (Trocar), the fluid should be tapped with a tube and then dressing should be made. Hernia on scrotum is incurable. On the other hand, hernia in the groins should be treated with emetics, smearing, oily enemeta and the like, eventually should be branded with a halfmoon-shaped (*ardhenduvaktra*) red-hot iron (Su 4.19; AS 4.15; AHr 4.13; Vr 40; Bhāv 2.3; Vang 576-81).