Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c13.56

c13.56

Sinus are generally called *gati*, or rather *nāḍī*, *nāḍīvraṇa*, because they lead like a *nāḍī* (reed-vessel) the pus that penetrates inside from an abscess which is ignored, i. e. not squeezed out or cut open and cleansed and tears and pierces the skin, flesh, vessels, sinews, joints, bones etc. They are caused by the doṣas or a foreign body that causes constant suppuration (Su 2.10; AS 6.34; AHr 6.29; MN 282-4; Bhāv 2.4; Vang 631 ff.). A fistula caused by vāta is to be fomented, the suppuration is to be fully cut open, to be smeared with various irritants, or to be filled up and dressed, further to be washed with other substances. Similar procedure is to be followed in sinus caused by pitta and kapha. On the contrary, a foreign body is to be extracted out after incision of the sinus, then the suppuration to be cleansed, the wound to be dressed and to be cured by ointments. If the sinus occurs at a dangerous place, or the patient gets lean, or is feeble or uneasy, knife should not be resorted to, but a caustic thread should be inserted with a needle after probing the sinus, and the thread should be moved often so that the sinus is cut. This method can be applied to *bhagandara* as well (Su 4.17; AS 6.35; AHr 6.30; Vṛnda 47; Bhāv; Vang 1. c.).