Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c13.64

c13.64

The extraction of a śalya from the body by an expert surgeon by means of tongs (yantra) is compared in the law-books with the performance of a judge who extracts the sting of injustice in a law suit (Nārada 1.3.16). Su 1.27 mentions 15 procedures to extract a śalya :— Nature (svabhāva) i. e. the effect of dropping, coughing, sneezing and the like on the śalya, suppuration, cutting up, pressing, washing, sucking etc. and the use of a magnet (*ayaskānta*) which, however, is to be applied only in big open wounds. A foreign matter approachable to the hand should be extracted with the hand, otherwise the knife or tongs should be used. If the patient faints, he should be made wet with cold water, dangerous parts should be avoided and one should speak friendly to him. The *śalya* can also be extracted by tying to a bridle of a horse which is hit till it moves the head; or the *śalya* is tied to a bent and strong branch of a tree and then the branch is let off. An insect in the ear is to be removed by filling the ear with salt-water. An unextracted *śalya* causes swelling, suppuration, violent pain and even death; therefore, it should carefully be extracted (Su 1.27; AS; AHr l. c.).