Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c9.45

c9.45

The surgical operations are divided into eight parts: excision, incision, scarification, puncturing, probing, extraction, drainage and suturing. The surgeon must, therefore, keep ready the following: blunt and sharp instruments, cauteries and fire, probes (salākā), a horn (for cupping), leech, a hollow calabash, probe for cauterization, cotton, cloth, thread, leaves, bandage, honey, ghee, fat, milk, oil, refreshing substances, boiled medicines, ointments, paste, fan, cold and hot water and pans. Sympathetic and strong assistants should also stand by his side. The operation should take place on a lucky constellation, accompanied by a religious ceremony and followed by a lengthy prayer by the surgeon. The patient who should have taken only a little food before the operation, is seated in front of the surgeon and is fast bound. In ulcers or wounds the instrument should be introduced with the precaution of avoiding dangerous places (marman), veins, bones and the like, until the pus is visible, and then should be quickly withdrawn. If necessary, counter-incision should be taken. The cut may be oblique, round or hemispherical according to the part of the body. The patient should not eat anything before the operation of dystocy, ascitis, hemorrhoids, fistula of the anus and mouth-diseases. After the operation the surgeon should refresh him with cold water, should drain out the wound with fingers on all sides, compress it, wash it out with medicines, cleanse it with cloth, should thereupon spread a layer of thick paste of sesame mixed with honey and butter, besmeared and soaked with medicines, upon which again another layer of paste comes, on it a compress, whereupon the whole should be tied fast with a piece of cloth. Fumigations and incantations then follow. After three days the bandage should be renewed. The healing process should not be precipitated so long as the pus is present. The patient must keep diet (Su 1.5). According to AS 1.38; AHr 1.29 the patient should be given to eat what he wishes and wine to drink before the operation, so that he may not faint and may not feel the knife.