Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c9.57

c9.57

water and food should be given to them every three days and the pot should also be changed often. The skin-portion concerned should be rubbed dry with a powder of earth and dry cowdung and then leeches should be applied, after the body is smeared with mustard poultice (in order to irritate it) and is placed in water. If it does not bite, a drop of milk or blood should be put on the place or a small cut should be made. If the leech does not set itself free due to greediness, honey or powdered salt should be applied to its mouth. In order to make the leech fit for further use, it should be made to throw out the sucked blood. If the blood of the patient has still not become purified, the bitten places should be made to bleed by rubbing with honey and syrup. When (sufficient) blood has flowed out, the wound should be washed with cold water and should be covered with greased cotton. Astringent, sweet and cold pulp-poultices should then be applied. If the bad blood is removed, the tumour becomes soft, there is no burning, and redness and pain vanish (Su. 1.13; AS 1.35; AHr. 1.26).