A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c23.31

v1.c23.31

The number of blunt instruments is one hundred and one; the most important among them is the hand (7.3). Śalyas cause injury (ābādha) to body and mind; yantras are the means of their removal (āharaṇa) (7.4). The yantras are of six types: svastikayantra (cruciform), saṃdaṃśayantra (pincer-like), tālayantra (picklock-like or spoon-shaped), nāḍīyantra (tubular), śalākāyantra (rod-like),⁴⁰ and upayantra (an accessory instrument) (7.5). There are twenty-four varieties of svastikayantra,⁴¹ two saṃdaṃśayantras,⁴² two tālayantras,⁴³ twenty varieties of nāḍīyantra,⁴⁴ twenty-eight varieties of śalākāyantra,⁴⁵ and twenty-five upayantras⁴⁶ (7.6). As a rule, they are made of iron (lauha), or, when it is not available, of its substitutes (7.7).⁴⁷ Their shape in general and the qualities required are mentioned (7.8–9).