A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c24.206

v1.c24.206

The subjects dealt with are: asthibhaṅga, which is caused by falls, blows, etc., is of two types: affecting or not affecting a joint (27.1ab);744 the inability to flex and extend characterizes a loosened joint;745 much swelling, severe pain, the inability to move, and the production of a noise on pressure are characteristic of a fracture in general;746 the specific signs depend on the type of fracture present (27.1cd–3c); the treatment of the various types will now be described (27.3d–4ab); general characteristics of fractures; characteristics of patients who are difficult to treat (27.4cd–6);747 particular types of fractures and dislocations which should be given up by the physician (27.7–10ab);748 cartilages (taruṇāsthi) are usually bended, long bones (nalaka) broken, flat bones (kapāla) split, and the other types cracked (27.10cd–11ab);749 the various corrections required (27.11cd–12);750 the technique of immobilization with a kuśā (splint); the dressing of the bandage (27.13–16ab);751 the bandage should neither be too tight nor too loose (27.16cd–17ab); the number of days after which the bandage should be renewed depends on the season (27.17cd–18ab);752 local after-treatment (27.18cd–20);753 dietary rules for the patient (27.21);754 the treatment of complicated fractures (27.22–25c);755 degrees of curability, dependent on the build and age of the patient (27.25d–27ab);756 patients with a fracture of the hip, thigh or lower leg should lie on a wooden plank (kapāṭa); five pegs (kīla) are necessary in these cases and also in fractures of the vertebral column, thorax and clavicles (27.27cd–29ab);757 the same procedures are to be employed in dislocations (27.29cd);758 dislocations of long standing should be reduced after preliminary treatment (27.30);759 imperfectly healed fractures should be broken again and managed like a fresh fracture (27.31);760 inflammation should always be prevented, since this would interfere with the healing process (27.31);761 patients with fractures should be treated with the fatty preparations prescribed for vāta diseases, with the four types of medicines which give strength,762 and with clysters (27.33);763 wholesome articles of diet (27.34);764 things to be avoided (27.35);765 the formula of a compound preparation, consisting of a fragrant oil (gandhataila), which gives firmness to the bones and overcomes diseases caused by vāta and pitta, even when powerful and spreading (27.36–41).766