A History of Indian Medical Literature v1.c8.121

v1.c8.121

Pure (śuddha)450 blood is described (24.3–4), the causes of corruption (duṣṭi) of the blood (24.5–10), and the disorders brought about by corrupted blood (24.11–16).451 Diseases which, although being curable, do not subside by means of the usual methods, should be diagnosed as caused by blood (24.17)452 and be treated by specific procedures, consisting of purgation, fasting and bloodletting (śoṇitasrāvaṇa) (24.18). The signs of corruption of the blood by vāta, kapha, pitta and all three doṣas together are described (24.20–21), the characteristics of pure blood (24.22),453 rules for bloodletting, its after-treatment, and the signs pointing to success (24.19, 23–24).