INTRODUCTION. 17 



ON THE DIFFERENT MODES IN WHICH MEDICINES 



ARE APPLIED. 



Besides being taken internally, medicines are applied in 

 various other ways, such as by injections into the rectum, urethra 

 and female organs ; application to the nose ; to the mouth • to the 

 eyes ; to the skin in the shape of plasters, ointments, oils and 

 fumigations, and to the lungs by inhalation. 



^ftr^F^T Vastlkarma or injections into the rectum, were thrown 

 in by means of a tube with a membranous bag tied to its end. 

 The bag was recommended to be made of the bladder of some 

 animal, such as bull, goat, etc. It was filled with the fluid to be 

 injected and tied to one end of a tube, about eight inches long and 

 with a tapering rounded extremity for introduction into the 

 rectum. Injections into the urethra and vagina were thrown in 

 by similar contrivances, the tubes being adapted in length and 

 thickness to the passages for which they were intended. 



4i<s!«mf PJmlavarti or suppositories were recommended to be 

 made of the size of the patient's thumb. They were smeared 

 with clarified butter and introduced into the rectum. .The 

 following is an example of a suppository. Take of assafoetida 

 and rock-salt equal parts and make a suppository with honey, 

 for use in tympanitis. 



iT^T Nasya or the application of medicated substances to the 

 nose, forms a prominent feature of native therapeutics. Two 

 primary classes of medicines for this organ are recognized, namely 

 Strotrirechana or medicines causing a flow of secretion from the 

 nose and thus relieving cerebral congestion, and Vrinliana or 

 medicated oils applied to tfie nose with the object of cooling the 

 head and relieving affections of the neck and chest* For clearing 

 the head and promoting discharge from the nose, the expressed 

 juice of pungent drugs is poured into the nose, drop by drop, or 

 powders are blown into the nostrils by means of a tube. The 

 former process is called Avapula and the latter, Prodhamana. 

 For cooling the head and relieving affections of the upper part 

 of the body, various medicated oils are used. In one form of 

 snuff called Pratimarsha, two or three drops of medicated oil are 

 directed to be snuffed up the nostril till they reach the throat, 



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