INTRODUCTION. 19 



they may be made into sticks or pills which are rubbed with 

 water before use. The probe for applying medicines to the margin 

 of the lids should be six: inches long with a rounded bulbous end. 

 It may be made of gold, silver, copper, iron or stone. For 

 habitual use of collyria a lead probe is preferred. When 

 medicines are applied not only to the lids but also to the 

 conjunctiva up to the margin of the cornea, the finger is 

 recommended to be used, as it is soft and safe. 



Applications to the skin. These consist of ghritas, oils, plasters, 

 poultices, baths and hot applications for inducing perspiration. 

 Medicated ghritai and oils have been already described. They are 

 for the most part rubbed all over the body, except those intended 

 for local ailments. Plasters called n% Frabgb are applied moist 

 and cold. y^% Pradeka or poultices are applied moist and hot. 

 They are also thicker than plasters. 



' $3* Svedaw or application of heat to the skin for inducing 



perspiration is carried oat in four different ways, namely : 



1. <nw<? Tdpa.u-t-da or the application of dry heat by means 

 of heated plates, bricks, sand, clobh or the palm of the hand only. 

 Those are recommended to be heated by catechu- wood fire. 



2, ^T#? TJihmasveda or the application of hot steam. This 

 is effected in various ways. The part to be heated is covered with 

 wet cloth. Bricks, stones or iron plates are made red hot and 

 sprinkled over with kdmjika or some decoction, and are then 

 applied to the part to be heated ; or an earthen pot with a small 

 opening in the side is filled with hot water or decoction of some 

 drugs, a tube is adjusted to the hole in the pot and the steam is 

 applied to the covered body through it. A third method consist- 

 in heating the ground by burning catechu-wood over it. and after 

 removing the fire sprinkling some . decoction over the spot and 

 making a bed of castor oil leaves on it. The patient is to lie on 

 this bed and cover himself with a blanket. Or the ground may 

 be covered with a thick layer of boiled pulse such as md$hakaldy< 

 and a bed made over it for the patient. 



■ >. ^xpn^c? Upandhuveda. This means the application of 

 heat by hot medicinal substances in the form of decoctions, pastes, 

 or plasters, or of fomentation by cloth wrung out of hot Hums 



