Page:A Short History of Aryan Medical Science.djvu/213

X.] In order to acquire dexterity in surgery, the preceptors made their pupils practise different operations on various substances. Incision, for instance, was practised on Pushpaphala (Cucurbita maxima), Alabu (Langenaria vulgaris), Kalinda (Citrullus vulgaris), Trapu (Cucumis pubescens), and other fruits ; evacuating on a full Drita (a leather-bag for holding water), and on the urinary organs of dead animals ; scarification on the fresh hides of animals on which the hair was allowed to remain ; venesection was practised on the vessels of dead animals, and on the stalks of the water-lily ; the art of probing and stuffing on bamboo, reed, cavities of wood and on dry Alabu ; extraction of solid bodies on Panasa (Artocarpus integrifolia), Bilva (Ægle Marmelos), Bimbi (Cephalandra indica), and on the teeth of dead animals. "Removal of bad humours" (scraping?) was practised on wax spread on a board of Shalmali wood (Bombax malabaricum), and suturing on pieces of cloth, skin, or hide. Ligaturing and bandaging were practised on dummies ; application of caustics and the actual cautery on pieces of flesh, and atheterisation on an unbaked earthen vessel filled with water.

The art of Surgery gradually declined in India