Page:Sushruta Samhita Vol 1.djvu/169

Chap.VIII.] Of the abovesaid instruments the Mandalagram and the Karapatram should be'used in incising and scraping. The Vriddhipatram, the Nakhasastram, the Mudrika, the Utpalapatram, and the Arddhadharam, should be employed in incising (Chhedanam ) and excising (Bhedanam); and the Kushapatram, the Shuchi, the Atemukham, the Shararimukham, the Trikurchakam and the Antarmukham should be made use of in exudating or secreting (Visravanam.) The Kutharika, the Vrihimukham, the Ara, the Vetasapatram and the Suchi (needle) should be used in puncturing. The Vadisha and the Danta-Shanku should be used in extracting solid bodies. The Eshani (probe or director) in probing or searching the course or direction of the pus (in a suppurated part), and the Suchi (needle; should be used in suturing. Thus we have explained the eight different functions of the instruments in connection with surgical operations.

The kutharika (small, blunt axe) measures seven fingers and a half in the handle, the blade is half a finger in width and is blunted like the tooth of a cow. The Vrihimukham measures six fingers in its entire length and its top is like that of a Vrihi seed, and the edge is cut into small thorn-like projections. The Ara resembles the awl of a cobbler and measures ten fingers in its entire length, the blade is wide as the seed of a sesamum and has the girth of a Durva (grass) stem. The Vetasapatram (knife) resembles the leaf of a Vetasa plant. The blade is four fingers in length, one finger in width, and is keenly edged, the handle measuring four fingers in length. The Vadisha is shaped like a modern fishing hook. The Danta-shanku (pincers for extracting teeth) somewhat resembles the Vrihimukham in shape. The face of an Eshani (probe) is like that of a Gandupada (earth-worm).