Page:Sushruta Samhita Vol 1.djvu/222

118 wound or ulcer, whereas cauterisation has the property of contracting a vein.

Remedies and appliances possessed of the virtue of bringing about an adhesion of such a wound should be used where applications for thickening or congealing the local blood would fail; whereas the suppurating measures should be adopted in the event of the former (Sandhanam) proving ineffectual. With any of the three of these preceding measures a physician should try to check the outflow of blood incidental to an operation of bleeding, and lastly the process of cauterisation should be resorted to in the event of the preceding ones having proved unavailing, as it is pre-eminently the best means of checking the bleeding.

The least residue of the vitiated blood continuing in the affected part may not aggravate the disease but prevent its perfect healing. In such a case bleeding should not be again resorted to, but the deranged residue should be subdued by means of pacifying or absorbing remedies.

Blood is the origin of the body. It is blood that maintains vitality. Blood is life. Hence it should be preserved with the greatest care.

The Vayu of a person who has been bled, and which has been aggravated by constant cold applications