Now about the characteristic features of each of these branches of the Science of the Ayurveda:—
The Salya-Tantram*[1]—The scope of this branch of Medical Science is to remove (from an ulcer) any extraneous substance such as, fragments of hay, particles of stone, dust, iron or bone; splinters, nails, hair, clotted blood, or condensed pus (as the case may be , or to draw out of the uterus a dead foetus, or to bring about safe parturitions in cases of false presentation, and to deal with the principle and mode of using and handling surgical instruments in general, and with the application of fire (cautery) and alkaline (caustic) substances, together with the diagnosis and treatment of ulcers.
The Sha'la'kya-Tantram†[2]—embraces as its object the treatment of those diseases which are restricted to the upward (lit:—region above the clavicles) fissures or cavities of the body, such as the ears, the eyes, the cavity of the mouth, the nostrils, etc.
The Ka'ya-Chikitsa (General diseases)‡[3]—treats of diseases, which, instead of being simply
- ↑ * Any foreign mailer, lodged in a human organism and proving painful to it, is called a Shalya.
- ↑ † The name is derived from the Sanskrit term Shalaka, a probe or a rod, the use and application of the instrument being primarily included within the scope of this branch of the Ayurveda.
- ↑ ‡ The term Kaya literally signifies the vital heat or fire which runs through the entire system, and hence the Kaya-chikitsa deals with diseases which may gradually invade the root-principles of a living human organism.
