CHAPTER XVI.
Now we shall discourse on the curative measures for the remedy of diseases occurring on the eye-lashes and hence on the eye-lid (Pakshma-kopa Pratishedha). 1.
Surgical Treatment:— In a case of Pakshma-kopa which is an affection of the eye-lid and which has been described before as admitting only of palliative treatment, the patient should be first treated with a Sneha and made to take his seat (in a proper position). A cut in the shape and size of a barley corn should be made in the eye-lid horizontally parallel to (the part of the eye-ball lying between) the Kaninaka (pupil) and the Apánga (exterior corner of the eye) leaving two parts below the eye-brow and one part above the eye-lashes. The surgeon should then diligently suture up the two edges of the incisions with (horse's) hair. After the application of honey and clarified butter to the operated part, it should be treated in the manner of an (incidental) ulcer. A piece of linen should be tied round the forehead and the horse's hair sewing up the operated part should be attached thereto. The stitching hair should be carefully removed after the complete adhesion*[1] of the two edges of the incidental ulcer. 2.
Cauterisation:— in case of the failure of the preceding measure, the eye-lid should be carefully examined and lifted up in an inverted posture and the diseased cyst (Bali) should be very carefully cauterised with fire or alkali. As an alternative, the Pakshma-
- ↑ * According to Vágbhata, the stitching hair should be removed on the fifth day.
