Digital Rare Book:
The Surgical Instruments of the Hindus
With a comparative study of the surgical instruments of the Greek, Roman, Arab and the modern European surgeons.
By Girindranath Mukhopadhyaya
Published by Calcutta University, Calcutta - 1913
Volume 2

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Image:
Replica of Ayurvedic surgical instrument representing a wolf, India.

Ancient instrument designs incorporated the heads of animals. This replica example represents a wolf. This is apt because the ‘mouth’ has sharp edges for cutting. The original was likely used within Ayurvedic medicine. This ancient medical tradition has its roots in the Indian subcontinent. Surgery (Shalya-chikitsa) is one of the eight branches of Ayurvedic medicine. However, it is now a diminished element in Ayurvedic practice. The Susrata Samhita is a classic text of Ayurvedic medicine. It describes a range of surgical practices. It was written by Hindu surgeon Susrata who practiced from about 500BCE.

Text and image credit:
Science Museum, London