Applying leeches

A patient with a disease curable by bloodletting is examined, given cool food in the cool season and seated; if the site has no wound it is rubbed rough with powdered earth and cow dung or a dry paste and washed repeatedly with cold water. The leeches are made to vomit with pastes of turmeric and vacha (the verse adds mustard) on their mouths, washed, let play in clean water mixed with green-gram paste, and when they move briskly are held in a wet fine cloth and made to grip the site; if they will not, butter is smeared there or a small cut is made with a knife.