How does Fifty-two Diseases Prescription unearthed from Mawangdui No.3 Han Tomb describe the medical operation technology of indirect inguinal hernia?
Indirect inguinal hernia is a congenital or acquired process of peritoneal sheath that cannot be closed. When the abdominal pressure increases, the contents of abdominal cavity will gradually move into scrotum through the inner ring. This disease is more common in children, and may be more common in ancient times because of the high intensity of physical labor. The medical technology of this disease in Fifty-two Prescriptions for Diseases has reached a quite high level. For example, puncture with a small pot to take out the contents, so that the scrotum and external genitalia can be brought into the pot, and the hernia contents falling into the scrotum can flow back to the abdominal cavity, thus alleviating unbearable pain such as fullness and pain. Its design is so ingenious and scientific that it is very similar to the hernia belt and hernia cover that are often used in modern times. Surprisingly, surgical treatment had been creatively applied at that time. There is a passage in Fifty-two Diseases Prescription: (i.e. indirect inguinal hernia), first return the eggs (i.e. testicles, which refer to hernia contents) upward to the abdominal cavity, then guide them upward to the subcutaneous area, then use them to pierce the stones (the specific parts are unclear due to lack of words), then use XXX juice and ointment to open them, and then moxibustion. Although the key words are gone, we can still see clearly that it is to pierce the flesh equivalent to the inner ring with bian stone, smear the stabbed part with alcohol and plaster, and then burn the part with fire. This treatment will undoubtedly form a big scar on the inner ring. Such a scar is enough to block its congenital or acquired pores, and indirect inguinal hernia can be cured. This is a very great achievement.