TK 36 - Detail (2).jpg [3/20] Title: Detail of Medical Instruments (II) - Thangka Thirty-Six Caption: The first two instruments in the top left of this panel are for the exploration of hemorrhoids. There is some contradiction as to which instrument is for use on the male and which is for use on the female. The object below is not gender specific and can be used on both males and females. The next two objects on the top and bottom of the panel and for operating on hemorrhoids. Once again there is some disagreement within the literature as to whether these instruments are gender specific. The tube at the top on the far right is also for operating on hemorrhoids. Below, the shovel shaped tool is a surgical blade for excising hemorrhoids. These tools have lateral openings which are placed over the pile so that it can be cut and cauterized by the surgical blade. The final object in the panel on the far right at the bottom is the first in the group of forceps. Like many other instruments in Tibetan medicine, this tool has a shape of an animal, namely the mouth of a lion. More forceps can be seen in the previous photograph. Sources and Further Reading: Bhagwan Dash: pg 6-7 Dorje & Meyer: pg 83 & 239