[INDOLOGY] Leprosy

[Patrick Olivelle]

Dear All:

There is a curious statement in Aśvaghoṣa’s Saundarananda, 9.44. Here it is in my translation

"As one afflicted with leprosy
gains no relief by applying heat,
So, a man with senses unrestrained,
wandering among sense objects,
finds no peace by indulging in pleasures.”

यथा च कुष्ठव्यसनेन दुःखितः प्रतापयन्नैव शमं निगच्छति ।
तथेन्द्रियार्थेष्वजितेन्द्रियश्चरन्न कामभोगैरुपशान्तिमृच्छति ॥ 

Is there any evidence of apply heat or fire to areas affected by kuṣṭha in the medical or folk literature, or at least statements that such therapies should NOT be used? To make sense of this analogy, there must have been a custom to this effect, even though it only increased the pain of the skin affected by leprosy. 

Thanks.

Patrick