In the past, everyday treatment was simple: the wound was burnt and sprinkled with ash, for example. People also used urine as a saline solution. When sick, people drank mutton broth and consulted with lamas. For fever people drank boiled water or water mixed with oats. This improved the heart muscle. Diseases often originated from dirty hands, dysentery, and infections. Since surgery did not exist, people died of internal diseases. Child mortality was high.