The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna

A sense of lightness about the region of the umbilicus* and hilarity of the wind due to the discharge of the disp. 572tempers connected with the Kapha (mucus, stool, etc.> and restoration of the bodily Vayu to its normal condition due to the discharge of the (deranged; Vayu (from the system) are the symptoms which mark the satisfactory action of a purgative medicine. 18-A.

* In place of «'^j*m ^Ttc^" some read "?^piff ^^" which means ''a sense of lightness and lassitude".

Diet :— No liquid food or Peya should be giveti to the patient on the day in the event of his not being properly purged and not being feebled (with purging"^ and in the event of his impaired digestion (after the use of a purgative\ A light and lukewarm Peya should, however, be given to him in small doses, whenever he would feel weak and thirsty after the proper exhibition of a purgative medicine. I?-B.

Benefits of proper purgation :— Clear

ness and expansion (Prasada) of the intellect, firmness of the organs and of the Dhatus (root-principles) of the body, increase of energy (Bala)*, improved digestive capacity and a lat^ or delayed old age are the blessings which follow a proper administration of purgative remedies. The deranged Pitta of the system, having been fully removed (with the help of a purgative), precludes the possibility of the existence of any Pitta-orlgined complaint, just as the waters of a tank or any other reservoir of water, having been fully baled out, bar against the possibility of the existence of all aquatic animals and plants living therein. 18.

Persons who should not be purged :

. — Exhibition of purgatives are prohibit ?d in respect of persons of impaired digestion, or of those treated with an excessive application of any emulsive remedy (Sneha- Karma), or of those who are exceedingly corpulent, too old, fatigued, thirsty or intoxicated, or of those suffering from any ulcer. They are similarly prohibited in * Vrinda does not include "Bala" (energy) in the list.

p. 573

They are similarly prohibited in * Vrinda does not include "Bala" (energy) in the list.

p. 573

respect of frightened persons and Kshata-kshina patients or of those afflicted with haemorrhage from th; downward orifices of the body or of persons with any dart or foreign matter (salya) lying imbedded in the organism as well as in respect of infants and enciente. A purgative medicine should not be administered before the digestion of a meal previously taken, neither in the diseases due to an abuse of wine, nor in acute catarrh and acute fever or to a newly parturient woman and persons not previously treated with a Sneha (oil or Ghrita). A mild purgative may, however, be administered (in cases of emergency) to a person of extremely Pitta-predominant temperament. Purgatives administered by ignorant physicians to persons who ought not to be purged (often) prove fatal. 19.

Persons who should be purged : —

The distempers of the body in which a purgative should be exhibited with good results are : --fever, effects of slow chemical poison (retained in the system), an aversion to food, haemorrhoids, tumours (Arvuda), ascites (Udara\ glandular swellings (Granthi), abscess (Vidradhi), jaundice, hysteric convulsions (Apasmara), heartdisease, Vata-rakta, vaginal or uterine diseases, fistulain-ano, vomiting, erysipelas (Visarpa), Gulma, pain in the Pakvdsaya (intestines), retention of stool, Visuchika, Alasaka, strangury (Mutraghata), cutaneous affections (Kushtha), Visphotaka (carbuncle, etc.), Prameha, distension of the abdomen with the suppression of stool and urine (Anaha), enlargement of the spleen, oedematous swellings (Sopha), Vriddhi (enlargement of the scrotum, etc.) and kindred complaints, ulcers inflicted by weapons, alkaline scalds and burns, malignant ulcers, (Dushta-vrana), inflammation of the eyes (Akshi-paka\ Kacha, Timira, conjunctivitis (Abhishyanda), burningp. 574 sensations in the head, ears, eyes, nose, mouths, anus and the penis, haemorrhage from the upper channels (Urdhva- Rakta-pitta), worms, diseases of the Pittdsaya (bowels ?) ?>., the diseases which are peculiar to the seats of the Pitta in the organism as well as any other disease due to an aggravation of the Pitta. 20.

20.

Metrical Texts :— Emetic and purgative remedies, in spite of their possessing in common the powers of motion (Saratva), subtlety, keenness, expansiveness and heat-making properties, tend to remove the injurious and deranged morbific principles (Doshas) of the body in (two) different ways by virtue of their respective inherent qualities (Prakriti)*. A purgative, in the course of its digestion, carries down with it all the Doshas from the system (loosened and dislodged by virtue of its own specific properties). An emetic, on the other hand, is not digested, owing to (its lightness due to) its inherent extraordinary qualitiest, but it soon forces its way up with the Doshas (to be) removed. 21-22.

A strong purgative given to a man of loose or lax bowels (Mridu-Koshtha) or of strong digestive capacity, cannot remove all the Doshas fully owing to their being suddenly and forcibly purged off. 23.

A purgative medicine, which is capable of being digested and of expelling the Doshas from the body in the time which a morning meal ordinarily takes to be digested, should be regarded as pre-eminently the best. 24.

• Dallana quotes a different reading which means that emetic and purgative remedies produce the wished-for result, if properly administered, otherwise not.

t The extraordinary qualities of an emetic are those of the V^yu and of the Agni.

Chap. XXXIII.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 5/5

The (aggravated) Doshas accumulated in a large quantity in the organism of a weak patient and found to be dislodged from their seats should be gradually expelled from the system, while soothing (S'amana) remedies should be used in cases of the Doshas being very slight, even if they be found to have been dislodged from their seats. The aggravated Doshas matured and spontaneously dislodged (from their seat or place of accumulation in the system) should be purged off, whether the patient be strong or weak, inasmuch as, if neglected (and not expelled from the system\ they (Doshas) tend to produce lasting troubles. 25-26,