The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna

In other words the diseases of the mouth which yield to the use of medicinal gargles, equally prove amenable to that of Pratisdrana remedies. The diet in both the cases should be composed of light and non-phlegmagogic articles of food. 47.

Thus ends the Fortieth Chapter of the Chikitsita Sthinam in the
Susruta Samhita which deals with the inhalation of medicinal fumes,
snufTs, and gargles.

Here ends the Chikitsita Sth^nam.

THE

SUSHRUTA SAMHITA

KALPA-STHANAM

(Section on Toxicology).

CHAPTER I.

Now we shall discourse on the mode of preserving food and drink from the effects of poison (Annap^na-Raksha-Kalpa). I

Dhanvantari, the King of Kds'i, the foremost in virtue and religion and whose commands brook no disobedience or contradiction, instructed his disciples, Sus'ruta and others (in the following words). 2.

Powerful enemies and even the servants and relations of the sovereign in a fit of anger to avenge themselves on the sovereign sometimes concoct poisonous compounds and administer the same to him, powerful though he may be, by taking advantage of any defect or weak point in him. Sometimes the ladies (of the royal house-hold) are found to administer to the king various preparations (of food and drink), which often prove to be poisonous^ from a foolish motive of securing his affection and good graces thereby, and sometimes it is found that by the embrace of a poisoned girl (Visha-Kanyai),*

* A girl slowly habituated to taking poison or poisoned food is called a Vislia-KanyflC, such a girl presented to a king by a pretending friend of the state often managed to hug her royal victim into her fatal embrace. The poison operates through the perspiration, proving almost instantaneously fatal through the act of daUJancCf

8s6/4 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. I. he dies almost instantaneously. Hence it is the imperative duty of a royal physician to guard the person of the king against poisoning. 3.

The minds of men are restless and uncontrollable like an unbroken horse. Faith is a rare thing in the human society and hence a crowned head should never believe any one* in this world. 4.

The necessary Qualifications of a
Superintendent of the Royal Kitchen :

Faith is a rare thing in the human society and hence a crowned head should never believe any one* in this world. 4.

The necessary Qualifications of a
Superintendent of the Royal Kitchen :

— A king should appoint a physician for the royal kitchen (to superintend the preparations of the royal fare). He should be well-paid and possess the following qualifications. He should come of a respectable family, should be virtuous in conduct, fondly attached to the person of his sovereign, and always watchful of the health of the king. He should be greedless, straight-forward, god-fearing, grateful, of handsome features, and devoid of irascibility, roughness, vanity, arrogance and laziness. He should be forbearing, self-controlled, cleanly, compassionate, well-behaved, intelligent, capable of bearing fatigue, well-meaning, devoted, of good address, clever, skilful, smart, artless, energetic and marked with all the necessary qualifications (of a physician; as described before. He should be fully provided with all kinds of medicine and be highly esteemed by the members of his profession. 5.-

The necessary features of a Royal kitchen : — The Royal kitchen should be a spacious chamber occupying an auspicious (south-east) corner of the royal mansion and built on a commendable site. The vessels and utensils (to be used in a royal kitchen) should be kept scrupulously clean. The kitchen should

* A Royal Physician is an honourable exception in this r pect.

p. 675

The vessels and utensils (to be used in a royal kitchen) should be kept scrupulously clean. The kitchen should

* A Royal Physician is an honourable exception in this r pect.

p. 675

be kept clean, well lighted by means of a large number of windows and guarded with nets and fret works (against the intrusion of crows, etc.). None but the trusted and proved friends and relatives should have access to the royal kitchen, or hold any appointment therein. Highly inflammable articles (such as hay, straw, etc.) should not be stacked in the royal kitchen whose ceiling should be covered with a canopy. The Fire-god should be (daily) worshipped therein. The head or managar of the royal cooks should generally possess the same qualifications as those of a physician. The bearers and cooks in the royal kitchen should have their nails and hair clipped off and should bear turbans. They should be cleanly, civil, clever, obedient, good-looking, each charged with separate duties, good-tempered, composed in their behaviour, well-bathed, greedless, determined, and prompt in executing the orders of their superiors. A physician of the royal kitehen should be very cautious and circumspect in the discharge of his duties, since food is the main stay of life, and the sole contributor to the safe continuance of the body. Every one employed in a royal kitchen such as, bearers, servers, cooks, soupmakers, cake-makers (confectioners), should be placed under the direct control and supervision of the physician of the kitchen. 6.

Characteristic features of a poison--

er : — An intelligent physician well qualified to ascertain the true state of one^s feelings from the speech, conduct, demeanour and distortions of the face, would be able to discover the true culprit (poisoner) from the following external indications. A giver of poison does not speak nor does he answer when a question is put to him. He swoons or breaks off suddenly in the middle of his statement, and talks incoherently and indistinctly like a d'je THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA tChap. i.

fool. He is found suddenly and listlessly to press the joints of his fingers or to scratch the earth, to laugh and to shiver. He will look frightened at the sight of others (indifferently), and will cut (straw or hay) with his fingernails, and his colour changes constantly. He will scratch his head in an agonised and confused state, and will look this way and that, trying to slip away by a back or side door, thus betraying his guilty conscience by his confusion. 7.