The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna

7-

Medicated Suras :— Now we shall describe the process of preparing Surds (wines). A decoction should be duly made of S'ims'pd and Khadira woods with JJttamdrmi^ Brdhmi and Kos'dtaki boiled together

* Jejjata recommends twenty-eight Pala weight of water, but Gaya^ dasa does not support this.

t Powders of Putika, Chiiraka, etc., mentioned in connection wiih the preparation of Arishtas should be likewise added to it, — Dallana.

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in water*. Then Surd-kin va (the dru^ which is used to cause the fermentation in the manufacture of spirits) should be mixed with the above decoction and the compound distilled in the usual officinial method. The liquor thus prepared is called Sara'. Suras may be similarly prepared, from the drugs of the S' dla-sdrddU the Aragvadhadi, or the Nyngrodhddi groups. 8.

lYIedicated Avalehas (lambatives) —Now we shall describe (the method of preparing) medicated Avalehas (lambatives). A decoction should be prepared with the Sara (essential parts^ oi Khadira, Asana, Nimba, Rdfavriksha and S'dla. -f Fine powders of the same dru^s should be mixed with the above (decoction) and boiled again. The compound should be removed from the fire neither thick nor thin. The patient should be made to lick a handful I of the compound mixed with honey and be made to abstain from taking any meal in the morning. Similar preparations may be made (Avaleha) from the drugs of the S'dla-sdrddi, the Aragvadhddi, or the Nyngrodhddi groups. 9.

Medicinal Churnas:-Now we shall describe the process of preparing pulverised compounds. A Prashtha measure of the powdered Sara of the trees belonging to the S'dla-sdrddi group should be t Gayalasa does not read *'S'ala" in the list.

* One part of S'irns'apa', one of Khadira and a third of Uttamarani, Btahnii and Kos'aiaki should be taken. Tula weight of the drugs and four Drona measures of water should be boiled and reduced to one Drona. — Dallana,

X Though the word "Panitala" means a "Karsha" i.e.y two Tol£s, yet as there is the word "Purnam" inserted after it, so a handful should be understood here by this term.— Dallana. It should be observed, however, that the difference in the two interpretations is uhimaiely immaterial. —Ed.

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many times (i. e,, seven days) saturated with the decoction of the drugs of the Arogvadhddi group (and dried). Then the prepared compound should be taken with the

—Ed.

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many times (i. e,, seven days) saturated with the decoction of the drugs of the Arogvadhddi group (and dried). Then the prepared compound should be taken with the

- vehicle of the decoction of the drugs of the said S'dlasdrddi group. A pulverised compound {Churna) may be as well prepared in the above manner from the fruits of the Nyagrodddhi group or from the flowers of the A ragvadhddi group, i o . P~~^IYIeClicinaI Ayaskriti : — Nowwe shall describe the process of preparing an Ayaskriti (iron compound). Thin leaves of steel should be plastered with the (five officinal kinds of) salts and heated in fire a of dried cow-dung. When red-hot, they should be immersed in a decoction of Triphald and the drugs of the S' dla-sdrddi group. The above process should be repeated sixteen times in succession after which they should be heated and burnt in a fire of Khadira wood. When cooled down, the iron foils should be pounded into fine powder and passed through a piece of thick linen. The patient should be made to take this powder with honey and clarified butter in an adequate dose suiting his capacity. Af;er

. the digestion of the medicine, he should take such a meal as is not hostile to hisparticular disease and is devoid of salt and acid articles. The use of a Tula measure of this medicinal iron preparation in the above manner leads to the recovery of Kushtha, Meha (urinary complaints), obesity, oedima, jaundice, insanity and epilepsy and makes the patient live for one hundred years. The use of each additional Tuld weight of the preparation adds a century to the duration of the user's life. This is the mode of medically preparing all kinds of Loha (zinc, copper, lead and gold). 11-12.

Aushadha Ayaskriti :— A ball of iron

(weighing fifty Palas) heated and made red-hot in a

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This is the mode of medically preparing all kinds of
Loha (zinc, copper, lead and gold). 11-12.

Aushadha Ayaskriti :— A ball of iron

(weighing fifty Palas) heated and made red-hot in ap. 367 fire of Khadira wood should be cooled by immersing it in a cauldran (Droni), made of (green) Palds'a wood and containing (five-hundred Palas of) Svarasa (expressed juice*yof Trivit, S'y^ma, Agnimantha, Samkhini, Kevuka, Lodhra,Triphala, Palas'a and Sims'apA. The iron mass should be thus heated and cooled twenty one times in succession ; finally the iron ball should be immersed and boiled in the expressed juice of the foregoing drugs over a fire of cow-dungs. It should be removed from the fire when only a quarter part of the liquid would remain. It should now be filtered and the mass of iron should be again heated in the fire mixed with the same liquid and boiled again ; when the cooking is nearly complete, (it should be removed from the fire and) a pulverised compound of the drugs included in the Pippalyddigvow^ together with honey and clarified butter each weighing double the quantity of the iron mass or ball should be mixed with the same. When cooled down, this preparation should be preserved in a well-sealed iron-pitcher. The medicine, thus prepared, should be given to the patient according to his capacity but not less than a Sukti (.half a Pala) or a Prakuncha measure (one Pala). After the digestion of this medicine, a diet should be given to the patient determined by the nature of his disease. This is called the Aushadha Ayaskriti and it cures even the incurable types of Kushtha and urinary complaints (Meha\ reduces obesity, impairs oedima and improves the impaired digestive functions.

* Old and experienced physicians explain ^'Svaraswu" to be the decoction as well. Gaya< asa says that a decoction of one Drona weight of the drugs, boiled in four Drona weight of water and reduced to its quarter part should be taken. Dallana says that if the expressed juice of the drugs be not available, then a cold infusion of one Adhaka weight of the powdered drugs should be taken,

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It is specially efficacious in cases of phthisis (Rdja-Yakshmd). A proper and regular use of this remedy increases the duration of life to a hundred years. 13.

IVIahaushaclha-Ayaskriti :— A decoction