The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna

7-9.

Treatment Of Medoja Granthi : -In a case of Medoja Granthi (originated from the vitiated condition of the bodily fat) a plaster of pasted sesamum, placed inside the folds of a piece of linen, should be applied to the seat of the affected part and fomentations with hot iron- rods should be frequently applied, inasmuch as application of heat (lit. — fire) is efficacious in such cases. As an alternative, the affected part should be fomented with a ladle, pasted with heated shellac (Ldksha). The Granthi (in its non-suppurated stage) should be opened by an incision and the fat removed ; the incidental ulcer should then be (actually) cauterized. On the other hand, the Granthi, when fully suppurated, should be incised and washed with the urine (of a cow). Then a paste, composed of * Applications of honey, clarified butter, etc.

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sesamum, Suvarchikd, Haritdla and rock-salt, pounded together and mixed with honey, clarified butter and an abundant quantity of Yava-kshara, should be applied to the incidental wound for purifying purposes. Oil, cooked with the two kinds of Karanja, Gunjd^ the green scrapings of bamboo, Ingudi and the urine * of a cow, should be used to heal the ulcer. lo-ii.

Treatment of Apachi :— Clarified butter cooked with the fruit of Jimictaka and Kosha-vati, and with (the roots of) Danii, Dravanti and Trivrit^ is a very powerful and efficacious remedy.-|* Administered internally as well as externally, it leads to the cure of the advanced cases of Apachi. 12.

A strong emetic composed of Nirgundi, Jdti (flower) .and Varihistha (Vala) together "^ith. Jitmitaka, profusely mixed with honey and Saindhava, should be given warm to the patient. It is a very powerful emetic, and leads to the recovery of even a malignant form of Apachi. An oil, cooked with the pastes (Kalka) of Kaitaryya,\ Vimdiand Karavira^ may be profitably used as an errhine (Siro-virechana). Oil cooked with the expressed juice of S'akhotaka may also be used profitably as an errhine. § Avapida errhines (used in drops t In preparing this medicated Ghrita, the quantity of clarified butter should be taken four times as much as the combined weight of the Kalka (paste). These should be boiled with water, taken four times as much as the quantity of clarified butter. Some authorities, however, are of opinion that both the paste (Kalka) and the decoction of the drugs are to be taken in its preparation,

* Cow's urine measuring four times the oil should be taken in the preparation of this medicated oil.

These should be boiled with water, taken four times as much as the quantity of clarified butter. Some authorities, however, are of opinion that both the paste (Kalka) and the decoction of the drugs are to be taken in its preparation,

X Some read *Nirgundi' after it.

§ This medicated oil should be cooked without any Kalka. But some are of opinion that both the decoction and the Kalka of S'akhotaka should be used.

43^ THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. X III.

into the nostrils) should be applied with Madkuka-sdra, S'ig'ru-sQeds and Apdmdr^a-seedsJ^ 13-15.

A glandular swelling (Granthi), occurring in any part of the body other than a Marma, should be opened in its non-suppurated stage and cauterized with fire ; f or it should be rubbed with an alkali I after scarificaticn as already advised. 16.

A length of twelve fingers should be measured (Mitvd) from and above the Parshni, i.e., the posterior side of the ankle (and the space of Indra-vasti above this part should be ascertained). The Indra-vasti (occupying a space of half a finger, or, according to others, two fingers) having been carefully avoided, an excision (on the opposite side of the affection) should be made and the spawn-like glands having been removed (therefrom), the excisioned part should be cauterised with fire.

Others say that the excision should be made straight above the ankle (Ghona) after carefully avoiding the space of Indra-vasti, measuring two fingers (and to make sure an additional space of half a finger should be left out), which would be found out by taking oneeighth part (of the Jangha, 2>,, the leg— excluding the , foot and measuring twenty fingers) from the Khulaka (ankle-joint) of which the (two) Gulphas (ankles) look like the (two) ears. § 17-18.

* Madhuka-sara mixed wiih tepid water and the expressed juice of S'igru-seeds and of Apamarga-seeds should be used.

t In cases of the preponderance of Vayu and of Kapha.

X In cases of the preponderance of Pitta.

§ There is a good deal of difference as to the reading and explanation of this passage amongst the different commentators. The different explanations arise from the different interpretations put upon the word *'j}t%" in the Text, "qif^' 5if?T %K^ '^Tl^^TfT, etc." The words ''^]H 5rf?T"

Chap. XVIII.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 433

As an alternative, the region of the wrist (Manibandha) should be branded by a physician with three mark lines, one finger apart, for a radical cure of Apachi. 19.

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As an alternative, the region of the wrist (Manibandha) should be branded by a physician with three mark lines, one finger apart, for a radical cure of Apachi. 19.

may mean either of the following, (i) On the opposite side of the Parshni, Vagbhata subscribes to this view. (2) On the opposite {i.e.y the other) Parshni, that is to say, if the affection be on the right side of the body the operation should be made on the Parshni of the left leg and so on. Vriddha Vagbhata subscribes to this interpretation in the clearest language. (3) In the region of the Parshni, «.e,, on the dorsal side of the leg.

The different commentators, again, do not agree as to the seat and extent of the excision. Some say that the operation should be made above the Indra-vasti and the extent should be two fingers in length. Vagbhata seems to subscribe to this view. Others hold that the operation should be made below the Indra-vasti and the extent should be two fingers' length : Dallana is of this opinion. A third class of commentators assert that the whole extent of the length from above the Parshni up to the Indra vasli should be opened.

As to the extent of the Indra-vasti, again, there is a difference. According to Dallana it occupies a space of two fingers. But Jejjata holds that it occupies a space of half a finger only. The Indra-vasti (Marma) is situated twelve fingers above [i.e., in the thirteenth finger of) the Parshni. The reading in the printed editions of the text is "fifc^T", whereas Vrinda and Chakradatta read *'t%c^". Dallana's reading also evidently is "1%^". "fvTc^" would be quite redundant and as "f»f^" gives a better meaning, we accept this reading.

Now we come to the second stanza. Commentators differ more in the exposition of this stanza than of the former. By the expression ''^rnr^^- ^WR[ is meant by some commentators "from the Gulpha to the Kama." Others, however, mean to take it as an adjective to *'?I^rWTf^" and explain it as meaning "from above the Khulaka whereof the Gulphas look like the Karnas." As regards the expression "^fm^"^t^'/', some are inclined to think that the excision should be made straight above the Ghona (i.e., the posterior part and especially the big vein there which looks like the nose (Ghond) of the ankle-joint).

Others, however, read it as "^t'HT^S^:" and explain it (^tWM^ + ^p^) as meaning "in a straight line with the Ghon^ (which may mean

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