The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna

These are the remedies for the curable types of Oshtha-kopa, 7-8.

Treatment of the Diseases of Danta

-lYIula :— Now we shall describe the treatment of the affection of the r(jots of the teeth (Gingivitis). In a case of the Sitatda type of the disease, the gums should be first bled and a decoction of Sarshapa^ Ndgara, Triphild and Musta f mixed with Rasdnjana should then be used as gurgles. 1 he gums should be plastered (Pralepa) with Priyangu, Musta and Triphald and (clarified butter, cooked with) the decoction of Triphald, Madhuka, Utpala and Padmaka should be used as an errhine. In an acute case of Danta-Pupputaka, the gums should be first bled and then rubbed (Prati-sarana) with the five officinal kinds of salt and Yava-Kshdra mixed with honey. The use of errhines (Siro-virechana), medicated snuffs (Nasya) and demulcent food is recommended. 9-10.

Treatment of Danta-Veshta, etc. :—

In a case of Danta-Veshta, the swelling should be first bled and then rubbed with a pulverised compound of Rodhra, Pattanga, Yashti-madhu and Ldkshd mixed with a profuse quantity of honey. A decoction of (the bark

* Vrinda and Chakrapani do not read Vid-lavana, t Vrinda and Chakra-datta do not read Musta, nor Rasanjana.

4^4 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. XXII.

of) the Kshiri trees, mixed with sugar, honey and clarified butter (as an after-throw) should be used as gurgles (Gandusha). Clarified butter, cooked with the drugs of the Kdkolyddi group with ten times its own weight of milk, should be used as snufi* (Nasya). In a case of Saushira, the affected parts, after being properly bled, should be plastered (Lepa) with Lodhra, Musta and Rasdnjana, pounded together and mixed with honey. A decoction of the Kshiri trees should be used as gurgles (Gandusha), and clarified butter cooked with the paste-compound of Sdrivd, Utpala, Yashti-madhu, Sdvara {hod\ir?^\ Aguru, (red) Chandana and ten times its own weight of milk should be recommended as an errhine. 1 1-12.

Treatment of Pari-dara, etc. :— In a

1 1-12.

Treatment of Pari-dara, etc. :— In a case of Pari-dara the treatment should consist of the remedies described in connection with Sitada* In a case of Upa kusai as well,* the system of the patient should be cleansed both ways ^by means of emetics and purgatives), and his head should be cleansed with Sirovirechana. The affected part (in a case of Upa-kus'a) should, in addition, be bled (by rubbing it over) with the leaves of the Kdkodtimbarikd, or of the Goji, or with the application of a medicinal compound composed of the five officinal kinds of salt and Trikatu mixed with honey. Tepid watery solutions-|- of Pippali^ (white) Sarshapa^ Ndgara, and Nichula fruits should also be used as gurgles (Kavala). The use of clarified butter cooked with the drugs of the Madhuta (Kdkolyddi)

■* This shows that cleansing the system by means of emetics and purgatives, as well as with S'iro-virechana should be resorted to in a case of Pari-dara as well.

t The solution may be prepared with the drugs taken together or separately.

p. 465

group as errhine (Nasya) and gurgle (Kavala) is also recommended. 13-14.

Treatment of Danta Vaidarbha, etc.:

—In a case of Danta-Vaidarbha, the regions about the roots of the teeth should be cleansed by opening them with a (MandaUgra) instrument and subsequently treated with alkaline applications. Cooling measures should also be resorted to ^during the treatment of this disease). In a case of Adhika-danta, the additional tooth should be uprooted and removed ; then (in order to arrest the bleeding, if. any), the part should be cauterised with fire, and then an experienced physician should apply the remedies mentioned under the head of worm-eaten teeth (Krimi-dantaka), 15-16

Treatment of Adhi-mamsa :— in a case of Adhi-mamsa, the additional fleshy growth about the roots of a tooth should be removed (with a knife) and treated with a compound of Vachd, Tejovati, Pdthd, Sarjikd and Yava-kshdra, pasted together with honey. Powdered Pippali^ mixed with honey, should be used as a gurgle (Kavala); and a decoction of Patola^ Triphald and Nimba for washing the affected part. Errhines (Siro-virechana) and inhalation of Vairechana smoke, (that lead to the secretion of mucus from the head), would likewise prove efficacious in such cases. 17.

Treatment of Danta- Nad i :-ln a case of

Errhines (Siro-virechana) and inhalation of Vairechana smoke, (that lead to the secretion of mucus from the head), would likewise prove efficacious in such cases. 17.

Treatment of Danta- Nad i :-ln a case of

Danta-Nadi, the treatment of Nadi (Sinus) about the teeth is identical with that of sinus in general. The specific remedial measure, however, is that the gum of the affected tooth should be incised, and the tooth should be extracted, if it be not in the upper jaw. The affected part should then be purified and cauterised with an alkali or fire. Hence in a case of Sinus (Nddi), a com-

p. 59

466 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. XXH.

plete extraction of any fragment of the broken bone, or tooth, is essentially necessary (for its cure), inasmuc'i as, if left uiextracted, it may cause the sinus to affect (run below I the jaw-bone. If the affected tooth be in the upper jaw, and if it be found to be firm and steady at its roots, though attended with tooth-ache,* it should not be extracted, inasmuch as it might produce an excessive haemorrhage from its roots, and usher in blindness, facial paralysis, or other dangerous affections (such as convulsion, etc.) due to the excessive loss of blood. Hence in the case of a looseness of such a tooth in the upper jaw, it should not be extracted A decoction f of Jdti, Madana, Svddu'Kantaka and Khadira should be used to wash the mouth An oil cooked witn Jdti, Madana, Katuki, Svddu-Kantaka. Yashti-madhu, Rodhra, Manjishthd and Khadira should be used to cleanse and heal a sinus invading the roots of a tooth. The remedial measures to be employed in the diseases affecting the roots of the teeth have thus been described above.

* Both Vrinia an I Chakr^datta quote this passage from the text, but b )th of th-m r-a 1 "igrffijct ^^jf^W^" (excessive bleeding takes place) in place of "^^ 1%T?:^5q%" ('^ '^ be found to be firm and steady at its roots, though attended with tooth-achi) S'ri-kantha Datta, again, in his commentary quotes another reading "^r^S%^^^" ('fit be loose in its sockets and be extracted with its roots). In our humble opinion, however, the current reading of the text seems to be the correct one, inasmuch as both the leadings quoted above seem to be redundant in the presence of the two following sentences "?:iiTt%^^f[ " and ''^^?t^tK ^5ff'..."— Ed.