The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna

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.

t According to S'rikantha and S'ivadasa, it appears that the application of this decoction as a wash is not to be found in all editions of the Sus'ruta Saiuhita, Imt they say that it is found only in Jejjata's reading. Jejjaia*s reading and explanation seem to be correct and have been followed by us in the translation.— Ed,

Chap. XXn.] CHIKltSA STHANAM. 4^7

We shall now proceed to describe the medicinal remedies to be employed in the diseases which confine themselves exclusively to the teeth 18-21.

Treatment of the diseases of Tooth proper :— A case of Danta-harsha yields to the use of any lukewarm Sneha * or the Traivrita-ghrita (mentioned in Chapter V), or of the decoction of the Vdyu-subduing drugs as gurgles (Kavala). An application of Snaihika Dhuma (^emulsive fumes) and the use of snuff (Nasya), emulsive articles of food, meat soups, gruel prepared with meat (Rasa-Yavdgu), milk, milkcream, clarified butter, Siro-vasti and the other Vayusubduing measures generally prove efficacious. 22.

In a case of Daata Sirkarai (^Tartar-calcareous deposits on the teeth), the deposit should be removed in such a way as not to hurt the roots of the tooth, after which the part should be dusted (Prati-sarana) with powdered Ldkshd with honey. All the remedies mentioned in connection with the treatment of Dantaharsha may as well be employed in this disease. 23

Treatment of Kapalika, etc. : These

remedies are also efificacious in a case of Kapailikai (caries of the tooth) which is extremely hard to cure. In a case of Krimi-Danta (worm-eaten tooth) found to be firm and unloosed (in its socket), the affected tooth should be fomented, and the accumulation [i. e., the pus, blood, etc.) should be removed. It should then be treated with some Vdyu-subduing errhines of the Ava-pida form and with emollient gurgles (Gandusha), as well as with plasters, prepared with Varshdhhu and the drugs of the Bhadra-Ddrvddi group and with a diet of emulsive articles of food. In the case, however, where

* All the four kinds of Sneha should be used separately or combinedly.

p. 468

In the case, however, where

* All the four kinds of Sneha should be used separately or combinedly.

p. 468

the tooth is found to be loose (in the socket\ the loose tooth should be extracted, and the cavity cauterised with fire or an alkali (for the purpose of arresting the bleeding). An oil cooked with the pastes (Kalka) of Viddri, Yashti-madhu, S'ringdtaka, and Kas'eruka and with ten times its own weight of milk should be administered as an errhine (in such cases). The course of treatment in a case of Hanumoksha is the same as in one of facial paralysis. 24-27. A person suffering from any affection of the teeth should refrain from taking acid fruits, cold water, dry (Ruksha) food, excessively hard articles of food and from brushing his teeth (with a twig). The treatment fof the curable types of tooth-diseases has be^n thus described above, we shall now (proceed to) describe the treatment of the curable types of tongue-diseases. 28 29.

Treatment of Tongue-diseases :— In

the Vaitaja type of Jihvai-kantaka (,Papilla), the treatment should be the same as in the case of Vdtaja Oshtha-kopa. In the Fittaja type (of Jihva kantaka), the vitiated blood should be made to secrete from the affected organ by rubbing it with any article of rough surface (such as the leaves of S' dkhotaka, etc.), and the drugs of the Madhura (Kakoly^di) group should be used for gurgles and errhines, as well as for being rubbed over (Prati-sarana) the affected organ. In the Kaphaja type (of Jihva-kantaka). the organ should be bled by scarifying it (with a Mandala patra and such other instrument) ; it should then be rubbed with the powders of the drugs of the Pippalyddi group mixed with honey. A compound of powdered white mustardseed and Saindhava should be administered as gurgles (Kavala), and the patient should be made to take his food with the soup of Patola, Nimba,Chap. XXII.3 CHIKITSA STHANAM. 4^9 and Vdrtdku mixed with (a liberal quantity of) Yava-Kshdra 30.

Treatment of Upa-Jihva :— In a case of

Upa-jihvai(Raaula),the affected part should be scarified and rubbed with an alkali, and the patient should be treated with errhines (Siro-vireka), gurgles (Gandusha) and inhalations of smokes (Dhuma). The treatment of the tongue diseases has been thus described above. We shall now describe the medical treatment of the affections of the palate (Tdlu-gata Roga). 31-32.

Treatmentof the Talu-gata diseases:

The treatment of the tongue diseases has been thus described above. We shall now describe the medical treatment of the affections of the palate (Tdlu-gata Roga). 31-32.

Treatmentof the Talu-gata diseases:

— In a case of Grala-s'andika^, the Sundik^ (protuberance) should be drawn out along the tongue with the help of the thumb and the second finger of the hand, or with a Samdamsa (forceps) and then cut off with a Mandalagra instrument. But it should be severed neither more nor less than three-quarters of the appendage, inasmuch as profuse haemorrhage might follow an excessive incision, and death might result therefrom ; whereas, a case of lesser severance is usually found to be attended with swelling, excessive salivation, somnolence,* vertigo, darkness of vision, etc. Hence a surgeon, well-versed in the science of surgery and well-skilled in practical operations, should carefully operate a Gala-s'undika (with a knife) and subsequently adopt the following measures. The incidental ulcer should b3 treated with the pulverised compound of Maricha^ Ati'vishd.Pdthd, Vachd, Kushthadind Kutannata^ mixed with honey and rock-salt. A decoction of Vachd, Ati-vishd, Pdthd, Rdsnd^ Katuka-rohini and Pichu-marda should be used as gurgle (Kavala). The five drugs, viz.,

* 3'rikantha Datta, in his commentary on Vrinda's compilation, quotes this passage from the text, but does not include "somnolence" therein. He reads ♦•^mi^i^) H^r^Wt" in place of "^^^ f^r^T ^irewt " I

4}^0 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. XXIl.

Ingudi, Apdmdr^a, Danti^ Sarald and Deva-ddru should be pasted together and made into Vartis (sticks), well flavoured by the addition of perfuming drugs. Twice every day (once in the morning and again in the evening), should the patient be made to inhale the fumes of these burning Vartis (sticks) which have the property of subduing the (deranged) Kapha, and should be made to take the soup of Mudga boiled in alkaline water.* In cases of Tundikeri, Adhrusha, Kurma, Maimsa samghatta and Tatlu pupputa, the preceding measures should be adopted, but the surgical operation should vary with the nature of the particular disease under treatment. 33-34.

Treatment of Talu-paka, etc- :—