The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna
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CHAPTER XXXIX.
Now we shall discourse on the treatment of distressing symptoms* which are manifested in a patient
(Aturopadrava-Chikitsitam). i.
The digestive fire (Kaiyaigni) of a person naturally grows dull*)- after the exhibition of emetics and purgatives, after the administration of a Niruha-Vasti, after the internal application of a Sneha and after blood-letting. It is further lessened by the eating of extremely heavy (difficult of digestion) articles of fare, just as a low or dull fire is extinguished by a heavy load of fuel. Light meals taken in small quantities, on the other hand, increase the digestive fire under these circumstances, just as light fuel in small quantities serves to re-kindle a low fire. 2.
The quantity of diet should be proportionate to the Dosha (morbific diathesis) eliminated from the organism. The quantity of the Dosha or Doshas eliminated consists of three measures, viz.^ one Prastha,]: half an Adhaka or an Adhaka (at most). The first is the lowest, the second is the intermediate and the last named measure (one Adhaka) should be deemed as the highest quantity (of the Dosha that can be eliminated under the circumstances). 3.
Yavagu (gruel) prepared with a small quantity of rice (Tandula) should be given once, twice or thrice respectt We have been toKl that the digestive fire is kindled by the exhibition of emetics, purgatives, etc., but here we are told just the reverse. The solution is that the digestive fire is ultimately kindled by these measures, whereas, immediately after the exhibition, it becomes dull and sluggish.
* By "dislressing symptoms" nre generally meant those complications that follow the exhibition of emetics, purgatives, Vaslis, etc.
X The Prastha measure here means thirteen Palas and a half.
648 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. XXXIX.
ively in cases of the eliminated Dosha being a Prastha, half an Adhaka or an Adhaka in quantity. 4.
After this a quarter part of the quantity of rice or grain otherwise deemed proper and adequate for the patient, should be cooked in the form of Vilepi. The rice or the grain (used in the preparation) should be well boiled, without the addition of any Sneha (oil or clarified butter) or salt. 5.
The rice or the grain (used in the preparation) should be well boiled, without the addition of any Sneha (oil or clarified butter) or salt. 5.
It should then be (passed through a piece of cloth and) made non-slimy, and should be taken in the above-prescribed manner with a clear (pure) soup of Mudga-^ulse, The patient should then be given a diet measuring half the quantity of his usual one. The food, in this case, should be well saturated with any oleaginous substance (Sneha). The meal of the patient in the next stage should consist of well-boiled rice measuring three parts only of his usual diet and should be made palatable to the taste and sufficient to stimulate the sense-organs. The meal in this case, should be taken with the transparent surface of clarified butter {Ghrita-mandd), After this period the patient should be allowed to take his full meal with well-prepared soups of venison, etc. 6-7.
The above order of taking one-fourth, half and threefourths of the usual meal applies in cases of deficient, intermediate (moderate), or satisfactory action of a purgative. 8.
Peyds, taken in an aggravated condition of the deranged Pitta, and Kapha, or by a person addicted to drinking habits or subsequent to a deficient exhibition of emetics and purgatives, may give rise to an increased (mucous) secretion (Abhishyanda) in the organism. Tarpana measures (demulcent food) should, therefore, be deemed beneficial in these instances. 9.
A person is likely to fast from any of the following
Chap. XXXIX. j CHIKlTSA StHANAM. 649
causes, e, g.^ pain, unattainment of wished-for objects, penance, bereavement, and mental distraction. Rules enjoined to be observed after a course of purgatives should as well be adhered to in such cases, 10.
XXXIX. j CHIKlTSA StHANAM. 649 causes, e, g.^ pain, unattainment of wished-for objects, penance, bereavement, and mental distraction. Rules enjoined to be observed after a course of purgatives should as well be adhered to in such cases, 10.
An Adhaka, half an Adhaka and a Prastha measure should similarly be the quantity of excretion in connection with a course of purgatives under the three different degrees of its action. But some are of opinion that there may be no fixed quantity of excretion in this case, since purgation should not be considered satisfactory until the S'leshma (^mucus) of the system has come out. * A purgation should be considered satisfactory when the S'leshmd comes out and in that case no more purgative should be given. The strength (Bala) of a patient has been laid down to be of three degrees, consequently the rules of diet and conduct should be similarly determined. A strong patient should observe the regimen of diet only once, one of middling strength (Madhya-bala) twice, while a weak patient thrice. Certain authorities, however, assert that this order of diet should be observed by the patients with an impaired, intermediate and keen digestion, ir.
Lest the Doshas might become aggravated by the appetite already kindled by the observation of the rules of diet prescribed for the purpose, the patient should be made to take his meal in the following order at this stage. Sweet and bitter articles of fare should be partaken of at the outset of a meal, followed by oleaginous, acid, saline and pungent food. After this, sweet, acid and saline food should again be taken followed by
* Here a line is not found in the printed edition of the Sus'ruta Samhitd, which is evident from Dallana's commentary and supported by S'rikantha Datta in his commentary on Vrinda. The line is as follows : —
p. 82
650 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. XXXIX.
articles of sweet and bitter tastes. Dry (Ruksha) and demulcent food should be enjoined in succession in the course of a meal. The meals of a healthy person should then be prescribed. 12.