The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna

33-34.

The drugs known as Mushikd and Ajaruhd should be tied round the wrists of a king as prophylactics to guard against the effects of poisoned food, since either of these two drugs (in virtue of their specific properties) tends to neutralise the operativeness of the poison. A king surrounded by his devoted friends shall cover his chest (with drugs of heart-protecting virtues) and shall drink those preparations of clarified butter, which are respectively known as the Ajeya and the Antrita Ghritas*. He should drink regularly every day such wholesome cordials as honey, clarified butter, curd, milk and cold water and use in his food the meat and soup of the flesh of a peacock, mungoose, Godhi (a species of lizard), or Prishata deer. 35 — A.

The mode of preparing the Soup :—

The flesh of a Godha, mungoose, or deer should be cooked and spiced with pasted Pdlindi (Trivrit), Yashtimadhu and sugar. The flesh of a peacock should be similarly cooked and spiced with sugar, Ativishdp. 684 and Sunthi and that of a Prishata deer with Pippali and S^unthi. The soup of S^imhi taken with honey and clarified butter should, similarly, be deemed beneficial (as being possessed of similar antitoxic properties). An intelligent king should always use food and drink of poison-destroying properties. In a case of imbibed poison, the heart should be protected (with a covering of anti-poisonous drugs) and the patient should be made to vomit (the contents of his stomach) with a potion composed of sugar, Pippali^ Yashti-madhu, honey and the expressed juice of sugar-cane dissolved in water. 35-36.

* See Kalpa-Sthdna, Chaptei II. Para 27, and Chapter VII. paia 5, respectively.

Thus ends the first Chapter of the Kalpa-sthdna in the Sus'ruta Samhita which deals with the mode of protecting food and drink (from the effect^ of poison).

CHAPTER II.

Now we shall discourse on the chapter which treats of the indications (efifects, nature and operations) of Sthavara ^vegetable and mineral) poisons (Sthavara-

Visha-Vijnaniyam). i.

Sthavara-poison : its Source (M. T.)—

CHAPTER II.

Now we shall discourse on the chapter which treats of the indications (efifects, nature and operations) of Sthavara ^vegetable and mineral) poisons (Sthavara-

Visha-Vijnaniyam). i.

Sthavara-poison : its Source (M. T.)—

There are two kinds of poison viz.^ that obtained from immobile things (^Sthaivara) and that obtained from mobile creatures (Jangama). The sources of the Sthdvara (vegetable and mineral) poison are ten, while those of the Jangama (animal) poison are sixteen in number. The ten sources from which a Sth^vara poison may be obtained are roots, leaves, fruits, flowers, bark, milky exudations, pith (Sdra\ gum (Nirydsa), bulb and a mineral or metal (Dh^tu). 2-3.

Names of the d iff erent Vegetable and

IVlineral \iO\SOr\S\—Klitaka, As'va-mdra, Gunjd, Subandha*y Gargaraka, Karaghdta^ V idyuch-chhikhd and Vijayd are the eight root-poisons. Visha-Patrikd^ Lambd, Avaraddruka, Karambha and Mahd-Karambha are the five leaf-poisons The fruits of Kumudvati^ Renukd, Karambha, Mahd-Karambha, Karkotaka^ Venuka, Khadyotaka, Charmari, Ibha-gandhd, Sarpaghdti, Nandana and Sdra-pdka, numbering twelve in all, are the twelve fruit-poisons. The flowers of Vetra, Kadamba, Vallija [Ndrdcha — D. R), Karambha and MahdKarambha are the five flower-poisons. The bark, pith and gum of Antra -pdchaka^ Kartariya, Sauriyaka^ Kara-ghdta, Karambha, Nandana and Vardtaka arep. 686 the seven bark-poisons, pith-poisons and gum-poisons-

* Lamb^, according to Gayi — D. R.

The milky exudations of Kumudaghni^ Snuki and /dla-Kshiri are poisons and are known as the three Kshira-Vishas, Phenas'ma-bhasma ( white arsenic ) and Haritala ( yellew orpiment ) are the two mineral poisons, Kdla-kuta^ Vatsa-ndbha, Sarshapaka^ Pdlaka^ Kardamakdy Vairdtaka, Mtistaka, S^ringi-visha, Prapaundarika^ Mulaka, Hdldhala, Mahd-visha and Karkataka, numbering thirteen in all, are the bulb-poisons. Thus the number of poisons obtained from the vegetable and mineral world (Sthdvara) amount to fifty-five in all. 4-rr.

Metrical Text:— There are four kinds of Vatsandhha poisons, two kinds of Mustaka and six kinds of Sarshapaka. The remaining ones have no different species. 12.

4-rr.

Metrical Text:— There are four kinds of Vatsandhha poisons, two kinds of Mustaka and six kinds of Sarshapaka. The remaining ones have no different species. 12.

Effects of poison on the human organism : — Root-poisons or poisonous roots produce a twisting pain in the limbs, delirium and loss of consciousness. A leaf-poison or poisonous leaf gives rise to yawning, difficult breathing and a twisting pain in the limbs. A fruit poison is attended with a swelling of the scrotum, a burning sensation in the body and an aversion to food. A fiower-poison gives rise to vomiting, distensions of the abdomen and loss of conssciousness. A bark-poison, or pith-poison, or gum-poison is marked by a fetour in the mouth, roughness of the body, headache and a secretion of Kapha (mucus from the mouth). The effects of the poisonous milky exudations (of a tree, plant or creeper) are foaming from the mouth, loose stools (diarrhoea) and a curvature (drawing back) of the tongue, whereas a mineral poison gives rise to pain in the heart, fainting and a burning sensation in the region of the palate. All these arep. 687 slow poisons proving fatal only after a considerable length of time. 13.

Effects of Bulb-poisons:— Now we shall