The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna

22.

Derivative Meaning of ** Dushi-

ViSha " :^A constant use of some particular time,f place and diet as well as constant and regular day-sleep tends (slowly) to poison the fundamental root-principles

* See Chapter xxvii, Sutra Sthana.

t By *' the particular time" is meant a cloudy and windy day as well as the rainy season. By "the particular place" is meant a marshy country, and by ''the particular diet" is meant wine, sesamum, Kulaltha-pulse, etc. as well as physical exercise, sexual intercourse, fits of anger, etg.

Chap. II.] KALPA STHANAM. 69 1

(Dlifi^tus) of the body and this (slow) poison is consequently known as the Dushi-Visha. 23.

Symptoms of the different stages of Sthavara poisoning' :— In the first stage of a case of poisoning by a Stha(vara (vegetable or mineral) poison, the tongue becomes dark brown and numbed, and epileptic fits and hard breathing follow in its wake. The second stage is marked by such symptoms as shivering, perspiration, burning sensation, itching and pain in the body ; when seated in the Amds'aya (stomach) it causes pain in the region of the heart. The third stage is marked by a dryness of the palate and severe (colic) pain in the stomach. The eyes become discoloured, yellow-tinted aud swollen. When seated in the Pakvdsaya (intestines) it produces hic-cough, cough, and a sort of pricking pain and rumbling sound in the Antra (intestines). The fourth stage is marked by an extreme heaviness of the head. The fifth stage is marked by salivation, discolouring of the body and a breaking pain in the joints. It is marked also by the aggravation of all the Doshas and pain in the Pakvddhdna (intestines ?). The sixth stage is characterised by loss of consciousness or excessive diarrhoea ; while the seventh stage is marked by a breaking pain in the back, the shoulders and the waist and a complete stoppage (of respiration)*. 24.

Treatment : -In the first stage the patient should be made to vomit and to drink cold water after that. Then an Agada (Anti-poisonous remedy) mixed with honey and clarified butter should be given him. In the second stage, the patient should be first made to vomit as in the preceding stage and then a purgative

• The seven stages of the poisoning are due to the poisoning of the seven fiindamantal root'principles (DhsttUS) of the body in succession.

p. 692

p. 692

should be given him. Anti-poisonous potions, medicated snuffs (Nasya) and Anjanas possessed of similar virtues are beneficial in the third stage. An anti-poisonous potion through the vehicle of a Sneha (clarified butter) is efficacious in the fourth stage. In the fifth stage the patient should be given an antipoisonous medicine with the decoction of Yashti-madhu and honey. In the sixth stage the treatment should be as in a case of diarrhoea (Atisdra) and the use of a medicated snuff in the form of an Avapida is recommended. The latter remedy (Avapida-Nasya) should be applied in the seventh stage as well and the scalp after being shaved in 'the shape of a Kdka-pada* (crow's claw) should also+ be incised with a small incision. The incised flesh and the (vitiated) blood should also be removed. 25.

Kosh^taky^di Yavagu :— After adopting

the respective measures enjoined in respect of the several stages of poisoning, the patient should, in the interval of any two stages be made to drink in a cold state a gruel (Yavdgu) prepared with the decoctions of Koshdtaki (Ghoshd), Agnika (Ajamodd), Pdthd^ Surya valli, Amritd^ Abhayd^S'irisha, Kinihi, S'elu^ Girydhvd, (white Aparajitd), the two kinds of Rajani, the two kinds of Punarnavdy Harenu, Trikatu, Sdrivd, and Bald (D.R. Sdrivd and Utpala) mixed with honey and clarified butter. This is beneficial in both the cases of (animal and vegetable) poisoning. 26, called a KiCka-pada.

* The particular form of shaving the hair, in which the part of the scalp from and above the forehead only is shaved is technically

t The particle *'vi" means that the measures laid down in respect of the treatment of a Jangama poison viz. beating the patient on the bead, forehead, etc, should also be resorted to.

p. 693

AJcya-Ghrlta:— Clarified butter should be duly cooked with an adequate quantity of water and the Kalka of Yashti-madhu, Tagara, Kushtha, Bhadra-ddru, Harenu^ Punndga^ Eld, Ela-vdluka^ Ndga-kes ara^ Utpala, sugar, Vidanga^ Chandana, Patra, Priyangu^ Dhydmaka, the two kinds Haridrd^ the two kinds of Vrihati, the two kinds of Sdrivd^ Sthird (Sdla-parni) and Sahd (Prisni-parni). It is called the Ajeya-Ghrita. It speedily destroys all kinds of poison in the system and is infallible in its efficacy. 27.

It is called the Ajeya-Ghrita. It speedily destroys all kinds of poison in the system and is infallible in its efficacy. 27.

ViShsCri-Agada :— A patient afflicted with the effects of Dushi-Visha inherent in the system should be first fomented and cleansed by both emetics and purgatives. The following anti-poisonous Agada (medicine) should then be taken daily. The recipe of this Agada is as follows : — Pippali, Dhydmaka, Mdmsi, Sdvara (Lodhra), Paripelava*, Suvarchikd, small Eld, Toy a (Bdlaka) and Suvarna-Gairika should be taken with honey. It destroys, when taken, the Dushi-Visha (slow chemical poisoning) in the system. It is called the Vish^iri- Agada and its efficacy extends also to cases of all other kinds of poisoning. 28.

Treatment of the Supervening

Symptoms of poisoning:— Cases of fever, burning sensation in the body, hic-cough, constipation of the bowels, loss of semen, swelling, diarrhoea, epileptic fits, heart-disease, ascites, insanity, shivering, and such other supervening symptoms (consequent on the effects of a Dushi-Visha inherent in the system) should be treated with remedies laid down under the respective heads of the aforesaid diseases in accompaniment with (suitable) anti-poisonous medicines. 29.

* "Patipelava" means either "Dhanyika" or **Kaivartta-Mustaka'^

694 'i'HE SUSHRUTA SAMHitA. [Chap. IL

Prognosis S— A case of Dushi-Visha poisoning in a prudent and judicious person, and of recent growth is easily cured, while palliation is the only relief that can be offered in a case of more than a year's standing. In an enfeebled and intemperate patient, it should be considered as incurable. 30.

Thus ends the second Chapter of the Kalpa Sth^na in the Sus'ruta
Samhit^ which treats of the Sthdvara and jangama poisons.

CHAPTEE III.

Now we shall discourse on the subject of (the nature, virtue, etc. of) animal poisons (jang^aiTia-viShavijnaniya). i.

We have briefly said before that there are sixteen
situations of poison in the bodies of venomous animals.
Now we shall deal with them in detail. 2.

Locations : — An animal poison is usually situated in the following parts, viz; the sight, breath, teeth, nails, urine, stool, semen, saliva, menstrual blood, stings, belching* anus, bones, bile, bristles (^uka) and in the dead body of an animal. 3.