The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna

2.

Specific symptoms and treatment

of rat- poison ing" :— The general symptoms of rat-poisoning have been briefly described above, "^owChap. VI.] KALPA STHANAM. 7^9 hear me specially describe the symptoms of the bites by the different families of rats (Mushika). A bite by a rat of the L^flana class is marked by a copious flow of saliva, hic-cough and vomiting. The patient in such a case should be made to use a lambative made of the roots of Tanduliyaka mixed with honey. A bite by a rat of the Putraka family is marked by a sense of physical langour, yellowness of the complexion and the appearance of nodular glands (Granthi) resembling young rats. A compound of S'irisha and Ingudi pasted together and mixed with honey should be given to the patient as a lambative in this case. A bite by a rat of the Krishnai (black) class in foul weather and more especially on a cloudy day is characterised by the vomiting of blood. A pasted compound of S'irisha fruit and Kushtha with the washings of the ashes of Kims'uka (flower) should be given to the patient in such a case. 3-A.

A bite by a rat of the Hansira species brings on an aversion to food, yawning and horripilation. In such a case emetics should be first given to the patient who should be then made to drink a decoction of the drugs of the Ara^vadhddi group. A bite by a rat of the Chikkira class is accompanied by headache, swelling, hic-cough and vomiting. In such a case an emetic consisting of the decoction of Jdlini, Madana fruit and Amkotha should be prescribed. A bite by a venomous Mushika of the Chhuchchhundara (mole) species gives rise to diarrhoea (watery stool), numbness of the muscles of the neck and yawning. In this case an alkaline compound prepared of the ashes of the dry plants of barley (Yava-ndla), Rishahhi (Atma-guptd) and Vrihati should be prescribed*. 3-B.

* Different reading*— A bite by a Mushika of the Chhuchchhundara

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3-B.

* Different reading*— A bite by a Mushika of the Chhuchchhundara

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p. 730

A bite by a rat of the Alasa species is characterised by a numbness of the neck, an upward coursing of the Vdyu, fever and pain at the seat of the bite. In this case the patient should be made to take the Mahaigada with honey and clarified butter as a lambative. A bite by a rat of the Kasha(ya-dasana species is marked by somnolence or excessive sleep, atrophy (Sosha) of the heart and a general emaciation of the body. In such a case a lambative made of the bark, pith and fruit (seeds) of S'irisha mixed with honey should be given to the patient to lick. A bite by a rat of the Kulinga species is marked by pain, swelling and stripe-like marks about the seat of the bite, the remedy consisting in a lambative made of the two kinds of vS'<3://^'(Mudga-parniand Mdshaparni) and Sindhuvdra pasted together and mixed with honey. 3-C.

A bite by a rat of the Ajita species is characterised by vomiting, epileptic fits (fainting), a catching pain at the heart (Hrid-graha) and blackness of the eyes. The patient in such a case should be made to lick a compound made of (the roots of) Pdlindi (Trivrit) pasted with the milky juice of Snuhi and mixed with honey. A bite by a rat of the Chapala species is marked by vomiting, epileptic fits and thirst, and the remedy in this case should consist of a lambative made of Tri-phald, Bhadra-kdshtha (Deva-daru) and fatd'mdnsi (D.R.— Yava) pasted together and mixed with honey. A bite by a rat of the Kapila species is followed by Kotha (putrefaction) of the bite, appearance class produces thirst, vomiting, fever, weakness, numbness 01 the muscles of the neck, swelling, abscess on the back, loss of the sense of smell and Visuchikd. A compound of Chavya, Haritaki, S'unthi, Vidanga, Pippali, S'vetaka-seeds and the ashes of (the plants of) Vrihati pounded together and mixed with honey should be prescribed in this case. — Gayadisa.

Chap. VI.] KALPA STHANAM. 73l

of nodular glands (Granthi) and fever. The remedy consists in the use of a lambative made of Tri-phald^ S'vetd* (white Apardjitd) and Punarnavd pasted together and licked with honey. A bite by a rat of the Kokila species is attended with high fever, an intolerable burning sensation in the body and the appearance of nodular glands (Granthi). Clarified butter duly cooked with the decoction of Varshdhhu and Nilini (Indigo plants) should be administered in such a case. 3-D.

Clarified butter duly
cooked with the decoction of Varshdhhu and Nilini
(Indigo plants) should be administered in such a case. 3-D.

A bite by a rat of the Aruna (vermilion coloured) species is marked by an extremely aggravated condition of the bodily Vdyu and the symptoms peculiar to it. A bite by a rat of the Mahs^-krishna (extremely black) species leads to an aggravated condition of the Pitta, while a bite by one of the Mahst-sVeta class ushers in an aggravation of the bodily Kapha. The blood of a person is vitiated by the bite of a rat of the Mahsi-kapila family, while the bite by one of the Kapota species leads to the dârangement of all the four principles viz.^ the three Doshas (Vdyu, Pitta and Kapha) as well as of the blood. Their bites are accompanied by a violent swelling of the affected locality, the appearance of nodular glands (Granthi) and such other erythematous and eczematous growths as Mandala, Karnikd and Pidakd (Pustules). 3-E.

Three Prastha measuresf each of clarified butter, curd and milk should be duly cooked with the duly prepared decoction of Karanja, Aragvadha^ Tri-katu^

* Some explains **S'vetd Punarnavd" to mean **white Punarnavd." Gayaddsa reads "S'reshthd" in place of "S'vetd" in which case also the white species of Punarnavd is evidently meant.

t According to Dallana, the recipe of this Ghrita is as follows :— One Prastha each of clarified butter, curd and milk, two Palas each of Karanja, etc., and sixteen seers of water to be boiled down to four seers, the drugs of the Kalka weighing one seer in all.

733 tHE SUSHRUTA SAMHItA. [Chap. VI

Vrihati, Ams'umati and Sthird (KdkoH), and with Trivrit, Tila, Am rM (GuldiVichdi), Chakra, Sarpa-gandhd, (black) earth* (of an ant-hill) and the barks of Kapittha and Dddima as Kalka. The whole should be duly cooked over a gentle fire. The Ghrita thus prepared would destroy the poison of the five kinds of rats viz.^ Aruna, etc. As an alternative, clarified butter duly cooked with the expressed juice of Kdkddani and Kdka-mdchi should be given to the patient in such cases. A wise physician shall have recourse to bleeding or venesection in these cases and the system of the patient should be cleansed by purgatives and emetics. 3.