The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna

A bite by one of the Bhrikuti or Kotika species gives rise to the aforesaid symptoms as well as a burning sensation, vomiting and a severe attack of epileptic fits in addition thereto. 14.

A bite by one of the Vis'vambhara species of insects is followed by Sita-jvara (catarrhal feverj and an eruption of white pimples (Pidakd) in the shape of mustard seeds round about the seat of the bite. A bite by one of the Ahinduka species is marked by piercing pain, a burning sensation, itching and swelling (in the affected locality), as well as by delirium. A bite (contact) by one of the Kandumakai species is followed by a yellowness of the complexion, vomiting, dysentery and fever, etc. A bite by one of the S'uka-vrinta or such like species is attended with itching and Kotha (urticaria) and the bristles of the insects are found to be adhering to the affected locality. 15.

Pipilika (Ants) :— There are six kinds of Pipilika (ants) viz., the Sthula-s'irsha, Samvdhikd, Brdhmanika, Kapilika and the Chitra-varna. A bite by any of these is attended with imflammatory swelling and a burning sensation (in the seat of the bite) resembling those produced by contact with fire. 16.

IVlakshika (stinging flies) :— Flies (Makshika) may b3 divided into six species viz., the Kantarikd, Krishna, Pingalika, Madhulika, Kashdyi and the Sthalika. ^ bite by any of these is accompanie(i by swelling and ap. 747 burning sensation. A bite by one of the Sthalikd or the Kdshayi species, however, is marked by the preceding symptoms as well as by the eruption of pustules (Pidakd), with supervening symptoms in addition thereto. 17.

IVIasakaS (Mosquitoes) :— Mosquitoes (Mas'akas) are divided into five species, viz,, the Samudra, Paiimandala, Hasti-masaka, Krishna and the Parvatiya. A mosquito (Masaka)-bite is characterised by a severe itching and swelling of the affected locality ; while the symptoms which mark a bite by a Parvatiya one are similar to those of a bite by fatally venomous insects, and a sting of the points of their antennae is followed by the appearance of pustules (Pidaka) attended with a burning sensation and suppuration therein, when scratched by the finger-nails. The characteristic features of a bite by Jalaukas (leeches) with the mode of treatment thereof have already been described. 18.

Memorable Verses :— The poisons of the

Gaudheyaka, Sthalikd, Svetd, Agni-samprabhd, Bhrikuti and the Kotika belonging to their respective classes are incurable. 19.

18.

Memorable Verses :— The poisons of the

Gaudheyaka, Sthalikd, Svetd, Agni-samprabhd, Bhrikuti and the Kotika belonging to their respective classes are incurable. 19.

Contact with the dead body, stool or urine of a venomous animal is accompanied by itching and a burning sensation, pricking pain, eruption of Pidaka (pustules), ulcers and Kotha as well as by a slimy and painful exudation. The local skin is found to suppurate and the treatment would be the same as in the case of a wound by an envenomed arrow. 20.

A bite which is neither depressed nor raised, but very much swollen with pain (round about), but unattended with any pain in the seat itself just after the bite, should be regarded as not easily amenable to any medical remedy. 21.

748 THE SUSURUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. VIII.

A bite by an insect of strong and acute poison should be treated as a snake-bite and the three-fold remedies to be employed in snake-bites according to the three-fold divisions of snakes should also be employed in these cases. The measures of fomenting, plastering and hot washing would prove efficacious in these cases, except in the event of an insect-bitten patient having been found to have been fainting away pn account of suppuration and sloughing in the seat of the bite, in which case all kinds of cleansing (emetic, purgative, etc.) and anti-poisonous measures should be adopted. 22-23.

Plasters of S iris ha, Katuka, Kushtha^ Vacha, Rajani, Saindhava^ milk, marrow, lard (Vasd), clarified butter, S'unthiy Pippali and Devaddru in the form of Utkarika (poultice-like preparation) should be used in fomenting (the seat of the bite). As an alternative, the fomentation with the drugs of the S'dla-parnyddi Gana in the same (Utkarikd) form should be considered equally efficacious in the case. 24.

In the case of a Scorpion bite, the affected part should not be fomented. It might, however, be fumigated with vapours of the drugs to be dealt with later on. The medicinal remedies (Agadas) applicable in the several cases are here separately described. 25-26,

Recipes of remedies in different

cases : — An anti-venomous compound (Agada) consisting of Kushtha, Chakra (Tagara), Vachd, Vilva roots, Pdthdy Suvatchikd^ house-soot and the two kinds of Haridrd is efficacious in the case of a bite by a Trikantaka insect. An Agada consisting of house-soot, i?^'^;^/, Chakra^ Kushtha and the seeds of Palds'a destroys the poison of a Gala-goli insect. An Agada composed of Kumkuma^ Tagara, S'igru, Padmaka and the two kinds

An Agada consisting of house-soot, i?^'^;^/, Chakra^ Kushtha and the seeds of Palds'a destroys the poison of a Gala-goli insect. An Agada composed of Kumkuma^ Tagara, S'igru, Padmaka and the two kindsp. 749 of Rajani, pasted with water, proves curative in the case of a bite by a S'ata-padi (centipede). An Agada consisting of Mesha-s'rhigi, Vachd, Pdthd, Nichula, Rohini, and Bdlaka is efficacious in all kinds of Mandukapoisoning. An Agdddi consisting o^ Vac/ia, As'va-£-and/id, Ati-bald, Bald, Atiguhd (S^la-parni) and Agtihd (Pris'niparni) nullifies the poison of a Visvambhara insect. An Agada consisting of S'irisha, Tagara, Kushtha, the two kinds of Haridrd, Ams'u-mati and the two kinds of Sahd destroys the poison of an Ahinduka insect. Cooling measures should be adopted in the night time in the case of a Kandumaka-bite, since the poison which is aggravated by the sun's rays in the day does not prove amenable to any remedy, if applied at that time. An Agada consisting of Chakra, Kushtha and Apdmdrga is efficacious in a case of Sllka-vrinta-bite. As an alternative, the earth of a black ant-hill pasted with the expressed juice of Bhringa would prove efficacious in such cases. A plaster prepared with the earth of a black ant-hill and the urine of a cow proves curative in cases of bites of flies, ants and mosquitoes. The treatment of a case of a bite by a Prati-suryaka is the same as that of a snake-bite. 27-36.

Origin and Classification of Scorpions : — Scorpions are divided into three classe, viz.^ the mild-poisoned ones (Manda-visha), those whose poison is neither mild nor strong (Madhya-visha), and the strong-poisoned ones (Maha-visha). Scorpions germinating from cow-dung* or from any other rotten substances are Manda-visha. Those which germinate from (decomposed) wood or (decayed) bricks are Madhya-visha (with poison neither mild nor strong);

* Dallana says ibat by cow-dung (Goniaya) is meant the dung, the urine etc. of not only a cow, but of a buffalo, etc. as well

p. 750

while those which originate from the decmposed carcase of a snake or from any other poisonous putrid organic matter are Tikshna-visha (strong-poisoned). The first group of scorpions includes twelve different species, the second three and the third and last fifteen, thus making thirty* species in all. 37-38.

Specific traits and Characteristics of miKd-poisoned Scorpions :— Scorpions