The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna

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 which are black (Krishna) or dark-brown (S'yava) or of variegated colours (Karbura) or yellow (Pandu) or coloured like the urine of a cow or rough or dark blue (Mechaka) or white or red or greenish (S'advala) or red mixed with white (Rakta-s'veta)i- or provided with hair on their bodies (Romas' a) should be regarded as Manda-visha ( mild poisoned ones). A bite by a scorpion of this species is accompained by pain (in the seat of the bite), shivering, numbness of the limbs and a flow of blackish blood (from the punctures of the bite). In the case of a bite at any of the extremities, the pain courses upward, accompained by a burning sensation, perspiration, swelling of the bitten part and fever. 39

IVIadhya-visha Scorpions :— Scorpions of

the Madhya-visha (mild-poisoned) class are red (Rakta) or yellow (Pita), or tawny (Kapila). All of them are ash-coloured in their belly and provided with three joints or links. They germinate from the stool, excreta, eggs and putrid carcases of the three (aforesaid) groups of snakes and respectively partake of the nature of the t In place of "white, red and whitish red" some read "white, red and little red" (Arakta)," while others make it "white in the abdomen (S'velodara), red and white."

* According to Gayaddsa the total number of the three classes of scorpions would be twenty-seven, of which the first (mild-poisoned) class consists of eleven, the second consists of three and the third of thirteen.

Chap. VIII.] KALPA STIIANAM. 75 1

serpent whose fecal matter, etc. they originate from. A bite by a scorpion of this species is accompanied by a swelling of the tongue, an incapacity of deglutition and violent epileptic fits. 40.

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serpent whose fecal matter, etc. they originate from. A bite by a scorpion of this species is accompanied by a swelling of the tongue, an incapacity of deglutition and violent epileptic fits. 40.

Tikshna-visha Scorpions :— The keenpoisoned (Tikshna-visha) scorpions are either white or parti-coloured (Chitra) or blackish (S'yamala) or reddish white (Rakta-s'veta) or red-bellied or blue-bellied or reddish or bluish yellow or reddish blue or bluish white; others are reddish brown and are (further divided into four classes), viz., three-jointed (like those of the previous class) or one-jointed or two-jointed or jointless. The poison of this group of scorpions, varying in colour and shape, isextremely dreadful and should be regarded as the veritable robber of vitality. They germinate from the putrified dead body of a snake or any poisoned animal. A bite by a member of any of these families produces those physiological transformations in the body of its victims which mark the different stages of a snake-bite, and gives rise to pustular eruptions (Sphota) on the skin accompanied by vertigo, a burning sensation (in the body), fever and excessive discharge of blackcoloured blood from the channels (mouth and nostrils, etc.). And hence their bite proves so rapidly fatal, 41,

Treatment of Scorpion-bites :— A

bite by a scorpion of the middle-venomed or strongvenomed class should be treated as a case of snakebite to all intents and purposes. In a case of a bite by a mild-venomed one, the affected seat should be sprinkled over with the Chakra-Taila or with a tepid oil duly cooked with the drugs of the Viddryddi group. The affected locality should be (repeatedly) fomented with the application of poultices in the Utkarikd form prepare4 \yith anti-venomous drugs (S'irisha, etc.). The se^t

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The affected locality should be (repeatedly) fomented with the application of poultices in the Utkarikd form prepare4 \yith anti-venomous drugs (S'irisha, etc.). The se^tp. 752 of the bite should then be marked with superficial incisions (scratches) and should be gently rubbed (Prati-sdrana) with powders of Haridrd, Saindhava^ Trikatu and the fruit and flower of S'irisha. The tender leaves of Surasd pasted with the juice of Mdtulunga and the urine of a cow in a lukewarm state, or lukewarm (i.e., fresh) cow-dung should be employed in plastering and fomenting the affected part. Potions of clarified butter mixed with honey, milk mixed with a profuse quantity of sugar and honey, treacle mixed with cold water and perfumed with Chatur-jdtaka, or cold milk mixed with treacle should be recommended as drinks. Fumigation (Dhupana) with the compound made of the feathers of the tail of a cock or a peacock, Saindhava, oil and clarified butter pasted together and burnt is a speedy destroyer of scorpion-poison. As an alternative, the fumes (Dhuma) of a compound made up of Kusumbha flower, the two kinds of Rajani and Kodrava straw mixed with clarified butter applied to the region of the arms speedily destroys the poison of a venomous insect in general and of a scorpion in particular. 42.

Spider-bites :— Cases of Luta (venomous spider)-bite (lit. — poison of a Luta) are the most difificult to diagnose and cure. The diagnosis of such a case puzzles the head of many an experienced physician, while novices in the art of healing find it a very difficult matter. In a case of doubt or of conflicting indications pointing equally both to the venomous and non-venomous character of the bite, a physician should employ anti-poisonous remedies of such a character as would not prove hostile (to the natural temperament and vital principles of the patient's system nor to the course of food and drink he is enjoined to take or naturally takes),

Chap. VIII ] KALPA STHANAM.

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since the Agadas are applicable only in cases of poisoning and, applied otherwise in healthy non-poisoned persons, would produce all kinds of discomfort. Hence it is incumbent on a physician to gather conclusive evidence of the poisonous nature of the bite at the very outset. A physician, failing to ascertion the existence of poison, proves more fatal in many cases than the bite itself. 43.

Development of Luta-poison :— As