The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna

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

the first sprouting of a tree does not enable a man to correctly ascertain the species, so the poison of a venomous spider in its first stage of incubation into the body, does not develop any specific symptoms sufficiently potent to throw any light on its nature, nor does it give any hint as to its correct diagonosis. A spider (Luta)- poison latent in a human organism, is marked by a slight itching sensation in the seat of the bite, as if the poison were shifting from one place to another* in that locality, by the presence of Kotha (urticaria^ and by an indistinctness of colour on the first day of its incubation. On the second day the seat of the bite becomes swollen at the end and sunk in the middle and the characteristic marks of biting show themselves. On the third day the specific symptoms (fever, shivering, etc.) of the poison of the animal set in. On the fourth day the poison is aggravated. On the fifth day the symptoms and disorders peculiar to its aggravated condition are present. On the sixth day the poison begins to course througli the organism and envolopes the Marmas (or the vulnerable parts). On the seventh dayp. 95p. 754 the poison is diffused throughout the whole organism, becomes extremely aggravated and proves fatal. 44.

* In place of "Prachala" Gayadasa reads "Prabala," i.e., strong and says that the poison becomes stronger and stronger with the lapse of tinae.

Potency : — The poison of spiders (Lut^) which are acutely and violently venomous proves fatal in the course of a week. That of a middle-poisonous one would take a little more time in order to prove fatal, while a bite by one of the mild-poisonous brings death within a fortnight. Hence a physician should try his best with anti-venomous remedies for the complete nullification of the poison immediately after the bite. 45.

LoCa.tion : — A spider is found to secrete seven kinds of poison through the seven different parts or principles of its body, viz., saliva (Ldli), nails (claws), urine, fangs, ovum (Rajas), fecal matter and semen, and such poison is either keen or mild in its potency, or follows a middle path between the two (keen and mild). 46.

46.

Characteristics of poison according to its seat in the body of a spider I — The poison which is secreted with the saliva (of a spider) gives rise to non-shiftting superficial Kotha (urticaria) attended with itching and slight pain. The poison from a scratch with the tips of its claws, is attended with swelling, itching, horripilation and a sense as if fumes had been escaping from the body. Any part of the body coming in contact with the urine of a spider is marked by a (slight) blackness of skin in the middle of the point of contact and redness at its edge, and the affected part is cracked. In a case of fang-poison (actual bite) the seat of the bite is marked by fixed circular patches and becomes indurated and discoloured. The poison in this case is strong, A part of the body touched with the Rajas^ semen, or with fecal matter of a (venomous) spider is marked byp. 755 eruptions of pustules which assume a yellow colour like that of a ripe Amalaka or Pilu. 47.

Thus far we have described the effects of spider- (Luta)-poison according to its seat in the body of the insect and to the period of its aggravation. Now we shall describe the mythological accouut of the origin of these insects and the curable and incurable natures of their bites together with the course of medical treatment to be followed in each case. 48.

IVIythological account of the origin

of LutSL : — Once upon a time, it is said, king Visvamitra went to the hermitage of the holy Vasishtha and by his actions aroused the wrath of the holy sage. Drops of perspiration were thereupon produced on the forehead of that holy and celestially brilliant sage and trickled down on the stacks of hay culled and gathered (Luna) by the holy sages for the use of the (celestial) cow, and behold 1 they (the drops of sweat) were transformed into innumerable dreadful and venomous spiders (Lutsi) which, up to this day, are found to infest the articles of royal use for the iniquity of that royal sage (Vis'vdmitra). They are called Luts^s (spiders) from the fact of their being germinated from the drops of perspiration of the holy sage Vas'ishtha fallen on the culled (Luna) stacks of hay and they are sixteen in number. 49.

The different names of spiders and the general symptoms of their bites :—

49.

The different names of spiders and the general symptoms of their bites :—

The poison of spiders is divided into two classes — curable with difficulty and incurable. Of the sixteen kinds of spiders, the bites or poisons of eight may be cured with the greatest difficulty, while those of the remaining eight are incurable. The Tri-mandald, Svetd, Kapild, Pitikd, Ala-vishd, Mutra-vishd, Rakta and the Kasana

756 THE SUSHKUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. VIII.

are the eight species of spiders which belong to the first group. A bite by any of them is attended with an aching pain in the head, pain and itching about the seat of the bite and the symptoms and disorders peculiar to the aggravated Vayu and Kapha. The Sauvarnikd, Ldja-varna, Jilini, Eni-padi, Krishna-varnd, Agni varnd, Kdkdndd and the Mald-gund belong to the second group and their bites are marked by bleeding, fever, a burning sensation, dysentery and disorders due to the concerted action of all the three deranged Doshas of the body, and the bitten part putrefies. Eruptions of various sorts and pustules and large circular patches as well as large, soft and shifting swellings, red or brown in colour, appear on the skin about the afifected part. These are the general features of spider (Luta)-biies. Now we shall describe the characteristic symptoms which are developed by bites of the several classes of spiders and the course of medical treatment to be adopted in each case, 50-51-

Specific symptoms of spider-bites and their treatment :— A bite by a spider of the Tri-mandalak species is marked by a flow of black-coloured blood from the bite which is transformed into an open ulcer. It is also attended with deafness, impaired or cloudy vision and a burning sensation in the eyes. In such cases, a compound consisting of Arka roots, Rajani, Ndkuli and Pris'ni^parnikd should be employed as snuff as well as in drink (Pdna), enemas (Vastis) and ointments etc. A bite by a spider of the SvetSk species is followed by the eruption of white-coloured pustules attended with itching, burning sensation, epileptic fits, fever, erysipelas and pain in and secretion from the bite. An Agada consisting of Chandana, Rdsndy Eld^ Harenu^ Nala, Vanjula^ Kushtka,

p. 757