The Sushruta Samhita — trans. Bhishagratna

64 A.

p. 760

Surg^ical Treatments :— in all cases of the curable types of spider-bites, the affected part should at once be cut open and removed with a Vriddhipatra instrument and the incisioned part should then be cauterised with a red-hot Jambvoshtha instrument in the absence of any fever or such like distressing symptoms and in the event of its not occurring in any of the vulnable parts of the body (Marmas). The act of cauterisation should be continued until the patient himself (through pain) prohibits the continuation of the same. If the affected part is found to be attended with a slight swelling, it should be cut open and removed. It should then be plastered with a paste of the (Mahdsugandhi and such other) Agada mixed with Saindhava and honey or with the paste of Priycngu, Haridrd, Kushthay Saman^d and Yashti-madhu, A potion composed of the decoction of Sdrivd^ the two kinds of Yashti-madhu^^ Drdkshd^ Payasyd, Kshira-morata^ Viddri and Gokshura mixed with honey should be administered to the patient. The affected part should be washed with a cold decoction of the bark of the Kshiri-vrikshas. Any other distressing symptoms should be remedied with anti-poisonous measures with an eye to the deranged Doshas involved in the ca'^e. 64.

Any of the (ten-fold) remedial measures of Nasya (snuff), medicated collyrium, unguents (Abhyanjana\ potions (Pdna) Dhuma (fumigation), Avapida form of snuff, gargling, emesis, purging and blood-letting by the application of leeches should be adopted in a case of spider-bite according to its requirements. 65.

* Mention of Madhuka twice in the list shows that one part each of both the kinds Yashti-madhu (liquorice)— grown on lands and in water— should be taken.

Chap. VIII.] KALPA STHANAM. 76r

65.

* Mention of Madhuka twice in the list shows that one part each of both the kinds Yashti-madhu (liquorice)— grown on lands and in water— should be taken.

Chap. VIII.] KALPA STHANAM. 76r

All cases of bites by any insect or by any snake, and ulcers incidental to those bites should be carefully treated with measures and remedies laid down in connection with snake-bites as long as the stage of inflammation and suppuration would last. The growths (if any) of pappillae (Karnika) around the seat of the bite should be removed after the subsidence of the swelling by the application of a plaster consisting of Nimba leaves,* Trivrit^ Danti^ Kusiimbha flower, Rajani, honey, Guggulu, Saindhava salt, Kinva and the dung of a pigeon pasted together, and such diet as would not aggravate the effects of poison should be carefully prescribed. The papillatous growths (Karnika) due to the poison of any kind should be scratched with a proper surgical instrument in the event of their being hard and painless and should then be plastered with a paste of purifying (Sodhaniya) drugs (such as Nimba leaves, etc.) mixed with honey. 66.

The specific features and treatment of the bites by the one hundred and sixty -seven types of insect are now described. The subjects mentioned but not included within these one hundred and twenty chapters (from the commencement of the book) would be dealt with in detail in the latter part of the present treatise (Uttara Tantara). (y^j 6S.

We have not heard of a holier discourse than the medical science on account of the eternal and imperishable character of the Ayurveda (the science of life) from its tested merit and its beneficial effects upon the created beings and since it is always worshipped by the whole human race for the fact of its fully explaining

* Gayaddsa reads "S'ikhi" (Langalaki) and "Vams'a" (scrapings of bamboo) in place of "Nimba-patra". He also reads **Danta" (toofh of a cow) in place of "Kinva."

762 THE StJSllRUTA SAMlllTA- [Chap. VllI, the import of words {i.e. delineation of its specific subjects). Who ever stores up in his memory and acts up to these sacred and worshipful injunctions on the science of life propounded, as it is, by the nectar-origined sage (Dhanvantari), the preceptor of all physicians and equal to the celestial Indra in respect of majesty, enjoys happiness both in this world and in the next. 69.

Thus ends the eighth Chapter of the Kalpasihana in the Sus'nita Samhila which treats of the measures to he adopted in the case of an insect-bite.

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AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION

OF

THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA

WITH

A FULL AND COMPREHENSIVE INTRODUCTION, ADDITIONAL TEXTS,

DIFFERENT READINGS, NOTES, COMPARATIVE VIEWS,

INDEX, GLOSSARY AND PLATES

IN THREE VOLUMES

EDITED BY

KAVIRAJ KUNJALAL BHISHAGRATNA, m.r.a.s.

Vol. II.

NIDANA-STIIANA, S'ARIRA-STMANA, CIIIKITv^ITA- ^ .STIIANA AND KALArA-STIIANA.

CALCUTTA:
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PREFACE.

It is with mingled feelings of pain and pleasure that we now place before the public the Second Volume of our English Translation of the Susruta Samhita. The arduous task of compiling a connected and succint history of any part whatever, of the ancient Hindu System of Medicine — requires greater leisure and more extensive reading than we can lay any pretension to. Years of patient study and constant discourse with our sainted preceptor the late lamented Mahamahopadhyaya Kaviraj Dwaraka Nath Sen, Kaviratna, that refulgent link of the golden'' . chain of the Dhanvan^aric succession, have enabled us, however, to grasp the leading facts, and during' thje.Iast few years we have worked contihutrusly^^n-moments snatched from the practice of an anxious profession that knows no respite, to arrange these facts in their present form. It breaks our heart to record the sad departure of our venerable Acharyya from this sublunary sphere to a land 'from whose bourne no traveller e'er returns.'*

It is hardly necessary for us to reply to those critics who, through their ignorance of the original

L^e.^^

( 2 )

Sanskrit works, persist in describing Ayurveda
as an empirical system destitute of Anatomy,
Physiology or Pathology in any scientific sense.

It behoves us, however, in this preface to meet some of the charges which have been brought against us.

Exception has been taken to our not including in the opening stanza the usual invocation to the Supreme Self (for a successful completion of the work) although it has found its way into almost all the printed editions of the work extant.