An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita, Vol. I: Sutrasthanam — trans. Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna (1907)

Authoritative verse on the Subject :— The deranged and aggravated humours, freely coursing through the body, give rise to a disease at the

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THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [ Chap. xxiv.

place in which they are incarcerated owing to an obstruction in their natural passage.

Now it may be again asked, whether the relation of a disease, such as fever, etc. with the deranged bodily humours is constant and inseparable, or otherwise. All human beings would be in danger of perpetually falhng ill in the event of the said connection relation; being constant and unseparable ; but in case of their separate existence, it is but natural that their characterstic symptoms should separately manifest themselves instead of being simultaneously present with fever, etc. as they are found to be in reality. And accordingly the theor)', that diseases (such as, fever, etc.) and the deranged bodily humours have a separate existence, and are not pritna facie intimately co-related with one another falls to the ground. On the other hand, the assumption of their separate existence invalidates the incontestable conclusion, that diseases such as, fever, etc. are fathered by the deranged humours of the body.

Hence it may be safely asserted that no disease can occur without the direct mediation or intervention of the deranged bodily humours. Yet the connection (relation) which exists between the two is neither constant nor separable. As the physical phenomena of lightning, storm, thunder and rain can not happen independently of the sky (cloud) ; and yet they

p. 237

sometimes do or do not occur with the presence of a cloud ; again as bubbles^ though in reality but the modifications of the underlying water, do not swell up on its surface at all times, so the connection between a disease and the bodily humours is neither universally separable or inseparable.

Authoritative verse on the subject : —We shall describe the nature, intensity and quality of diseases with their complications and give the number of their different t3'pes. Diseases [omitted to be mentioned in the chapter on Xidanam (aetiology)] will be found fully dealt with in the supplementary part of the present work (Uttara-tantram).

Thus ends the Iwenty-fourlh Chapter of the SulrasthSnam in the Sushruta SamhitA which treats of the classification of diseases according to their specific nature.

CHAPTER XXV.

Now we shall discourse on the Chapter which deals with the eight different forms of surgical operations

(Ashtavidha-Shastra- Karmanya - madhya'yam).

Metrical Texts :— Bhagandara, Shlaishmika Granthi, Tilakalaka, Arvuda, Arsha, Charma-Kila, Jatumani, Mansa-Samgh^ta, Gala-Sunthik^, Valmika, Vrana-Vartma, Shataponaka, Adhrusha, Upadansha, Mansakandha, Adhimansaka, as well as ailments due to the lodgment of a foreign body in the flesh or a bone, and a sloughing of ligaments, flesh or veins are the diseases in which incision i Chhed)^am should be made.

Bhedyam : -Excision (Bhedyam) should be resorted to in the following diseases, viz., Vidradhis, the three types of Granthi other than the Sannipatika one, Visarpa due either to the deranged Vayu, Pittam or Kapham, Vriddhi, Vidarika, Prameha-pidaka, swellings in general, diseases affecting the mammary organs, Avamanthaka, Kumbhika, Anushayi^ Nadi, the two types of Vrinda, Pushkarika, Alaji, Kshudra-roga (all minor cutaneous or pustular diseases), the three types of Puppata, Talu-puppata, and Danta-puppata ; Tundukeri, Gil^Cyu, and the diseases which are caused by suppuration in the local flesh or any soft part of the

[Chap. XXV. SUTRASTHANAM. 239 body ^siich as fistula in ano), as well as stone ni the bladder and diseases due to a derangement of fat.*

Lekhyam : — The surgical operation known as scarification Lekhya; should be resorted to in the follow^- ing diseases, viz, the four types of Rohini, Kilasa, Upajihva, diseases having their seat in the deranged fat, Danta-Vaidarbha, Granthi, Vrana-Vartma, Adhi-Jihva, Arshah, Mandala, Mansa-kandi, and Mansonnati.

Vyadhanam : — The Surgical operation known as Vyadhanam (aspiration; should be made use of in connection with a vein, or a case of Dakodaram (abdominal dropsy), or Mutra-Vriddhi (hydrocele). Diseases, in connection witli which the probe or the director should be used, are Nadis ( sinus) and ulcers wMth an}^ extraneous or foreign body lodged in their inside, and those which follow abnormal (lateral or oblique' directions.