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

Dissection :--Sushruta, himself a practical surgeon, was the first to advocate dissection of dead bodies as indispensable for a successful student of Surgery. The Paritschittas of ancient Egypt perhaps learnt their art from the Purusachettas (Dissector) of ancient India. With a candour less common among western scholars Dr. Wise observes that, ''the Hindu philosophers undoubtedly deserve the credit of having, though opposed bv strong preiudire, entertained sound and philosophical views respecting the uses of the dead to the living, and were the first scientific and successful cultivator? of the most important and essential of all the departments of medical knowledge, practical anatomy". A bungling burgeon is a public danger and Sushiuta savs iliat, "theorv without practice is like a onc-wingetl bird that is incapable of flight".

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Study of Practical Surgery :— To give effii-iency in surgical operations, the pupils of Dhan^antari(Sushruta etc.) were asked to try their knives repeatedly first on natural and artificial objects resembling the diseased parts ofv> the body before undertaking an actual operation. Incision, for example, was practised on Pushpafala /cucerbeta maxima), Alavu (Longenaris Vulgaris) or Trapusha (cucmis pubescuas), evacuating on leatfier bags full of water and on the urinary bladders of dead animals, scarification on the hides of animals on which the hair was allowed to remain. Venesection was practised on the vessels of dead animals and on the stalks of the water-lily : the art .of stuffing and probing on bamboo reeds etc. : extraction of solid bodies on Panasa (Artocarpus Integrifolia) and such like fruit, scraping on wax spread on a Shalmali (Bombox Malabaricum) plank, and suturing on pieces of cloth, skin or hide. Ligaturing and bandaging were practised on dummies, cauterisation (both actual and potential ) on pieces of flesh, and catheterisation on unbaked earthen vessels filled with water. It is almost with a feeling of wonder we hear him talk of extirpation of uterine excrescences and discourse on the necessity of observing caution in surgically operating upon uterine tumours (Raktarvudai. These facts should be borne in mind as thev would help us a good deal in accounting for the numerous anomalies that are to be found in the anatomical portions of the Samhita.

Study of Practical Anatomy :— We have stated before that tb.e quartered sacrificial animals afforded excellent materials for the framing of comparative anatomy. The Aitareya Brahmana contains special injunction for the quartering of such animals (i) and we are told that the preceptors availed themselves of the religious meetings to

(i) The Ailaicya Firaliniana describes a )iaitirular wav of tlividini; the orgaas and viscera of the sirriticjjil animals 'wliich was kepi 'secret among the priesls. Aitareya Brahmana VIII. i.

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deinonslrjiLe the lessons ou^ practical anatomy. We come

I. acrosj; such terms as the heart, stomach, brain, intestines,