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

lead, anj'how inserted into a human organism, are soon melted by the heat of the Pittam and are assimilated and transformed into the fundamental principles of the body. Metals or substances of kindred softness, and which are naturally cold, are melted and become amalgamated, under such circumstances, with the elements of the organism. A hair, or a particle of hard bone, wood, stone, bamboo scraping, or cla}^ which remains lodged in the body as a Shalyam, does not melt, nor undergo any change or deterioration.

The physician, who is fully conversant with the five different courses or flights of an arrow 'Shalyam), whether feathered or unfeathered, and has minutely observed and studied the symptoms due to its lodgment in any of the eight different seats of ulcers (Vrana) in the human organism such as, the skin, etc.), is alone worthy of attending on kings and nobles.

Thus ends the twenly-sixth Chapter of the Sulrasth^nam in the Sushruta Samhit^ which treats of exploration of spHnters.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Now we shall discourse on the Chapter which deals with the modes of extracting sphnters (Shalyarpa n iya- mad hyaryam) .

There are two kinds of Shalyas. A Shalya is either loose or firmly fixed to its seat within the body. We shall presently speak of the fifteen different modes of extracting a loose Shalyam, which are as follows, viz. : Extraction by natural expulsive functions of the body (Svabhaba), by suppuration or putrefication (Pachanam), by excising (Bhedanam), by bursting Daranam), by pressing ■ Pidanam), by rubbing i^Pramarjananr, b)'' blowing with the mouth of medicinal powders into the affected part (Nirdhmapanam), by the administration of emetics (Vamanam), by an exhibition of purgatives (Virechanam) by washing (Prakshalanam , by friction with the fingers (Pratimarsha), by straining as at the time of defecation (Pravahanam), by sucking (Achushanam), by applying a magnet (Ayaskanta) and by exhilarating ; Harsham).

An embedded foreign matter is usually expelled from the eyes, etc, by inducing lachrymation, sneezing, eructation, coughing, micturition, defecation, and the emission of flatus.

A Shalyam, or any other foreign matter which has

Chap, xxvii.^ SUTRASTH/VNAM. 257

penetrated into the deeper tissues of flesh, should be extracted b}' setting up suppuration in the affected locah'ty. The putrid flesh would loosen the fixture of the Shalyam, the weight of the secreted pus and blood causing it to drop down.

The seat or the locality of a fixed Shalyam should be opened by an incision in the event of its not being ejected even after the establishment of the local suppuration. If the Shalyam fails to come out even after the incision, the affected part should be pressed with the fingers, or medicines, endued with the virtue of exerting pressure, should be applied over its surface. A particle of an}- fine matter, accidentally dropped into the eye, should be removed with sprays of cold water, or by blowing into it with the mouth, or by rubbing it with hair or the fingers.

A residue of digested food or mucous, a remnant of any food matter (Ahdrashesha) misdirected into the nostrils, or any small splinter loosely pricking thereto CAnu-shalyam), should be expelled by breathing hard, or by coughing upward through the nostrils (Utk^sha), or by blowing through the nose. A morsel of food, acting as an obstructing Shalyam in the cavity of the stomach (Am^shaya), should be ejected by rubbing (Pratimarsha) the fingers against the lining of the throat, or against the region of the epiglottis, while such a morsel brought down into the intestines,p. 33p. 258 should be evacuated by administering purgatives (Virechanam).

The pus or any other morbid matter found within the cavity of an ulcer should be removed by washing it, while incarcerated flatus, or obstructed scybala or retained urine, or obstructed foetus, should be borne down and expelled by means of straining.

Any deranged Vayu or watery secretion incarcerated in anv part of the body, as well as poisoned blood or vitiated breast-milk, should be sucked off with the mouth, or with a horn.