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

The emetic compounds of Dhamargava flowers are identical with those of the kernels of Madana fruits, the former being regarded as specifically indicated in cases of chemical poisoning, Gulma (internal gland), abdominal drops}', cough, asthma, as well as in diseases due to the action of deranged Kapham (lymphatic disorders). The pulps or kernels of Kritavedhana seeds should be soaked in the expressed juice of emetic drugs and subsequently reduced to powder. The powder, so prepared, should be strewn over an Utpala or any other flower and the patients should be made to smell it in the case where the Kapham would be found to have changed its seat with the bodily Vayu. Likewise, in cases of excessive derangement of the bodil)' humours, the patient should be given a stomachful of barle}' gruel and then made to eject the contents of his stomach by causing him to smell such a medicated flower. Sternutatoric (Shiro-virechanam) or emetic or purgative drugs prove most efficacious after

Chap. XLIII. ] SijTRASTHA'NAM.

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being soaked in or saturated with the expressed juice of their own.

Authoritative verses on the subject : — Thus a general outhne of the leading characteristics of the emetic drugs in general has been given. An intelligent physician should choose an emetic remedy in consideration of the season of the year and the strength of the disease, and should tr}- to set in the process of ejection in a patient either with the help of the expressed juice, paste or powder of the prescribed drug duly administered through the medium of an article of food or drink, or through an electuary.

Thus ends llie forly-third Cliapler of the Sulraslhanain in llie Sushiula Sanihila which deals wiih ihe choice and mode of administering emetics.

CHAPTER XLIV.

Now we shall discourse on the Chapter, which treats of the choice of purgatives (VircchanaDravya-Vikalpa - Vijiiariiya - madhya'- yam.)

Metrical Texts :— Of the purgative roots, the roots of reddish Trivrita should be deemed the most effective. The barks of Tilvaka and the fruit known as Haritaki are the most potent of all purgative barks and fruits. Similar!}-, the oil of castor seeds (Erauda-Taila), the expressed juice of Karavellika and the milky exudations of Sndha plant are the most effective of all such purgative oils, expressed juices and milky exudations of plants, etc. These drugs or substances form the principal purgative remedies (in our pharmacy), and we shall discuss the mode of their administration in successive order.

A purgative remedy consisting of the sound and matured roots of Tri\Titam, soaked in the expressed juice of the principal purgative drugs and subsequently pulverised and mixed with a considerable quantity of Saindhava salt and powdered Magara, should be administered through the medium of curd or sour rice gruel, etc. to a patient, suffering from a disease due to the derangement of the bodil)' Vayu.

aiap.XLIV] SUTRASTHANAM. ^Ol

The same powder mixed with modifications of sugarcane juice (such as treacle, sugar etc.), oi with decoctions of drugs belonging to the Madhuradi group (Kakolyadi-gana), or with milk, should be prescribed for a patient laid up with Pittaja distemper. "* In diseases due to the deranged action of the Kapham the same powder should be administered with a decoction of Guduchi, Arishta or Triphala, or with the addition of pulverised Vyosha and cow's urine.

One part of the same powder (Trivrit), mixed with one part of old treacle and the drugs known as Trivarnaka, and Tryushana, should be administered for purgative purposes in a disease (due to the concerted action of the deranged Viyu and Kapham). As an alternative, a Prastha mea sure (four seers) cf the decoction of the Trivrit roots, mixed with a Kudava measure (half a seer) of their paste, and a Karsha (two tolas) weight of Saindhava salt and Xagara, and boiled together, and then formed into a condensed compound should be used ; or one part of the paste of the same roots, mixed with half a part each of rock-salt and powdered Nagara, should be administered through the vehicle of cow's urine. A compound consisting of one part of each of the following drugs viz., powdered Trivrita roots, Nagara and Haritaki, and a half part of each of such drugs as powdered Maricha, Devadaru, Vidanga and ripe Puga nuts, mixed with rock-salt, and administered throughp. 51p. 402 the medium of cow's urine, should be considered as an effective purgative (in diseases of whatsoever type).