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

are said to be possessed of gi-eater carminative (Vataghna) virtues than the two preceding orders. Fish reared in tanks (Vapi) are* superior to the two preceding species owing to their greater demulcent and palatable properties. River fish are heavy at the middle, &wing to the fact of their moving about with the help of their head and tail, while those which are cultured in tanks and ponds (Sarah and Tadaga) are speciall)' light about their heads. Fish, which are found in hill streams or fountains, are extremely heavy about the parts a little below the region of their head, on account of their being confined within narrow limits and the consequent absence of an}^ lengthy sweep. Fish reared in large tanks (Sarasi) are lighter in the foreparts of their body and heavy in their lower parts, as the}' put their entire pressure upon their breast at the time of swimming. Thus I have finished describing tl^e specific properties of the flesh of animals that frequent swamps or marshy grounds and which increase the secretions of the internal organs of a person using them for food.

Dried or putrid flesh, as well as the flesh of a diseased, old, emaciated, poisoned, or snake-bitten animal, or of one of extremely tender years or struck with a poisoned dart or weapon, or of that which has fed on unnatural food, should be carefull}^ avoided inasmuch as dried or putrid meat is

494 I'HE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap.XLVl.

shorn of all its potency. The flesh of a diseased or snake-bitten animal would be found to be poisoned or vitiated in its properties ; that of a wounded animal is affected, that of an old animal is enfeebled in its potency, and that of an extremely young animal is immature in its virtue and hence would prove positively injurious to the system.

IVIctrical Texts :— Dry meat is heavy, brings on catarrh and a non-relish for food. The flesh of an animal killed by poison is fatal. The flesh of an animal of tender years may produce vomiting. The flesh of an old animal produces cough and dyspnoea, while the use of that of a diseased animal may be attended with a simultaneous derangement of the three fundamental humours of the body. Putrid meat produces nausea, while the use of that of an enfeebled or emaciated animal tei;ids to aggravate the Vayu.

Meat falling under a category other than those described above should be deemed as good and wholesome. The flesh of a female quadruped, or of a male bird, or of a small-bodied creature of a large-sized genus, and vice versa, is principally recommended to be used amongst quadrupeds, birds, and animals. Similarly the flesh of a small-sized creature amongst large-bodied ones of the same species should be preferred as food.

p. 495

Now we shall discourse on the heav}' or light character of flesh obtained from different parts of the body of an«animal. Of the different fundamental principles of the body from the blood to the semen, each succeeding one is heavier than the one* immediately preceding it in the order of ennumeration. Similarly, (of the different limbs or organs of a quartered animal such as), the thighs, the shoulders, the loins, the head, the legs_, the fore-extremities, the waist, the back, the skin, the kidneys, the liver and the intestines, each succeeding one is respectively heavier than the one immediately preceding it in the order.

Metrical Texts : — The head is heavier than the shoulders ; the shoulders, than the waist ; and the waist, than the back. Similarty, the upper parts of the Sakthi (thighs) are heavier than their lower ends. Of the seven fundamental principles of the organism (such as the lymph chyle, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow, and semen) each succeeding one is heavier than the principle immediately preceding it in the order of enumeration. The trunks of all animals are heavy. The lo\k^er part of a female frame and the upper one of a male are respectively heavier [than their upper (fore) and lower (hind) parts.]

The head and breast of a bird are heavier than its other limbs. The trunk or the middle part of a bird is so equipoised as to facilitate the movementsp. 496 of its pinions in flight. The flesh of a fruit-eating ^bird produces a state of extreme parchedness in the organism (of a person using k as food,) while that of a carnivorous one acts as a good constructive tonic. The flesh of a bird, vrhich Hves on "fish, produces Pittam, while that of one, which lives on paddy (Dhan3^a), subdues the V^yu. Of the animals, that live in dry land or frequent marshy places, as well as of those which are domesticated, or are carnivorous in their habits, or are possessed of unbifurcated hoofs, or live by darting on their preys, or dwell in holes, or are possessed of long legs, or eat by pricking, or are in the habit of first scattering their food with their claws, the flesh of each preceding one is lighter and tends to give rise to a lesser secretion from the internal organs than the one immediately following it in the order of enumeration.