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

Pathology of Tridosha :— Sushmta, though adopting the Vedic pathological dictum of Tridhatu, has expressed a very clear opinion on the subject. He observes that the relation between a disease and the deranged Vayu (nerve force), Pittam (metabolism) and Kapham (unutilised product of the system), and the pathogenic factors which lie at the root of that disease, is not real but contingent. These morbific principles may permeate the whole organism without creating any discomfort, and it is only when they find a distinct lodgment, and are centred in some distinct part or tissue of the body, that they become the exciting factors of disease.

Drug Potency :— The next question which naturally arises in connection with such a theory of pathogeny, is what is medicine, or in other words, what is it in the drug that cures ! Sushruta, after closely investigating all the theories on the subject, inclines towards the opinion that it is the potency of the drug that is curative, though he observes that inasmuch as potency cannot exist independently of a drug, a drug is of primary interest for p11 practical purposes in therapy.

Drug-Dynamisation :-"It is the potency of a drug that cures a disease". The potency is administered best

* That Hahnemann's theory of disea.se was long before fore- .shadowed by Sushruta, will appear from the above extracts from his works. Hahnemann observes that, when a person falls ill, it is only this spiritual self-acting vital force, everywhere present in the organism, that is primarily deranged by the dynamic influence of a morbific agent inimical to life — Orgenon.

Ix INiTRODUCTIOK.

when the physical or chqjmical properties of a drug are annihilated. This "is best performed by subjecting it to heat or pressure. In the n^edicated Ghritas or oils of ouv.pharmacopoea, which are prepared by successively boiling or cocking them with drug-decoctions, we cannot even detect the trace of /Miy of its component drugs, but still we know how potent and efficacious they prove in the hands of our Vaidyas. When Sushruta formulated the process of preparing mediciual oils and Ghritas, and laid down the use of Shatadhautam Ghritam (clarified butter, a hundred times washed with water in succession), Sahasrapak Tailam (medicinal oil, successively codked a thousand times), or Kumbha-Ghritam (clarified butter, a hundred years old) it may be fairly said that he was in sight of the principle of drug-dynamisation.

Principles of A yurvedic Treatment:— Ayurvedic physicians piacticallv recognise two dififerent sets of principles in the domain of practical therapeutics, which may be stated in the terms of ::heir western colleagues as Laws of Similars and Contraries.* This apparent contradiction has been fully accounted for and explained in the writings of the latter day commentators, but it does not fall within our province to enter into these disquisitions. In addition to those, Sushruta, in common with the Acharyayas of his time, never fails to emphasise the value of psycopathy in

* Similar in ch.iracter to the exciting factors of a disease — Similar in character to the £sse of a disease — Similar in character both to the exciting actors and £i>\se of a disease.

Contrary in character to the exciting factors of a disease.

Contrary in character to the £sse of a disease.

Contrary in character both to the exciting factors and Esse of a disease.

M^dhava NidSnam Ch I. V, 8.

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those forms of mental or nerv;ous distempers fgr which Mesmer rightly now receives so n\uch honor. Since the creation of man, the tput'h of the "Saintly" has been credited with the virtue of curing the sick ; and Av^feha (auto-hypnotism) and Samadhi (higher phases of ciairvoyance) have achieved many miracles in . the art of healing in India, which was the, first country where it was first successfully practised for the welfare of man.

Samshodhanam and Samshamanam :— All kinds of treatment may be grouped under two heads such as Samshodhanam and Samshamanam, i.e. either the body should be cleansed (Samshodhitam) of the morbific diathesis with the help of emetics or purgatives, or steps should be taken to restore the deranged Vayu, Pittam and Kapham to their normal condition with the help of proper medicinal drugs without resorting to any eliminating process. But in cases of inflammation, Sushruta enjoins that, instead of any Samshamanam remedies, diaphoresis should be first resorted to. In cases where counter-irritants are indicated and in parts which are directly accessible, leeching and cauterisation should be practised with a due regard to the season of the year and the requirements of the case. We find in his Samhita a detailed account of the several species of leeches with their habits and habitats.