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

Hygiene and Public Health:— A? a writer of Hygiene and public health, Sushruta emphasises the importance of cleanliness of both sririt and body. Water whose disinfecting virtues have so often been hymnised in the Vedas t forms the subject of discussion of an entire chapter of the Samhita. Outbreaks of epidemic have been attributed to contrary seasons, to the floating of minute

^/\ particles of poisonous flower pollen in the air, and to the sin or unrighteous conduct of the community. Earthquakes, famines, and physical phenomena, which are at present attributed to magnetic disturbances of the earth, have been

* Lead crystal (including diamond) gold and mineral poisons arc mentioned in the I. i6. I. 29. I 55. and IV 10. of the Atharva SamhitA.

Rik Samhiti I. 23 s. 19,

INTRODUCTION. ' IxV

described by Sushi ut a as the usual precursors of devastating epidemics sucli as jilague etc. Mortality among birds and an unusual death among rats and other burrowing rodents hav^ been iricluded aiuo.ig other presaging indications of a visitation by Providence. Interrogated as to the cause of such outbreaks, Dhanvautari observes that, the Viyu (molecular energy) of the soi' is disturoed or affected by earthquakes, and seasons of unnatural drought or deluge, deranging their Pittam (kinetic energy) and Shleshma (humidity) which produce morbific factors that affect a whole community. Sushyuta, as a true physician, has elaborately dealt with the regimen of diet and conduct during the different seasons of the year (Ch. 24 -U. T. 64) which, strictly followed, should act as a good prophylaxis against attacks of many epidemic diseases, being framed with a most careful regard to the conditions of life which obtain in it, and ward off those sad breakdowns in health, which are, in many instances, the result of an unsuitable mode of living in this country.

Twofold division of Time &C :— It is a fundamental dictum of Sushruta that in a case of medical treatment the then prevailing season of the year should be taken into account. In his Samhita we find two distinct classifications of seasons, one based on the peculiar physical phenomena which distinguish the different seasons of the year, a fact which emphaticall}' proves that Sushruta was an inhabitant of the sub-Himalayan Gangetic Doab, the other is for the purpose of showing the respective accumulation, aggravation and subsidence of morbific diatheses (Doshas). In the same manner the different quarters of the day and night have been minutely charted or set down to show the spontaneous aggravation and subsidence of the deranged Vayu, Pittam and Kaphah during the 24 l^ours. The! , influence of planets as to the production of certain diseases such as small-pox, measles, scarlet fever, &c. is almost a proved fact. As it governs the' prevalence and nonprevalence of certain maladies, the aggravation and

Ixvi INTRODUCTION.

non-aggravation of certain existing disorders as well owe much of tb.eir origin to this potent factor. The vegetable kingdom from which we glean our daily food is also subject to thi? influence, and hence the discrimination we exercise in selecting our food on certain davs of the lunar month.