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

thereby withdrawing a Shalyam, resetting by means of a twirling motion, removing of a Shalyam from one place to another, twisting, expanding, pressing, purifying of a passage, drawing off, attracting, bringing to the surface, uplifting, lowering down, applying pressure all round a part, or an organ, agitating, sucking, searching, cutting or cleaving, straightening, washing or flushing, stuffing the nose and cleansing. They number twenty-four in all.

IVIctrical texts :— The intelligent surgeon shall exercise his judgment and determine the nature of the surgical operation required in each individual case, for surely the shalj^as requiring a surgeon's aid are infinitely varied in their character.

An appliance A^antraUvhich is too thick, or. made of inferior metal and hence) not substantially made, or too short or too long, or does not admit of being easily handled and is incapable of taking in the entire Shalyam, or is curved, loosely fitted, or soft-bolted, or loosely tied up with cords, 'should not be used in surgical operations). These are the twelve defects of a surgical instrument.

Metrical texts : — The use of an instrument devoid of the abovesaid defects and measuring eighteen fingers in length, is commended in surgical operations,

Shalyas which are manifest and visible to the naked eye, should be extracted with the instruments of the

Chap. VII. ] SUTRASTHA'NAM, 6^

Sinha-mukha (lion-mouthed) type, while those that can not be seen, should be removed with the help of the Kanka-mukhas ( heron-mouthed ) instruments, etc., according to the directions laid down in the Shastras medical or surgical works of recognised authority). The Kanka-mukhas are the best of all other types of instruments, inasmuch as the}'- can be inserted and taken out without the least difficulty, are capable of drawing out a'Shalyam with the greatest ease, and are applicable to all parts of the human body 'be they an artery or a bone- joint.)

Thus end.s the sevenih chapter "( ihc SiUiasthSnam of the Sushruta SamhitS which treats of the shape, construction and dimensions of surgical appliances.

C H A P T E R V I I I.

Now we shall discuss the Chapter which treats of instruments used in connection with a surgical operation. (Shastrarvacharaniyamaclhya^am).

These instruments are twenty in number such as, the Mandalagram, the Karapatram, the Vriddhipatram, the Nakhashastram, the Mudrik^, the Utpalapatram, the Arddhadh^ram, the Suchi, the Kushapatram, the Atemukham, the Shardrimukham, the Antarmukhanij the Trikurchakam, the Kuth^rika, the Vrihimukham, the Ar^i, the Vetasapatrakam, the Vadisha,the Dantashanku, and the Eshani.*

■ The MandaMgram measures six fingers in length and is provided with a round or circular face. The Karapatram is the same as the modern saw. The term Vriddhipatram signifies a razor. A Vriddhipatram measures seven fingers in length, the handle alone measuring five fingers. The Nakhasastram is the same as the modern nail-clipper, the blade of the instrument measuring a finger in breadth. The Utpalapatram resembles a lotus leaf in shape. The Arddhadhfiram (lancet) measures eight fingers' breadth' in length, being one finger broad at the middle, and two fingers at the blade. The Suchi. is the same as the modern needle. The Kushapatram is so called from its resemblance to the blade of a Kusha-grass. An Atemukham resembles the bill of a bird of the Ate species. The blade of an Atemukham measures two fingers in length, the handle measuring five fingers and thus giving an entire length of seven fingers. The SharSrimukham (scissors) is so-called from the resemblance of its blades to the bills of a Shariri bird and looks somewhat like a modern black-smith's clipper, the measure of its entire length being twelve fingers. The Antarmukham is semicircular in shape and is provided with a toothed edge like that of a hand-saw. The Trikurchakam (trocar) is provided with three separate blades. The intervening space between the couple of blades attached to a handle measuring five fingers in length, is equal to ihe width of a Vrihiseed, its entire length being eight fingeis.

Chap. VIII. ] SUTRASTHANAM. 65