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

Surgical instruments should be tempered with one of the three substances such as, alkali, water, and oil. Instruments used in cutting an arrow, a bone, or any foreign matter (Shalyami pricked into the human body, should be tempered with alkali, whereas those that are made use of in cutting, cleaving, and lopping off the flesh from an affected part), should be tempered with water. Instruments used in opening Vyadhanam) a vein (Shira) or in cutting open a nerve .Sna)^!: should be tempered with oil, and should be whetted upon a species of stone-slab resembling a Masha pulse in colour, and their set- edge should be protected by putting it in a sheath made of Sh^lmali wood.

Authoritative verses on the subject :— An instrument, well-ground, well-shaped, fitted with a convenient handle and capable of (laterally) cutting a hair in two and made according to measures laid down in the Shastras, should be alone used in a surgical operation.

Chap. VIII. ] SUTRASTHA'NAM. 6g

The Inferior or substitutive instruments (the Anu-Shastras : — The skin of bamboos, crystals, bits of glass, Kuruvindas Ca sort of crystal"* leeches, fire, alkali, nails, the leaves of trees known as Goji, Shephalika and Shakapatra, the tender sprouts of corn, hair, and the fingers, should be included within the category of the minor instruments of surgery and (which may be used in certain instances in substitution for the principal and usual ones.

Metrical texts :— The four articles such as strips of bamboo skin, crystals, bits of glass, and the rock known as Kuruvinda, should be used by an intelligent physician in incising or excising Bhedanam i operations, where the patient would be found to have a dread of the knife, or too young to be surgically operated upon with it, or where the proper instrument cannot be procured. The nails of fingers should be used in operations of incising, excising or extracting in (substitution for the instruments enjoined to be used for the purpose), when such a course would appear feasible. The processes of applying alkalis, leeches and cauterisation will be dealt with later on. In Diseases affecting the eyelids or the cavity of the mouth, operations for the purposes of secreting or evacuating 'the accumulated pus or phlegm), may be performed with the leaves of Shakapatra, Shephalika or Gojis. In the absence of a probe or director, searching may be done with the help

^o

THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. L Chap. vili.

of a finger, or with a hair, or with a corn sprout. An intelligent physician should deem it his imperative duty to get his surgical instruments made by a skilful and experienced blacksmith, and of pure, strong and sharp iron steel >. A physician, skilled in the art of using surgical instruments, is always successful in his professional practice, and hence the practice of surgery should be commenced at the very outset of medical studies.

Thus ends the eighth chapter of the Sutrasthiinam in the Sushruta SamhitS which treats of Surgical|Instruments.

CHAPTER IX. Now we shall discuss the Chapter which treats of practical instructions in surgical operations (YogyaSutra).

The preceptor should see his disciple attends the practice of surgery even if he has already thoroughly mastered the several branches of the science of Medicine, or has perused it in its entirety. In all acts connected with surgical operations of incision, etc. and injection of oil, etc. the pupil should be fully instructed as regards the channels along or into which the operations or applications are to be made (Karma-patha\ A pupil, otherwise well read, but uninitiated into the practice (ol' medicine or surgery) is not competent > to take in hand the medical or Surgical treatment of a disease . The art of making specific forms of incision should be taught by making cuts in the body of a Pushpaphala (a kind of gourd , Alavu, watermelon, cucumber, or Ervaruka. The art of making cuts either in the upward or downward direction should be similarly taught. The art of making excisions should be practically demonstrated by making openings in the body of a full water-bag, or in the bladder of a dead animal, or in the side of a leather pouch full of slime or water. The art of scraping should be instructed on a piece of skin on which the hair has been allowed to remain. The art of venesection

72 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. IX.