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

Kshara (caustics may be grouped under two distinct heads according to their mode of administration \ such as the Pratisaraniya i for external application) and the Pania i alkaline potions . Alkaline preparations should be externally used in such skin diseases as Kitima, Dadru, Kilas, Mandala, Fistula in ano, tumour, bad ulcer fDushta Vrana', sinus, Charma-kila, Tilkalaka, Nacchya, Vyanga, Mashaka and external abscesses and hoemorrhoids. In cases of worms and poisoning as well as in the seven forms of diseases which affect the cavity of the mouth, such as Upajihva, Upakusha, Danta-Vaidarbha, and in the three types of Rohini, external applications of alkalis act like substitutive go THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA'. [Chap. XI.

surgical instruments. Alkaline potions or any other internal use of alkalis, should be prescribed in cases of Gulma (abdominal glands;, Ascites, loss of appetite, indigestion, flatulent distension of the abdomen with suppression of stool and urine, urinary calculi, stone in the bladder, internal abscesses, worms in the intestines and hcemorrhoids, as well as for subduing or eliminating any sort of poison from the system.

Alkalis or alkaline potions will prove positively injurious to a patient laid up with fever or hsemoptysis, to a man of bilious temperament, to an infant, or to an old man, and they will work similar mischief in a weak person, or in a patient suffering from vertigo, insensibility, syncope and Timira (darkness of vision). These preparations of Alkalis should be made in one and the same way b}- filtering ; and we reserve the full description of this process for another occasion.

Alkalis for external application are prepared in three different potencies ; the mild, middling and strong (extremel}' irritant'. A physician wishing to prepare such an alkali, should first purif^^ his body and mind, and observe a l^st on a day in autumn marked by auspicious astral combinations. Then having ascended the brow of a hill, he should select a full grown Ashita-mushka (Ghanta parul i tree of middle age, and growing on soil recommended in the works on pharmacy and not anywise affected. Then having

Chap. XI. SUTRASTHANAM. 8l

formally invoked the spirit of the aforesaid tree, which bears no white flowers) the physician should fell it on the day following, — reciting the Mantra which reads as : — " O thou possessed of mighty virtues, O thou endued with fiery potency, may thy potency never decrease or vanish. Stay here, O thou blissful one, execute my work, and after the performance thereof thou shalt be at libert}- to ascend to the heavenly regions."

Then haA'ing performed the Homa ceremon}' with thousands of white and red flowers, the physician should cut the wood of the abovesaid tree into small pieces and put them in a place protected from the wind. Then having placed pieces of unslaked limestone over them, the physician should burn them to ashes with the lighted faggots of dried sesamum plants. Then after the fire has fairly burnt itself out, the ashes of the limestone and the Ghanta-parula wood should be separately collected and stored. Similarly the wood as well as the leaves, roots and fruits of Kutaja, Palasha, Ashvakarna, Paribhadra, Vibhitaka, Aragvadha, Tilvaka, Arka, Snuhi, Apamarga, Patala, Naktamala, Vrisha, Kadali, Chitraka, Putika, Indra-Vrilvsha, Asphota, Ashvamaraka, Saptachchhada, Agnimantha, Gunja, and the four species of Koshataki, should be burnt down to ashes. II

S2 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA'. [Chap. XI.