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

The following drugs, articles and substances should be understood as accessories to an act of cauterisation, viz., Pippali, the excreta of goats, the tooth of a cow I Godanta'', Shara, a rod, the surgical instrument known as the Jamvavaustha, articles made of copper or silver, honey, treacle, oil, or any other oily substance. Out of these, Pippali, the Godanta, Shara and the rod should be (made red hot and) used in cauterising the affected part in a disease which is restricted only to the skin ; similarly the surgical instsument known as the Jamvavaustha, as well as the appliances made of copper or silver should be used in a disease which is seated in the flesh. Honey, treacle and oil should be (boiled and employed in cauterising the disease

Chap. XII. ] SUTRASTHANAM. 89

which affects any of the veins, nerves, bones or'bonejoints.

Cauterisation is admissible in all seasons of the year except summer and autumn; but no such distinction should be observed in cases of impending danger, when it should be practised with the help of such appliances of a contrary (cooling) nature, [as wet sheets, cooling drinks and cooling plasters, etc.]

In all diseases and in all seasons of the year, the patient should be fed on a diet of slimy (mucilaginous) food before actually applying the cautery ; while the patient should be kept on an empty stomach before the act where the complaint would be a case of Mudagarbha rfalse presentation), fistula in ano, haemorrhoids or a disease affecting the cavity of the mouth.

According to certain authorities the processes of cauterisation may be grouped under two heads according as the skin or the flesh is cauterised. The present work does not lay an}^ injunction against the cauterisation of any nerve, vein, bone or bone joint (as stated before). A burning of the skin is accompanied by a peculiar bursting or cracking sound. The skin becomes contracted and emits a fetid smell. Similarly, in a case where the flesh is burnt, (the affected part) assumes a dove color of (blackish brown), marked by pain and a little swelling, and the incidental ulcer becomes dr)' and contracted. In the case where a nerv^e or a vein

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p. 90

THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA'. [ Chap. Xll.

is burnt, the ulcer presents a raised (elevated) and black aspect with the stoppage of all secretions ; while an ulcer incidental to the cauterisation of any of the bone joints has a parched red hue and becomes hard and rough.

The regions of the eye-brows, forehead and templebones, should be cauterised in diseases affecting the head as well as in a case of Adhimantha (Ophthalmia). In diseases affecting the ej'elids the eye should be covered over with a moist piece of Alaktaka (a thin pad of red pigment principally used in d3'eing the feet of ladies) and the roots of the eyelashes should be duly cauterised. Cauterisation is specificall}' enjoined to be resorted to incases of glandular inflammation, tumour_, fistula in ano, scrofula, elephantiasis, Charmakila, warts, Tilakalaka, hernia, sinus hoemorrhage, and on the occasion of cutting a vein or a bone joint, as well as in the event of the vital wind (Vayu) being extremely agitated and lodged in the local skin, flesh, vein, nerves and the bone-joints and giving rise to excruciating pain in and about the ulcer which in consequence presents a hard, raised and inert surface.

The modes of cauterisation vary according to the seat of the disease, and number four in all, viz., the

Ring, the Dot, the Lateral or Slanting lines, and the Rubbing modes.

Chap. XII. ] SUTRASTHANAM.

p. 91

Authoritative verse on the subject : —

A physician, after having tarefully considered the seat of the disease and judiciously ascertained the patient's strength and the situations of the Marmas the vital parts of the patient's') body, should resort to cauterisation with an e3''e to the nature of the malady and the then prevailing season of the year.