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

Chap. XIV. ] SUTRASTHANAM. 1 1 1

Now it may be asked, since the Rasa is naturally transformed into semen in .the course of a month, what is the use of administering medicine which has a stimulating effect upon the organs of generation (Vajikaranam.) The answer is, that such medicines out of their own specific potencies and virtue help the speedy conversion of Rasa into semen and its profuse emission [on the desired occasion] like purgatives aiding the drastic evacuation of the bowels.

Again it may be asked, how is it, that semen is not found in an infant ? Since perfume in a flowerbud is imperceptible to the organ of smell you may as well ask whether there is any perfume in it or not. But what does not exist in a thing can not be evoked in the subsequent course of its development. As the perfume in a flower-bud lies latent in its earl}^ stage of growth but becomes patent only with the growth of its seed organs, so semen or catamenial blood lies in a potential state in a male or a female child, and appears with the growth of beards and mustaches, or with the enlargement of the breasts, uterus and vaginal canal and the appearance of pubic hair.

The same Rasa, originated from the assimilated food, serves only to maintain the vitality in the old and spontaneously decayed subjects owing to an exhausted state of the inner vitalising principle, natural to old age.

112 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. : Chap. XIV.

The abovesaid principles (of Rasa, blood etc.) are called the root principles (Dhatus), inasmuch as they maintain the integrity of the human organism and guard against its speedy dissolution). And since the strength or weakness of the abovesaid bodily principles absolutely depends upon the richness or poverty of blood, we shall discourse on the latter condition of the blood.

The blood, vitiated by the deranged bodily wind (Vayu), becomes thin, frothy, transparent, quick- coursing, and expansive, assumes a vermilion or black hue, and is divested of its slimy character ; whereas vitiated through a deranged condition of the bile (Pittam), it assumes a blue, yellow, green, or brown colour, emits a fishy smell, becomes thin in its consistency and is shun by flies and ants. Similarly, blood, vitiated by the deranged phlegm (Kapham), becomes cold, glossy and thick, assumes a colour like that of the washings of Gairika or that of a flesh tendon, takes time in secreting or in mnning down, and is marked by an increase of its slimy character. The blood, vitiated through a concerted derangement of the three bodily humours, is marked by features peculiar to each of them, and assumes a colour like that of Kanjika (sour gruel), and emits a fetid smell. Similarly, the blood, vitiated through the joint action of any two of the (beforesaid) bodily humours, is characterised by features peculiar to each of them.

Cain . XIV. ] SUTRASTHANAM.

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The blood in its healthy and natural state is possessed of a vivid red colour like that of an Indragopa (Cochineal) insect, and is neither too thin nor too transparent.*

Cases where blood-letting is prohibited : — A person afflicted with an oedematous swelling extending all over the body should be deemed unfit for bleeding. An intumescence occurring in a weak and enfeebled patient owing to an excessive use of acid food or in a person suffering from jaundice or laid up with haemorrhoids or abdominal dropsy, as well as in an enceinte, or in a person suffering from Pulmonary consumption (Shosha), should not be bled.

Blood-letting, with the help of a surgical instrument, may be grouped under two distinct heads, according as scarification (Prachchhanam) or venesection (SiraVyadhanam) is resorted to for the purpose. In such a case the knife or the instrument (Shastram) should be driven straight and speedily so as to make the incision straight, narrow, unextended, and of equal and slight depth throughout, (so as to reach only the surface layer of the flesh and blood), and not to injure in any way the local veins, nerves, joints, and other vital parts.

Bleeding performed on a cloudy day or done with a

* Additional texts : — Later on we shall have occasion to speak of the principles known as the life-blood (essential conditions of vitality — Sk. Jiva-Shonita) and of the process of blood-letting.

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wrong incision, or with full exposure to cold and wind, or performed on a patient not previously diaphorised, or on a patient with an empty stomach, is attended . with little or no outflow of blood owing to the thickened condition of the blood.