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

lYIetrical Text : — The fissures thus expanded may ultimately bifurcate the lobules of the ears owing to the effects of the deranged bodily humours (Dosha), or of a blow. Now hear me discourse on the mode of adhesioning them (with suitable bandages).

These unions or adhesions admit of being briefly divided into fifteen different kinds, viz., the Nemisandhdnaka, the Utpala-Bhedyaka the Valluraka, the Asangima, the Ganda-karna, the Aharyaya, the Nirvedhima, the Vyayojima, the Kapata-sandhika, theArdhakap^ta-sandhika, the Samkshipta, the Hina-karna, the Vallikarna, the Yasthi-karna, and the Kakaushthaka.

144 '^^^ SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. XVI.

Out of these, the process, known as the Nemisandhanaka, should be used in cases where each of the bifurcated lobes of the ears would be found to be thick, extended, and equal in size. The process, known as the Utpala-Bhedyaka, should be used in cases where the severed lobes of the ears would be found to be round, extended, and equal in dimensions. The process, Valluraka should be resorted to in cases where the severed lobes of the ears would be found to be short, circular and equal in size. The process, known as the Asangima, should be adopted in cases where the anterior surface of one of these severed appendages would have a more elongated shape than the other. The process, known as the Ganda-Karna, consists in slicing off a patch of healthy flesh from one of the regions of the cheeks and in adhering it to one of the severed lobes of the ears which is more elongated on its anterior side than the other (Plastic-operations). In the case of extremely short lobes, the flesh should be cutoff from both the cheeks and adhered to them, the process being known as the Aharyaya. The lobes of the ears which have been completely severed from their roots are called Pithopamas. The process known as the Nirvedhima should be resorted to in such cases by piercing the two Putrikas (Tragus and Anti-tragus of the ears.

The process known as the Vyayojima should be made use of in cases where one of the bifurcated

p. 145

lobes of the ear should be found to be dissimilar to the other as regards its . thickness or thinness. The process known as Kapata-Sandhika consists in bringing about an adhesion, on the posterior side, between one of the bifurcated lobes and another, which is elongated on the anterior side of the ear. The adhesion is so called from the fact of its resembling the closing of the two leaves of a door 'Kapatam), The process knoWn as the Ardha-Kapata-Sandhika consists in bringing about an adhesion on the anterior side between the shorter one of the two parts of a bifurcated earlobe with the part, elongated on the posterior side, like a half- closed door.

The ten aforesaid processes of adhesion may be successfully brought about and their shapes can be easily pictured from the meanings of their respective names.

The remaining five sorts such as the Samkhiptam etc., are seldom attended with success and hence are called impracticable (Asadhayas'. The process Samkhiptam has its scope in the case where the auricle (^Shashkuli) has been withered up and one of the bifurcated lobes is raised, the other being reduced and shortened. The process of Hina-karna should be adopted in cases where the supporting rim of the lobe (pinna) has been entirely swept away and its exterior sides and the cheeks are sunk and devoid of flesh. Similarly the adhesive

p. 19

p. 146