An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita, Vol. II — trans. Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna (1911)

under the circumstances, the encientc should be made to drink a potion consisting of milk boiled with Mahdsaha, Kshudrasahd, MadJiuka flower, S'vadansttd and Kantakdri, mixed with sugar and honey. In the case of retention of urine, the patient should be made to drink a potion of milk boiled with drugs known as the Ddrvddi Gana (mixed with sugar and honey). In the case of A'ndha (retention of stool attended with distention of the abdomen), a potion consisting of milk boiled with asafetida, Sativarchala salt, garlic and Vacha (mixed with honey and sugar) should be given. In cases of excessive bleeding, linctus made of the powdered chamber of a Koshthagarika insect * , Samangd^ DJidtaki flowers, Navamdlikd, Gairika, resin and Rasdnjana, or of as many of them as would be available, mixed with honey, should be licked. In the alternative, the bark and sprouts of the drugs known as the Nyagrodhddi Gana mixed with boiled milk should be administered, or a Kalka of the drugs of the Utpaladi group mixed with boiled milk should be used, or a Kalka of S'aluka, S'ringataka and Kas'cru mixed with boiled milk should be given. As a further alternative, the enciente may be made to eat cakes made of powdered Sali rice with the decoction of Udumbara fruit and Audaka-kanda, mixed with honey and sugar. A piece of linen or a plug soaked in the expressed juice of the drugs of the Nyagrodhadi group should be inserted into the passage of the vagina. 47.

In a case of pain unattended with bleeding, the enciente should be made lo drink a potion composed of milk-boiled with Ji/«rt7/^//^<2(Yashtimadhu), Devaddru and

* There is a kind of insect which makes its chamber with earth generally under the ceiling or on the walls. This earth should be used.

Chap. X.] SARIRA STHANAM, 235

Payasyd ; or with As'matitaka, Satdvari and Payasyd ; or with the drugs of the group of Viddrigandhddi Gana ; or with Vrihati, Kantakdri, Utpala, S'atdvari, Sdrivd, Payasyd and Madhuka (Yashtimadhu). These remedies speedily applied tend to alleviate the pain and make the foetus steady in the womb. 48.

After the fcetus has been steadied by the aforesaid mesaures, a diet consisting of (boiled rice and) cow's milk, boiled with the dried tender fruits of Udiimvara^ should be prescribed for the patient. In the event of miscarriage, the patient should be made to drink a Yavagu (gruel) of the Udddlaka rice, &c., cooked with the decoction of the Pachaniya group (Pippalyadi) and devoid of all saline and fatty matter, for a number of days corresponding to that of the month of gestation. Old treacle mixed with the powdered drugs of the Dipaniya group (Pancha-kola), or simply some Arishta (Abhaydrishta, etc.), should be given, in the event of there being pain in the pelvis, bladder and abdomen. 49.

The internal ducts and channels (Srotas) stuffed with aggravated Vayu lead to the weakening (Laya) of the fcetus and, if the state continues, it leads even to its death. Hence the case should be treated with mild anointing measures, etc., (Sneha-karma, etc ,) and gruels made of the flesh of the birds of the Utkros'a species and mixed with a sufficient quantity of clarified butter, should be given to her. As an alternative, Kulmasha * boiled with Masha, sesamum and pieces of dried (tender) Vilva fruit should be given her, after which she should be made to drink, for a week, honey and Maddhvika (a kind of weak wine). At the non-delivery of the child

• ''Kulmdsha" may mean either Kulattha pulse or half boiled wheat, barley, etc.

p. 236

even after the lapse of the full term of gestation, the encientc should be made to thrash corn with a pestle in an Udukhala or mortar (husking apparatus) or should be made to|sit or move (on legs or by conveyance), on an uneven ground. 50.

Atrophy of a foetus in the womb should be ascribed to the action of the deranged Vjlyu. This is detected by the comparatively lesser fulness of the abdomen of the enciente and slow movement of the foetus in the womb. In such a case, the enciente should be treated with milk, with the Vrimhaniya (of restorative and constructive properties) drugs, and with meatsoup.* 51.

A combination of ovum and semen affected by the deranged Vayu in the womb, may not give rise to a successful fecundation (living impregnated matter), but leads to a distention of the abdomen (as in pregnancy), which again, at any time, may disappear of itself. And this is ascribed by the ignorant to the malignant influence of Naigamesha (spirits). Such an impregnated matter, sometimes lying concealed in the uterus, is called Nagodara, which should be treated with the remedies laid down under the head of Lina-Garbha (weak foetus). 52.

Now we shall discourse on the management of pregnancy according to the months (period) of gestation. Metrical Texts : — The following receipes, such as, (i) Madhuka (Yashtimadhu), S'akavija, Payasya, and Devadaru ; (2) As'mantaka, black sesamum, pippali, Manjishth^, Tdmra-valli and Satavari ; (3) Vrikshadani, Payasya, Latd, (Durvd), Utpala and Sariva ; (4) Ananta, Sdriva, Rdsnd, Padma, and Madhuka (Yashtimadhu) ;

* The panicle "cha" in ihe text signifies the use of any other .constructive tonic.

Chap. X.] SARIRA STIIANAM. 237