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

(5) Vrihati, Kantakdri, Kas'mari, sprouts (Sunga) and barks of milk-exuding trees (as, Vata, etc.), and clarified butterf ; (6) Pris'ni-parni, Vala, Sigru, S'vadanshtra and Madhuparnika ; and (7) S'ring'taka, Visa (stalks of lotus), Draksha, Kas'aru, Madhuka (Yashtimadhu), and sugar ; should successively be given with milk* to an enciente, from the first to the seventh month of her gestation, in the case of a threatened miscarraige or abortion. 53.

An enciente should be made to drink milk boiled with the roots of Kapittha, Vrihati, Vilva, Patola, Ikshu and Kantakari, (in case of impending or threatened miscarraige) in the eighth month of her pregnancy. In the ninth month (and under similar conditions), the potion should be made up of Madhuka (Yashtimadhu), Ananta-mula, Payasha and Sariva. In the tenth month (and under similar conditions), a potion consisting of milk boiled with Sunthi and Payasya is beneficial, or, in the alternative, may be given a potion made up of milk with Sunthi, Madhuka (Liquorice; and Devadaru. The severe pain would vanish and the foetus would continue to develop safely- in the womb, under the aforesaid mode of treatment. 54-57.

A child born of a woman, who had remained sterile (not-conceived) for a period of six years (Niviittaprasava;* after a previous child-birth, becomes a shortlived one. 58.

* Chakradatta reads "Visam" (stalks of lotus) instead of "Ghritam" (clarified butler).

t If a conception does no', occur in a woman for a period of more than five years a'^ter a child-birth, she is called Nivrittaprasava.

* Sivadasa also says that powders of these drugs should be given with boiled milk, but he adds that some authorities recommend theae drugs to be boiled in rnilk according to Kshira-paka-vidhi.

23S THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. X.

Application of mild emetic medicines, (though forbidden in the case of a pregnant woman), may be resorted to, in the case of a fatal disease, (even in that stage). A diet consisting of sweet and acid things should be prescribed for her, so as to bring the deranged Doshas to the normal state ; mild Sams'amaniya (soothing and pacifying) medicines should be applied and food and drink consisting of articles mild in their potency, predominently sweet-tasting and not injurious to the foetus, should be advised and mild (external) measures not baneful to the foetus should be resorted to, according to the requirements of the case. 59.

IVIemorable Verses :— The growth, memory, strength and intellect of a child are improved by the use of the four following medicinal compounds, used as linctus (Prds'a\ viz., (i) well-powdered gold, Kushtha, honey, clarified butter and Vacha ; (2) Matsyakshaka* (Brdhmi), Sankhapuspi, powdered gold, clarified butter and honey ; (3) Arkapuspi, honey, clarified butter powdered gold and Vacha ; and (4) powdered gold, Kaitaryyah (Maha-Nimba), white Durba,t clarified butter and honey. 60.

Thus ends the tenth Chapter of the S'drira Sthanam in ihc Sus'iula Samhita, which treats of the nursing and management etc. of pregnant women.

* Some, however, explain Matsyakshaka to be Dhuslura; others again say it is a kind of red-flowered shrub grown in the Anupa country.

* The word "S'veta," in the Text, may either be adjective to "Durva" and mean "white" or it may mean white Vacha or white Aparajita or white Durvgi.

Here ends the ^arira Sthanam.

THE

SUSRUTA SAMHITA

GHIKITSA-STUANAM.

(Section of Therapeutics).

CHAPTER I.

Now we shall discourse on the medical treatment of the two kinds of inflamed ulcers (Dvivraniya

Chlkitsitam). i.

Ulcers may be grouped under two head? according as they are Idiopathic or Traumatic in their oiigin. The first group includes within its boundary all ulcers that are caused through the vitiated condition of the blood or the several deranged conditions of the Vayu, Pitta and Kapha, or are due to their concerted action (Sannipata), while the second group embraces those which are caused by the bites of men, beasts, birds, ferocious animals, reptiles or lizards, or by a fall, pressure and blow, or by fire, alkali, poison, or irritant drugs, or through injuries inflicted by pointed wood, skeletal bones* horns, discus, arrows, axes, tridents, or Kiintas (a kind of shovel\ or such other weapons. Although both these classes of ulcers possess many features in common, they have been grouped under two distinct heads on account of the diversity of their origin, the difference in remedial measures to be adopted in their treatment, and the variation in theirp. 240 strength and tenacity. Hence the chapter is called Dvivraniya. 2.

* Fragments of broken pottery. — Dallana.