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

The old and matured grain of S'cili, Shashtika, barley, wheat, Koradusha^ S'ydnidka, Udddlaka, etc., boiled and taken along with the soup (Supa) or a decoction* (Yusha)

* An unsalted decoction of any substance not seasoned with any spices whatever is called Yusha> while the one salted and seasoned with spices is called Supa- In preparing the soup of any pulse, all husks should be carefully thrashed out and the grain should be slightly fried before boiling.

-.'.'1,4?

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of either Mtidga pulse or Adhaki pulse mixed with Nimha leaves and Arushkara are wholesome in a case of Kushtha. Preparations of any of the aforesaid grains may be taken with Mmidiika-parni, Avalgufa, Atarushaka and Rupikd flowers cooked in mustard oil or clarified butter, or with the soup prepared of the articles of the Tikta-varga (bitter group, mentioned in the Sutrasthanam). The cooked flesh of Jangala animals, devoid of all fatty matter, should be given to a patient, habituated to the use of meat diet. The medicated oil, known as the Vajraka-Taila should be used for anointing the body. A decoction of the drugs of the Aragvadhddi group should be used for rubbing (Utsadana) purposes. Decoctions of Khadira should be employed in drinks, baths, washes, etc. The preceding rules are intended to regulate the diet and regimen of one suffering from Kushtha (cutaneous affections). 4.

Preliminary Treatment :— In the premonitary stages of the disease the system should be cleansed by the application of both emetics and purgatives. When the disease is found to invade the Tvak* only, a plaster prepared of the purifying drugs should be . applied to the affected parts ; blood-letting and the use of medicinal decoctions and purifying and disinfecting plasters are the remedies to be employed when the desease would appear . to infect the blood... The .same remedies and Arishta, Mantha, Pras'a, etc, .should be employed when the disease would be found to have invaded the principle of the Mskmsa (muscle.s). Palliation and temporary respite are the only cure that can be offered in a case of the sin-begotten type-f of the

" Tvak here means Rasa or serum.

t The type of Kushtha affecting the principle of Medas (fat) is generally supposed to be sin-begotten.

348 THE SUSIIRUTA SAMIIITA. [Chap. IX.

disease which is the fourth (in order of enumeration) and that even is purely contingent on the willingness and capacity of the patient to conform to a strict regimen of diet, conduct and dress. Blood-letting and purifying measures (emetics and purgatives) should be resorted to in such a case and then the special medicinal remedies prepared from Bhallatakaf, Silaijatu, Gnggulu, Aguru, Tuvaraka, Khadira, and Asaua and the Ayaskriti should be used in accordance with the prescribed rules. The disease in its fifth form (is found to invade the bones and) should be given up as incurable. $-6.

Treatments of Doshaja Types :— in

the first stage of Kushtha, the patient should be treated in accordance with the prescribed maxims (lules) of Sneha-pana. In a case of Vataja-Kushtha, cil or clarified butter, cooked with (a decoction and Kalka of) MesJia s'ritigi, S'wadainshtrd, S'artigashtd, Guduchi and the drugs included in the group of Das'amula should be used as drink and ointment. In cases of the Pittaja type, the patient should be made to drink (a potion consisting of) clarified butter prepared with (a decoction and Kalka of) Dhava, As'vakarna, Kakubha, Palds'a^ Pichu-mardha, Parpataka, Madhiika, Rodhra and Samangd. In the Kaphaja type, clarified butter cooked with (a decoction and Kalka of) Piydla, S'dia, Aragvadha, Nhnha^ Saptaparna, Chitraka, Markka, Vacha and Kushtha should be prescribed.

* Bhallalaka-preparations have been described in the treatment cf Ars'as, preparations of S'ilajatu, Guggulu, Aguru and Tuvaraka in the treatment of Prameha-pidaka, and Khadira, ASana and Ayaskriti preparations in the treatment of Maha-kushtha, t Oil should be used in a case of Kapha-predominance, whereas clarified butter in that of Pitta-predominance. Others assert that clarified butler should be used for drinking purposes and oil for anointments.

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The clarified butter cooked with (a Kalka and a decoction of) Bhalldtaka, Ahhayd and Vidanga, or (the medicinal oils known as) the Tuvaraka Taila and the Bhallataka Taila should be used in all types of Kushtha. 7-8.

The IVIaha-tikta Ghrita:— A paste or