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

Palliative Measures :— Now we shall describe the palliative measures to be adopted even in cases of incurable types of the disease. A Kalka compound of Kushtha, Kutaja^Pdihd, Hingu 2lX\^ Katu-rohini ^h.o\AA be taken with a decoction of Guduchi and Chitraka in a case of Sarpir-meha. A patient afflicted with an attack of Vasa-meha should be made to drink a decoction of Agni-mantha or of S'itns'apd. Similarly a decoc-

• Honey should be added to all oi these decoctions prescribed in cases Pittaja-meha. — Dallana.

t Honey should also be added to these decoctions prescribed in cases of Vatja Meha — Dallana.

l']6 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. XI.

tion of Khadira, Kadara and Kramuka should be given in a case of Kshaudra-meha ; a decoction of Tinduka, Kapittha, S'irisha, Palds'a, Pdthd, Murvd^ and Dusparsd (Durdlabh^) mixed with honey,* or the Kshara, (alkaline water) prepared from the ashes of the bones of an elephant, horse, hog, ass or camel, in a case of Hasti-meha. A gruel (Yav^gu prepared in the manner of Shadanga-kalpa) with a decoction of aquatic bulbs and sweetened with milk and the juice of sugarcane should be prescribed in a case attended with a burning sensation. 7.

IVIedicinal Arishtas, Asavas, YavagUS, etc. : — Likewise Arishtas, Ayaskritis, lambatives and Asavas should be prepared (in the manner hereinbefore described) with Priyangu, Anantd, Yuthikd, Padmd (Bhargi), Jrdyantikd, Lohitikd, Ambashthd, bark of pomegranate, S'dla-parni, (D.R. — Tala-parni), Padma (lotus), Ttmga, Kes'ura, Dhdtaki, Vakiila, S'almali, S'ri-veshtaka and Mocharasa, should be administered to the patient. As an alternative, similar preparations made of S'ringdtaka, Gilodya,, Mrindla, Kas'eruka, Madhuka, A'mra, fambii, Asana, Tinis'a, Arjuna, Katvanga, Lodhra, Bhalldtaka, Charmi-vriksha, Giri-karnikd^ S'ita-s'iva, Nichula^ Dddima, Aja-karna, Hari-vriksha, Rdjddana,Gopaghontd ^nd Vikamkata should be prescribed. Different preparations of Yavagu, etc. should be given to the patient as diet. A gruel (Yavagu) cooked with the decoction of the preceding medcinal drugs or (only these) decoctions should be given to the patient as drinks. Potions of any of the aforesaid Asavas thickened with an admixture of powdered Pdthd, Chitraka and Haritaki and sweetened with a liberal quantity of honey

* Jejjata interprets it as grape-wine, but Gayadasa does not support this view.

Chap. X[,] CHIKITSA STHANAM. ITJ

should be prescribed for a rich or royal patient of injudicious conduct and refusing to take medicines ; or he should be made to drink frequent potions of Madhvika liquors (prepared from honey) * with meat roasted on gridiron over a charcoal fire. Food and drinks mixed with honey, Kapittha and pepper should be prescribed for him. 8.

The powdered dung of a camel, a mule, or an ass should be administered to him in food ; he should take his meal with soups saturated with a compound of asafoetida and Saindhava salt or with mu.stard preparations (Raga). * His food and drink should be fragrant and well flavoured iwith ingredient not incompatible with the nature of the disease. 9-10.

The practice of regular physical exercise, wrestling, active sports, riding on a horse or an elephant, long walks, pedestrial journeys, practising archery, casting of javelines, etc., should be resorted to in a case where the disease has made a decided advance. 11.

A poor and friendless patient should live on alms, lead a life of perfect continence like an ascetic, forego the use of shoes and umbrella and walk a hundred Yojanas-j- or more on foot without staying for more than one night at a single village. A rich man (suffering from Prameha) should live on S'ydmaka, Kapittha, Tinduka and As'mantaka and live among the deer. He should constantly follow the tracks of cows and take their dung and urine (for food and drink). A Brahman patient should live on the grain, spontaneously fallen from plants, constantly study the Vedas and draw

* Some read "?IT^:" i e. potherb ( of njustard ) in place of "nr. I"

+ A Yojana is equal to eight miles.

p. 48

p. 378

chariots occupied by Brahmanas, * A patient belonging to the lower orders of society i^Sudras, etc.) should be made to sink wells (under such circumstances) and the strength of a weak or emaciated patient should be preserved vwith nutritive diets, etc.). I2.