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

Memorable Verse :— A poor patient, carefully following these directions of his medical advisers without the least demur or delay, should be able to get rid of the disease (Prameha) in the course of a year or even in less than that time. 13.

Thus ends the eleventh Chapter of the Chikitsita Slhanam in the Sus'iuta Samhita which deals with the medical treatment of Prameha.

* Some explain the phrase "311T^qWT^?[" to mean that he should retain in his memory (the teachings of) the Vedas,. — Dallana.

CHAPTER XIL

Now we shall discourse on the medical treatment of the abscesses or eruptions which mark the sequel of a case of Prameha (Pramcha-Pidaka). I.

The nine kinds of abscesses (Pidakas), such as Saravika, etc., have been described before. Of such abscesses those, appearing in a strong person but small in size, affecting (only) the Tvak (skin) and the flesh, soft to the touch, slightly painful, easily suppurative and after a time bursting, are curable. 2.

Patients suffering from Prameha and afflicted with the above kinds of abscesses (Pidakas) should be treated (in the following manner). Measures, such as fastings (Apatarpana), etc., decoctions* (of Vata, etc.) and the urine of a she-goat, should be employed in the incubative stage of the disease. The urine, perspiration and the Sleshma (sputum, etc.), soon acquire a sweetish taste, if the aforesaid oreliminary measures are not resorted to and if the patient goes on using sweet articles of food in utter disregard of the instructions, thus developing fully the specific indications of Prameha. In this stage the system of the patient should be cleansed (Sams'odhana) with both emetics and purgatives. If the disease is not checked (even at this stage) with the aforesaid measures (emetics and purgatives), the aggravated Doshas of the body go on increasing in intensity and tend to affect or vitiate the flesh and the blood and produce an inflamatory swelling of the body, or bring on other supervening distressesp. 380 in their train, venesection as well as the aforesaid remedies and measures should be resorted to in such cases. 3.

* Astringent drugs of fig-tree (Vata-tree), etc.— D. R.

The swelling increases in size attended with excessive pain and burning sensation, if the aforesaid remedies be not employed at this stage of the disease. Surgical operations and other remedial measures, described in connection with abscesses or inflammatory swellings (Vrana) in general, should be resorted to in such cases. If these be not done (at this stage), the pus eats into the deeper tissues of the locality, creates large cavities in its inside, and is accumulated there and the abscess (Vrana) becomes incurable. * Hence a case of Prameha should be remedied at its very outset, 4-6.

Dhanvantara Chrita :— Ten Pala weight of each of these drugs, viz., Bhalldtaka, Vilva, Ambu, roots of Pippali, Vdakiryyd, Prakiryyd^, Varskdbhu, Punarnavd\, Chitraka, S'athi, Snuhi, Varunaka, Ptishkara, Danti and Haritaki and one Prastha measure of each of the following, viz., barley, Kola and Kulattha pulse should be boiled with a Drona measure of water. The decoction should be boiled down to its quarter part, removed from the fire, and strained. It should then be cooked with a Prastha measure (four seers) of clarified butter with half a Pala weight of each of the following drugs, viz., Vachd, Trivrit, Kampilla, Bhdrgi, Nichula, S'unthi, Gaja-Pippali^ Vidanga and S'irisha as Kalka.

* On the failure of the above treatment it would spontaneously burst out and secrete pus and force its way inside, which would lead gradually to widen its mouth or fissure, and help its running into an incuiable stage. — Dallana.

t "Udakirya and Prakirya" are the two kinds of Karanja.

X "Varshabhu and Punarnava" are the two kinds of- Punarnava (/.f., red and white).

Chap. XII.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 38 1