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

t Dallana says that fifty Pala weight of each of the two substances — Madhva'sava and Pha'nita, and twenty-five Pala weight of each of the following substances., viz. , the powders of the drugs of the Pippalyadi group and steel-foils, should be taken in preparing it. But Gayadasa explains that such a quantity of old and matured honey should be mixed with the decoction as will sweeten it ; the same quantity of old and matured Phanita treacle should be taken ; the powders of Pippalyadi group should be added to it till it gets a slight astringent (Katuka) taste.

Some commentators, however, hold that the honey, the powders of the drugs of the Pippalyadi group and of the steel-foils should be each a quarter part of the decoction in weight.

Dallana explains the term "Madhu" as the A'sava prepared of honey. Gayadasa, however, explains it simply as honey.

t The Phanita should be refined by dissolving it in the decoction of the drugs of the S'ala-saradi group and then filtere . — Dallanat

384 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. XII.

rated with clarified butter should be purified (in the usual way) and its interior plastered with coating of honey and powdered Pippali made into a thin paste. The medicinal compound prepared as above should be kept in the pitcher. After that, thin foils of steel made red-hot in a fire of Khadira wood should be immersed into the compound prepared before. Then the pitcher with the steel-foils immersed into its contents should be kept buried in a heap of barley for three or four months or until the steel-foils are entirely eaten away by the medicine and the characteristic flavour is produced. It should be used in proper doses every morning and a suitable diet should be given to the patient after its use. It reduces fat, improves the impaired digestion and proves efficacious in cases of swellings, internal tumours, Kushtha,Meha, jaundice, dropsy of the spleen (Plihodara), chronic fever, and excessive urination (dribbling of urine). This preparation is called Loharishta* and it is a highly efficacious remedy. 1 1 .

* The recipe of Loharishta, according to Vagbhata, is as follows : — The drugs of the Asanadi group (which corresponds with Sus'ruta's S'ala-saradi group), each weighing twenty Palas, should be boiled in eight Dronas of water down to a quarter part of its weight. Two hundred Pala weight of treacle and half an Adhaka (four seers) of honey and the powders of the drugs of the Vatsakadi group (which corresponds with the Pippalya'di group of Sus'ruta), each weighing one Pala, should be mixed with the aboveidccoction when cooled. A (new earthen) pitcher should be plastered inside with (an adequate quantity of) Pippali-powder and honey, the outer side being plastered with shellac. The above preparation should now be poured into this pitcher which should be kept in a heap of barley. A fire should be kindled with Khadira charcoal. Thin iron-foils should be alternately heated in this fire and immersed in the above preparation until the iron- foils are powdered. Vagbhata gives the name of Ayaskriti to this preparation.

We, however, follow Vagbhata in the preparation of this Arishta with good result.s.. — Ed,

Chap. XII.] CIIIKITSA STHANAM. 385

Traits of cure : -The cure of Prameha-patients should be understood from the non-slimy and unturbid condition of the urine and from its clear transparent aspect and bitter or pungent taste. 12.

Thus ends the twelfth Chapter of the ChikitsitaSthanam in the Sus'ruta Samfaita which deals with the medical treatment of Prameha-Pidaka.

p. 45

CHAPTER XIII.

Now we shall discourse on the medical treatment of Diabetes (IVIadhu-IVIeha). I.

Metrical Text :— The intelligent physician should adopt the following course of treatment in the case of a Madhu-Meha-patient abandoned as incurable by other physicians. 2.

^ilajatu, itsorigin and properties :—