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

Specific Symptoms : — A swelling (Sopha) of the Vaitaja type is vermilion or black-coloured and is attended with softness and a pricking pain in the swelling which disappears at intervals. A swelling of the Pittaja type assumes a blood-red or yellow colour, swiftly expands and is attended with a burning and

• See Sutra-sthiina, Chapter XVII.

476 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. XXIII.

drawing pain (Chosha). A swelling of the Kaphaja type assumes a white or greyish colour, becomes hard, cold to the touch and glossy, is slow in its growth, and is attended with itching, pain, etc. A swelling of the Sannipatika type (due to tie concerted action of all the three Doshas of the body) exhibits all the symptoms which specifically belong to each of the three abovesaid types. 4-7,

Symptoms of Vishaja-^opha : —A

swelling ^Sophaj which results from the contact or introduction of a (weakened) chemical poison (Gara) with or into the body, or from Che use of polluted water, or by bathing in a foul and stagnant pool or tank, or by dusting the body with the powders of substances poisoned by any poisonous animal, or from the contact with weeds and plants, which have become poisoned by the urine, foecal matter, or semen of poisonous animals, is called a Vishaja swelling. The swelling is soft, pendent and persistent, expands rapidly and moves gradually (from one part of the body to the other) and is attended with a burning sensation and suppuration. 8.

Memorable Verse :—The aggravated Doshas of the body confined in the stomach (Amasaya) give rise to a swelling in the upper part of the body. Confined ill the intestines (Pakvas'aya), they give rise to a swelling in the middle part of the body. If they are confined in the receptacle of the foeces (Malas'aya), the lower part of the body becomes swollen. The swelling extends all over the body in the event of their (Doshas) being diffused throughout the organism. 9.

Prognosis : — An oedematous swelling (Sopha) occurring in the middle part (trunk) of the body or extending all over it may be cured with difficulty as

Chap. XXIII. ] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 477

well as the one which first occurs at either ^the upper or lower) half of the body and tends to extend upward. A case of swelling attended with dyspnoea, thirst, weakness, fever, vomiting, hiccough, dysentery, colic (S'ula , and a want of relish for food is extremely hard to cure and soon proves fatal. 10 11.

We shall now proceed to describe their general and specific remedies. The use of acids, salts, milk, curd, treacle, lard, water, oil, clarified butter, cakes and all kinds of heavy !^in digestion) edibles should be refrained from in all the types of oedema (S'opha). 12-13.

The Special Treatment of ^opha :—

Traivrita (Ghrita) or castor oil should be administered for a month or a fortnight to the patient suffering from the Vattaja type of oedema (Sophai. Clarified butter cooked with the decoction of the drugs of the Nyagrodhddi and the A ragvadhddi groups should be respectively prescribed in the Pittaja and Kaphaja types. In the Sanuipataja type, the patient should be made to drink a potion of clarified butter cooked with a Pdtra* measure of the milky exudation of the Snuhi plant and twelve Patra measures of fermented rice gruel (Kinjika) with an adequate quantity of Danti as a Kalka. The remedy in regard to a swelling due to the action of poison (Vishaja) imbibed into the system will be duly described in the Kalpa Sthanam. 14.

The general remedies :— Now we shall describe the general remedies (which are applicable in cases of Sotha). Any of the four Ghritas ending with the Tilvaka Ghrita which have already been mentioned under the treatment of Udara would prove remedial in a case of Svayathu ((Edematous Swelling). The use of (ihe officinal) urine and the applications of the

* A Patra measure is equal to eight seers

p. 473