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

(medicated) Vartis are likewise recommended. The patient should be made to take every day the medicine known as the Naviyasa* through the medium of honey. He should be made to take a Dharana weight of the compound of powdered Vidanga, Ativishd, Kutaja-itmi, Bkadra-ddru, Nâgara and Markka in tepid water. Trikatu, Yava-kshdra and powdered iron should be mixed together and administered through the mediun of the decoction of Jriphald ; or, cow's milk and cow's urine, in equal proportions should bs taken. As an alternative, treacle and Haritaki mixed in equal proportions should be administered. Deva-ddru and 5 unthi\ may be given ; or Guggulu :!■ dissolved in cow's urine or in the decoction of Varshdhhu. Equal parts of treacle and Sringavera\ may as well be prescrfbed ; or the roots of the Varshdbhu pasted with the decoction of the same drug and mixed A^ith powdered S'unthi dissolved in milk should be given to the patient every day for a month. He should take Mudga pulse fried with the clarified butter prepared by cooking it with the decoction of Trikatu and Varshdbhu. Milk boiled with Pippali, Pippali-xoois, Chavya^ Chitraka^ Mayura (Ap4mdrga) and Varshdbhu, or with Sunthi and Surangiroots, or with Trikatu, Eranda-roots and S'ydmd-too\Sy or with Varshdbhu, S'unthi, Sahd and Deva-ddru should be given to the patient. A paste of Aldvu and t Some commentators explain that the compound of Deva-ddru and S'unthi also should be taken through the medium of cow's urine or the decoction of Varshdbhu.

* See Chapter XXII, para. lo, Chikitsita-sthlnatn.

X According to Chakradatta's reading, Deva-daru, S'unthi and Guggulu should be taken together with cow's urine.

§ The S'ringavera in this compound may be either fresh or dried.— Ed.

chap. XXIII ] CHIKITSA STHANaM. 479

Vihhitaka dissolved in the washings of rice, should likewise be administered. 15.

The diet of the patient should consist of cooked barley or wheat saturated with the unsalted soup of Mudga pulse, cooked with Yava-kshdra, Pippali, Maricha and S'ringavera, and prepared with only a small quantity of oil or clarified butter. A decoction of Vrikshaka, Arka, Naktamdla^ Nimha and Varshdhhu should be used in effusing (Parisheka) the affected part. It should be plastered with a compound consisting of Sarshapa^ Suvarchald, Saindhava and S^drngasktd, pasted together. Strong purgatives, Asth^pana measures and applications of Sneha, Sveda and Upau^ha should be constantly employed according to the nature and instensity of the aggravated Doshas involved in the case. In a case of Sotha, other than what is the outcome or supervening symptom (Upadrava) of any other disease, the patient should be frequently bled by opening a vein of the locality. 16.

IVlemorabIc Verse : — A patient wishing to get rid of an attack of Sopha i^cedematous swelling) should refrain from taking all sorts of cakes, acid substances, liquor, clay, salts, oil, clarified butter,* water, heavy and indigestible articles of food, sleep in the day time, the flesh of animals other than that of the animals of the Jdngala group and from visiting the bed of any woman. 17.

Thus ends the Twenty-third Chapter in the Chikitsita Sthinam of the Susruta Samhitd which deals with the medical treatment of S'opha.

• Some read »' ^^5^," .g., treacle in place of " ^im," «'•«., clarified butter. This reading seems to be the correct one, inasmuch as it is supported by all other authoritative works on Ayurveda — Ed.

CHAPTER XXTV.

Now we shall discourse on the rules of hygiene and the prophilactic measures in general (Anstgatavadha-Prati-shcdhaniya). i.

Metrical Texts : —Now we shall describe the rules of conduct to be daily observed by an inte'ligent man (after leaving his bed) seeking perfect health and a sound body. 2.

Tooth -brushing" ;— A man should leave his bed early in the morning and brush his teeth. The tooth-brush (Danta-Kdshtha) should be made of a fresh twig of a tree or a plant grown on a commendable tract and it should be straight, not worm-eaten, devoid of any knot or at most with one knot only (on one side), and should be twelve fingers in length and like the small finger in girth. The potency and taste of the twig (tooth-brush^ should be determined by or vary according to the season of the year and the preponderance of any particular Dosha in the physical temperament of its user.* The twig of a plant possessed of any of the four tastes as sweet, bitter, astringent and pungent should be alone collected and used. Nimba is the best of all the bitter trees ; Khadira of the astringent ones ; Madhuka of the sweet ; and Karanja of the pungent ones. 3

• A man of a Kaphaja temperament should use a twig of a plant possessed of a pungent taste (Tikta) in brushing his teeth. A man of a Pittaja temperament should brush his teeth with a twig possessed of a sweet taste (Madhura), while a man of a VeCtika temperament (nervous) should use that with an astringent (Kasaya) taste. This rule should be observed even in respect of the preponderant Doshas of the body, in a disease.

Chap. XXIV.] CHIKITSA STHANAM. 48 1