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

A small quantity of Sneha of mild potency, injected into the bowels of a patient taking only a small quantity of food, fails to flow therefrom and gives rise to a dullness of spirit, a tendency to vomit and a sense of lassitude which should be remedied by the application of Asthapana-vastis charged with (the decoction of) S'odhaniya (cleansing) drugs and by the application of Anuvasana enemas charged with Sneha boiled and cooked with those (S'odhaniya) drugs. 34.

The Sneha of a Vasti, if found to dribble down (from the system) after the lapse of even a whole day and night from the time of its application, without giving rise to any physical discomfort, does no mischief but exerts all the good effects of the application of the Vasti.

p. 622

Whereas, if digested, it produces but very little benefit to the patient. The retention of the whole or of any portion of the Sneha injected into the bowels of a patient without producing any special physical discomfort should be ascribed to an extremely parched or dry condition of his organism, and would not require any special medical treatment. 35-36.

In case of a Sneha not flowing out from the bowels within a period of twenty-four hours of its introduction (and in case of its producing any supervening symptoms), corrective (S'odhanai reinedies should be employed and all subsequent applications of Sneha should be stopped. Thus we have finished describing the diseases (Vyapat and ^-ymptoms which result from the injudicious use of Sneha (-Vastis) together wih the nature of the medical treatment to be employed in each of them. 2)7

U ttara- vastis ; — Now we shall describe the mode of applying an Uttara-vasti (injection into the urethra of a male or of a female patient*. The pipe to be used for the purpose (in the case of a male patient) should be made to measure fourteen fingers in length, measured by the patient's own fingers. It should be shaped like the stem of a Mdlati flower (in girth) at its top-end and provided with an aperture admitting the passage of a mustard seed. Several authori ies hold that the leng h of the pipe should be equal to that of the penis \p{ the patient). The largest dose of a Sneha to be used in connection with an urethral injection 1 Uttara-vasti) is only one Kuncha (Pala) ; and this should be determined with discretion in respect of patients below twenty-five years of age. There should be (two) Karnikas (protrusions) in the middle part of the pipe (Netraj in the case of a male.

p. 623

In the case of a ferrale patient, however, the Karnikds should be placed above a space of four fingers (from its end). The whole pips should be ten fingers in length and should be made to suit the urethral channel (of the patient) with an aperture sufficient to allow a Mudgapulse to pass through it. 38.

In the case of a vaginal douche or injection (Vasti), the pipe of the Uttara-vasti should be introduced to the extent of four fingers only into the vaginal canal. Two fingers only of the entire length of the pipe should be inserted into the channel of the urethra in the case of an adult woman, whereas, in the case of a young girl of tender years, the pipe should be introduced to the length of one finger only. Here it should be noted that these measures are to be determined by the standard of the patient's own fingers. A Prasrita measure of the Sneha by which is meant a quantity that would be contained in the hollow of the palms of the patient's hand extending to the roots of the phalanx is the largest dose to be used in both these instances. In the case of pntients of tender years the dosage should be determined with discretion in each case. 39,

The Vasti (bladder of the enema) should be made of the bladder of a hog, lamb, or, a goat, or in its absence, of the skin of the neck of a bird, or of the leg of a Driti ^a leathern bag for holding water), or of any other soft skin. 40.

lYIodc of application :— The body of the patient should be first treated with a Sneha and with fomentation ^Svedri\ and his bowels (As'aya) should be cleansed. He should then be made to partake of a gruel (Yavagu) mixed with milk and clarified butter according to his digestive capacity. He should be made to sit on a cushion placed on even ground and as high as his

624 THK SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. XXXVII.