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

The use of a poisoned Anjana (coUyrium) to the eyes is attended with copious lachrymation, deposit of an increased ([uantity of waxy mucus (in the corners of the eyes), a burning sensation, pain (in the affected organs), impairment of the sight and even blindness. In such a case the patient should be made to drink a potion of fresh clarified butter (Sadyo-ghrita)* alone or with pasted Pippali which would act as a Tarpana (Soother). Anjana prepared with the expressed juice of Mesha s'ringi, Varu?ia-ha.rk, Mushkaka or Ajakama or with Samiidra-plicna ^diStcA with the bile (Pitta) of a cow should be applied to the eyes, or the one prepared with the (^expressed juice of the) flower of Kapittha, Mesha-s'ringi, Bhalldtaka, Bandhuka and Amkotha separately. 30.

The case which is incidental to the use of a paste of poisoned sandals, is marked by a swelling in the legs, secretion from the affected organs, complete anesthesia of the diseased locality and the appearance of vesciles thereon. Those due to the use of poisoned shoes or foot-stools exhibit symptoms identical with those of the above case and the medical treatment in all of these cases should be one and the same. Ornaments charged with poison lose their former lustre and give rise to swelling, suppuration and the cracking of the parts they are worn on. The treatment in these cases due to the use of poisoned sandals and ornaments should be similar to the one advised in connectionp. 683 with that due to the use of poisoned unguents (Abhyanga). 31-32.

* Some are inclined to take "^ri:" as an adverb meaning "instantly" and modifying "q^q^' meaning thereby that clarified butter should be instantly taken.

General Treatment :— The symptoms

which characterise cases of poisoning commencing with ''poisoning through poisoned smoke" and ending with that due to the use of "poisoned ornaments" should be remedied with an eye to each of the specific and characteristic indications, and the medicine known as the Maha-sugandhi Agada to be described hereafter should be administered as drink, unguent, snuff and Anjana. Purgatives or emetics should be exhibited and even strong venesection should be speedily resorted to in cases where bleeding would be beneficial. 33-34.

The drugs known as Mushikd and Ajaruhd should be tied round the wrists of a king as prophylactics to guard against the effects of poisoned food, since either of these two drugs (in virtue of their specific properties) tends to neutralise the operativeness of the poison. A king surrounded by his devoted friends shall cover his chest (with drugs of heart-protecting virtues) and shall drink those preparations of clarified butter, which are respectively known as the Ajeya and the Amrita Ghritas*. He should drink regularly every day such wholesome cordials as honey, clarified butter, curd, milk and cold water and use in his food the meat and soup of the flesh of a peacock, mungoose, Godhd (a species of lizard), or Prishata deer. 35 — A.

The mode of preparing the Soup :—

The flesh of a Godha, mungoose, or deer should be cooked and spiced with pasted Pdlindi (Trivrit), Yashtimadhu and sugar. The flesh of a peacock should be similarly cooked and spiced with sugar, Ativishd

* See Kalpa-Slhana, Chapter II. Para 27, and Chapter VII. para 5, respectively.

684 'T'l^' SUSIIRUTA SAMHITA [Chi^v. 1and Sunthi and that of a Prishata deer with Pippali and S\tnthi. The soup of S'imbi taken with honey and clarified butter should, similarly, be deemed beneficial (as being possessed of similar antitoxic properties). An intcUij^ent king should always use food and diink of poison-destroying properties. In a case of imbibed poison, the heart should be protected (with a covering of anti-poisonous drugs) and the patient should be made to vomit (the contents of his stomach) with a potion composed of sugar, Pippali, Yashti-madhu, honey and the expressed juice of sugar-cane dissolved in water. ZS'Z^'

Thus ends the fust Chapter of the Kalpa-slhina in the .Sus'ruia Samhita which deals with the mode oi protecting food and drink (from the effect^ of poison).

CHAPTER 11.

Now we shall discourse on the chapter which treats of the indications (effects, nature and operations) of Sthcivara .vegetable and mineral) poisons (SthavaraVisha-Vijnaniyam). r.

Sthavara-poison : its Source iM. T.)—

There are two kinds of poison viz., that obtained from immobile things iSthavara* and that obtained from mobile creatures (Jangama). The sources of the Sthdvara (vegetable and mincrali poison are ten, while those of the Jangama (animal) poison are sixteen in number. The ten sources from which a Sthavara poison may be obtained are roots, leaves, fruits, flowers, bark, milky exudations, pith (Sdra , gum {Niryasa\ bulb and a mineral or metal (Dhfitu. 2-3.

Names of the different Vegetable and