An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita, Vol. II — trans. Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna (1911)
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The translator’s English as printed (Kunja Lal Bhishagratna). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
bulbous poisons should be deemed as very strong* in their potency and they possess the following tci properties in common. They arc parching (Ruksha) and heat-making (Ushna in their potency. They are sharp (Tikshna) and subtle (Sukshma> i,e.^ have the power of penetrating into the minutest capillaries of the body and arc instantaneous lAS'u) in their effects. They first permeate the whole organism and become subsequently digested (VyavAyi) and disintegrate the rootprinciples of the body (Vikds'i). They are non-viscid (Vis'ada), light in i)otcncy (Laghu) and indigestible (Apj^ki). 15,
A poison aggravates the bodily W^yw in virtue of its parching quality and vitiates the blood and the Fitta through its heat-generating property. It overwhelms the mind (produces unconsciousness) and tends to disintegrate the limbs and muscles in virtue of its sharpness and penetrates into and deranges the minutest capillaries owing to its extreme subtile essence. It proves speedily fatal owing to its speedy activity and spreads through the entire organism 1 which is the very nature of a drug) on account of its rapid permeating or expansive quality. It annihilates the root-principles (Dhatus) as well as the Doshas and the Malas (excreta) of the body through the power of disintregation, and does not addhere to any spot therein owing to its non-viscidness. It baffles the efficacies of other drugs and thus becomes unremediable on account of the extreme lightness (of its potency), and it cannot be easily assimilated owing to its innate indigestibility. It thus proves troublesome for a long time. 16.
* The text has ''Ugra-virj'ani'' (strong in potency). Gayi reads "Agra-Vicy^ni" (of great poteney).
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A poison of whatsoever sort, whether animal, vegetable, or chemical, which proves almost instantaneously fatal (within a day) should be regarded as possessed of all the ten aforesaid qualities. 17.
Definition of Dushi-visha (weak and
slow poison): — A poison whether animal, vegetable or chemical, not fully eliminated from the system and partially inherent therein, enfeebled, of course by antipoisonous remedies, is designated a Dushi-visha (weak and slow poison) which is even extended to those the keenness of potency whereof is enfeebled by the sun, the fire and the wind, as well as to those which are found to be naturally devoid of some of the ten aforesaid natural qualities of a poison. A Dushi visha, owing to its enfeebled or attenuated virtue and as a necessary consequence of its being covered over with the bodily Kapha, ceases to be fatal though retained in the system for a number of years. 18.
Symptoms of weakand slow poisoning :— A person afflicted with any sort of DushiVisha develops such symptoms as, looseness of stool (diarrhoea), a discoloured complexion, fetor in the body, bad taste in the mouth, thirst, epileptic fits, vomiting (D. R. — vertigo), lassitude, confused speech and all the symptoms of Dushyodara.* A Dushi - Visha lodged in the Am^s'aya (stomach) gives rise to diseases due to the combined action of the V^yu and Kapha; seat-^d in the Pakvatsaya (intestines) it brings on diseases due to the deranged condition of the VAyu and Pitta and leads to the falling off of the hair. The patient becomes rapidly atrophied, and looks like a wingless bird. When it attacks the Rasa, etc.f of the system
• See Chapter VII. para 10, Nidc^na-sthana.
t These are the seven funJamental principles of the body.
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690 THE SUSHRUTA SAMIIITA. [Chap. II.
it produces the diseases* peculiar to the root or vital principles of the body. Its action on the body becomes aggravated on a cloudy day and by exposure to cold and wind. 19-21 .
Premonitory Symptoms of DushiViSha poisoning" : — Now hear mc first describe the premonitory symptoms (of its aggravation). They are as follow : —Sleepiness, heaviness (of the limbs), yawning, a sense of looseness (in the joints), horripilation and aching of the limbs. These are followed by a sense of intoxication after meals, indigestion, disrelish for food, eruptions of circular patches (Mandala) on the skin, urticaria (Kotha), fainting fits, loss of the vital principles of the organism (D. R — loss of flesh), swelling of the face and the extremities (D.R. — Atrophy of the hands and legs), ascites (Dakodara), vomiting, epileptic fits, Vishama-jvara, high-fever and an unquenchchable thirst. Moreover, some of these poisons produce insanity. Some of them are characterised by an obstinate constipation of the bowels (Anaha), others, by an involuntary emission of semen while a few others produce confused speech, Kushtha (leprosy), or some other similar disease. 22.
Derivative Meaning of ** DushiViSha " : — A constant use of some particular time,f place and diet as well as constant and regular day-sleep
^tends (slowly) to poison the fundamental root-principles t By •' the particular time" is meant a cloudy and windy day as well as the rainy season. By "the particular place" is meant a marshy country, and by ''the particular diet" i* meant wine, sesamum, Kulaltha-pulse, etc. as well as physical exercise, sexual intercourse, fits of anger, etc.
* See Chapter xxvii, Sutra Sthana.
Chap. II.] KALrA STHANAM. 69 1
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