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

The poison of a (rabid) dog, etc., lies in the teeth and tends to aggravate the Pitta and the Vdyu and hence the patient bitten by such animals is found to imitate their cries and nature. A patient afflicted with such poison cannot be saved even with the greatest care. The seat of a scratch made by the nails or teeth of any of those animals should be rubbed (and the poisoned blood should be let out). It should then be sprinkled over with tepid oil, since the poison in this case aggravates only the Vdyu of the system. 9-10

This reading of Gayadlsa seems to be the better one, as the use of clarified butter in such cases is supported by the custom of our country. Thus ends the sixth Chapter of the Kalpa-sthlna in the Su'sruta Samhita which deals with the symptoms and treatments of rat-poison.

CHAPTER VII.

Now we shall discourse on the Chapter which treats of the sounds of a (medicated) drum, etc., possessed of antivenomous virtues (Dundhubhi-Svaniya). i.

Ksharagada:— The woods of Dhava, As'vakarna, Titiis'ay Palds'a^ Pichu-marda, Pdtali, Pdrihhadraka, Amra^ Udumbara, Karahdtaka, Arjuna, Kakiibha, Satya, Kapitana, S'leshmdtaka, Amkotha, Amalaka, Pragraha^ Kutaj'a, S'ami, Kapittha, As'vmantaka, Arka, Chira-vilva, Mahd-vriksha^ Amshkara, Aralu, Madhuka^ Madhu-s'tgru, S'dka, Goji, Murvd, Tilvaka, Ikshuraka, Gopa-ghantd and Arimedd* should be taken (in equal parts) and burnt down to ashes. The said ashes should be dissolved in the urine of a cow and filtered (through a piece of linen) in the manner of preparing an alkali. This alkaline solution should then be dulyboiled (till it would assume a transparent blood-red hue and slimy character), and the powders of Pippalimula, Tanduliyaka, Vardnga, Chochaka, Manjishthd^ Karaftja, Hasti-Pippali, Markka, Utpala, Sdrivd, Vtdanga, Grihadhuma (soot of a room), Anantd, Soma, Sarald, Vdhlika, Guhd, Kos'dmra, white mustard seeds, Varuna, Lavana, Plaksha, Nichtila, Vardhamdjia, Vanjula, Putra-s'reni, Sapta-parna, Dandaka, Ela-vdluka, Ndga-danti, Ativishd, Ahhayd, Bhadra-ddru Kushtha,

* The plants of these should be taken in full i.e. with their leaves,, roots, branches, etc^ The prepared ash should be dissolved in cow's urine weighing six times the combined weight of the ashes. Dallana says that Gayadisa does not read "S'lrisha, Pichumarda, Kakubha, Arushkara and Madhu-S'igru" in the list.

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Haridrd and Vachd together with pulverised (dead) iron (taken in equal parts)* should be added to it. Then it should be boiled again and preserved in an iron pitcher after it had been duly prepared in the manner of an alkali. 2.

Metrical Texts : — Dundhubhis (drums), banners and the gate ways of houses should be smeared with this alkaline preparation, hearing the sound as well as the sight and touch whereof would lead to the complete elimination of the poison from the system of the patient. This medicine is known as the Kshsiragada which is equally efficacious in cases of S'arkard (gravel), stones in the bladder, Haemorrhoids, VdtaGulma, cough, S'ula (colic), Udara (abdominal dropsy), indigestion, Grahani, extreme aversion to food, general oedema of the body and violent asthma. The remedy is applicable in all cases of poisoning of whatsoever type and acts as a sure antidote to the poison of the serpents headed by the dreadful Takshaka. 3.

Kalyanaka Ghrita :— An adequate quantity of clarified better duly cooked with (the decoction and Kalka of) the drugs known as Vidanga, Tri-phald, Danti, Bhadra-ddru, Hare?iu, Tdlis'a-patra, Manjishthd, Kes'ara, Utpala, Padmaka, Dddima, Mdlati flower, the two kinds of Rajani, the two kinds of Sdrivd^ the two kinds of Sthird, Priyangu, Tagara, Kushtka, the two kinds of Vrihati, Elavdluka, sandal wood and

* The total weight of these powders to be added should be one thirtieth part of the prepared alkaline solution. Dallana says that Gayadasa counts only thirty and he does not read "Maricha, Soma, Guha, Lavana, Chakra and Ala in the text. We do not, however, find Chakra and Ala in the text. J We have, on the other hand, the names of some more drugs which are believed to be mere interpolations from the marginal notes of some manuscripts.

Chap. VII.] KALPA STHANAM. 739