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

Gavdkshi, is known as the Kalyainaka Ghrita. The curative efficacy of this Ghrita extends to cases of poisoning, Grahapasmdra (hysteria due to the influence of malignant stars and planets), Jaundice, Gara dosha (^slow chemical poisoning), asthma, sluggishness of appetite, fever and cough. It is commended to consumptive patients, as well as to men suffering from scantiness of semen and women afflicted with sterility. 4.

Amrita Ghrita:— An adequate quantity of clarified butter duly cooked with the seeds of Apdmdrga and of the two kinds of S'vetd, S iris ha, and Kdkamdchi (previously) pasted with the urine of a cow is known as the Amrita-Ghrita. It embraces within the pale of its therapeutic virtues all cases of poisoning and is capable of bringing back an apparently dead man to life. 5.

lYlaha-sugandhi Agada:— The following drugs viz., (red) sandal wood, Aguru, Kushtha, Tagara, Tila-parnika, Prapaundarika, Nalada, Sarala, Deva-ddru^ Bhadra-s'ri (white sandal wood), Yavaphald, Bhdrgi, Nili, Sugandhikd, Kdleyaka, Padmaka, Madhuka, Ndgara, Jatd (a variety of Jatd-mdmsi), Punndgay Eld, Elavdlu^ Gairika^ Dhydniaka, Bald, Toya, Sarjarasa, Mdmsi, Sita-pushpd, Harenukd, Tdlis'apatra, small Eld, Priyangu, Kutantiata, S'dila pushpa, S'aileya, Patra, Kdldnu-Sdrivd, Tri-katti, S'ita-s'iva,* Kdsmarya, Katu-rohini, Sotnardji\Ati-visha , Prithvikd, Indra-vdruni, Us'ira, Varuna, Musta, Nakha, Kustutnburn, the two kinds of S'vetd, -f* the two kinds of

* Dallana explains "S'ita-s'iva" to mean "camphor". Others explain it to mean "S'ami."

+ The text has "S'vetd" in the dual number meaning the two kinds of "S'vetd'&w; white Vacha and white Apardjita. Dallana gives only

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Haridrd, Sthauneya, Ldkshd, the five kinds of officinal salts, Kmnuda, Utpala, Padma, flower of Arka, flowers and fruits of Champaka, As'oka, Sumanas, Tilaka (sesamum), Pdtali, Sdlntali, S'elu^ S'irisha, Surasz, Trina-s'uli and of Sindhuvdra, flowers of Dhava, As'vakarna, and Tinisa, Guggula, Ku7nkuma, Vimbi, Sarpdkshi and Gandha-NdkuH should be carefully collected and pasted with honey, clarified butter and the bile of a cow and should be kept inside a horn (or a receptacle made of that material). This medicine, which is the best of all anti-venomous medicinal preparations, would rescue from the jaws of death, a patient even with drooped down shoulders and sunk and upturned eyes. It is capable of destroying in a moment the irresistible firelikc poison even of the dreadful infuriated V^suki, the king of serpents. This Agada which consists of eighty-five ingredients is callei the Mahasugandhi Agada and is the most potent of all antivenomous remedies. It should constantly be in the possession of a king. Smeared with the present preparation he is sure to be a favourite with all his subjects and to shine with his sovereign majesty even amidst his enemies. 6.

A physician well versed in the natures of poisons, should adopt all remedial measures excepting the heatengendering ones in all types of poisoning. But this rule would not be applicable in a case of insect- bite inasmuch as the poison of an insect is cool in its potency and hence would be aggravated by the application of any cooling measures. 7.

"Vachi" as its synonym, which shows he takes the word in the singular number and not in the dual as in the printed text. This appears to be tha correct reading, for otherwise the number of the drugs in the list would be more than eighty-five.

Chap. VII.] KALPA STHANAM. 74I

Rules of diet and conduct :— Wholesome diets which have been enumerated in the chapter on Anupdna-Vidhi, should be prescribed in cases of poisoning after a due consideration of the nature, habit, and temperament of the patient who should be warned against the use of unwholesome ones. The use of Phdnita (liquid treacle), S'igru, Sauvira, the taking of meals before the digestion of the previous ones, the group of Nava-Dhdnya (unmatured corn), wine, sesamum, oil and Kulattha-'^xAsQ, sleep in the day time, sexual intercourse, physical exercise, fits of anger and exposure to the sun are forbidden in the case of a poisoned patient. 8.

Symptoms of elimination of poison :

— The restoration of the deranged Doshas and of the vital principles (Dhdtus of the body) to their normal state, a natural craving for food and drink, the normal colour and condition of the tongue and of the urine and the normal state and functions of the mind and of the sense-organs in a poisoned patient would indicate the full and complete elimination of the poison from his system. 9.

Thus ends the Seventh Chapter of the Kalpa-Sthdna in the Sus'ruta Samhita which treats of the sounds of medicated drums, etc.

CHAPTER VIII.

Now wc shall discourse on insects, i.e. the measures, etc. to be adopted in cases of insect-bite, etc. (KitaKalpa). I.

Various kinds of worms and insects (Kita) germinate from the semen, fecal matter, urine, putrid eggs and putrid carcases of serpents which are marked by Vdtaja, Pittaja (Agneya) and Kaphaja (Ambuja) temperaments. The poisons of these vermin which are nothing but insects (Kita), arc apt to be most dangerous in the long run on account of their being acted upon by the Doshas and may be divided into four* groups. 2.

Insects of Vataja Temperament :—