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

are the eight species of spiders which belong to the first group. A bite by any of them is attended with an aching pain in the head, pain and itching about the seat of the bite and the symp'om^ and disorders peculiar to the aggravated Vdyu and Kapha. The Sauvarnikd, Ldja-varn^, Jalini, Eni-padi, Krishna-varnd, Agni varnd, Kakandd and the Mald-gund belong to the second group and their bites are marked by bleeding, fever, a burning sensation, dysentery and disorders due to the concerted action of all the three deranged Doshas of the body, and the bitten part putrefies. Eruptions of various sorts and pustule 5 and large circular patches as well as large, soft and shifting swellings, red or brown in colour, appear on the skin about the affected part. These are the general features of spider (Lutd)-bites. Now we shall describe the characteristic symptoms which are developed by bites of the several classes of spiders and the course of medical treatment to be adopted in each case. 50-51.

Specilic symptoms of spidcr-bitcs and their treatment :— A bite by a spider of the Tri-mandalat species is marked by a flow of black-coloured blood from the bite which is transformed into an open ulcer. It is also attended with deafness, impaired or cloudy vision and a burning sensation in the eyes. In such cases, a compound consisting of Arka roots, Ra/ant, Ndktdi and Pris'niparnikd should be employed as snuff as well as in drink (Pdna), enemas (Vastis) and ointments etc. A bite by a spider of the Sveta species is followed by the eruption of white-coloured pustules attended with itching, burning sensation, epileptic fits, fever, erysipelas and pain in and secretion from the bite. An Agada consisting of Chandano, Rdsnd, Eld^ Harcnu, Nala, Vanj'ula, Kushtha,

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Ldntajjaka, Chakra and Nalada is efficacious in such a case. A bite by a Kapilai spider is characterised by eruptions of copper-coloured pustules of an indurated nature accompanied by a sense of heaviness in the head, a burning sensation, vertigo and darkness of vision (Timira). The remedy in such a case consists of an anti-poisonous Agada composed of Padmaka, Kushtha, Eld, Karanja, Kakubha-h3.\-'k, S'third, Arkaparni, Apdmdrga, Dufvd and Brdhmi. A case of bite by a Pitikai spider is marked by an eruption of hard pustules, vomiting, fever, colic (^ula) and rediiass of th3 eyes, and the remedy consists in the application of an Agada^ composed of Kutaja, Us'ira, Kiniki_ S'elu, Kadamba and Kakubha-hd^xV. A case of bite by an Ala-visha spider is marked by the bright red colour of the seat of the bite, eruption of pustules like mustard seeds, parchedness of the palate and a burning sensation in the body. The remedy in such a case should consist of an Agada composed oi Priyangu, Hriveya, Kushtha, Ldmajja, Vanjiila, S'ata-pusJipd and the sprouts of the Pippala and the F^/*^ trees. The case of bite by a spider of the Mutra-vishai class is attended with putrefaction (of the affected loc-ility), erysipelas, a flow of blackish blood (from the seat of the bite), cough, difficult breathing, vomiting, epileptic fits^ fever and a burning sensation. The remedy in such a case consists in Manah-s'ild, Ala, Yashti-madhu, Kushtha, Chandana, Padmaka and Ldmajja pasted together and mixed with honey. The case of bite by a spider of the RaktSk species is marked by eruptions of yellow-coloured pustules full of blood and coloured red in the extremities (round the seat of the bite), with a burning sensation and slimy secretion. The Agada in such a case should be prepared with Toy a (Bdlaka) Chandana, Us'ira,

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Padmaka and the bark of Arjuna, S'elu and Amrdtaka, A bite by a spider of the Kasansk class is attended with a flow of slimy cold blood (from the bite), and with cough and difficult breathing, the treatment being the same as in the case of a bite by a spider of the Ratkd class. 52-59.

A bite by a spider (Lutd) of the Krishna^ class smells of fecal matter and is attended with a scanty flow of blood, as well as with fever, epileptic fits, vomiting, burning sensation, cough and difficult breathing. The treatment of such a patient should be taken in hand without holding out any definite hope of recovery and the remedy in this case should consist of an Agada composed of Eld, Chakra, sarpdkshi, Gandha-ndkuli, Chandana and the drugs known as the Mahd-sugandhi (as described in the Dundubhi-svaniya chapter). The case of bite by an Agni-varnat spider is marked by a burning sensation in the seat of the bite, excessive secretion (of blood), fever, a sort of sucking pain, itching, horripilation, a burning sensation in the body and eruptions of pustules. In a case of this type, the patient may be treated with the Agada prescribed for the treatment of a bite by a spider of the Krishna class but no hopes should be held out. 60-61.

General Remedies :— An Agada made of

Sdrivd, Us'ira, YasJiti madhu, Chandana, Utpala and Padmaka may be used with advantage in cases of spider-bites of all types. The bark of S'leshmdtaka and Kshira-pippala should be deemed equally efficacious in all cases of spider-bites, and these may be employed in any shape, viz., as snuff, potion, unguent, etc. 62.

We have described (the symptoms and the treatment of the bites of) the eight classes of spiders which can be cured with difficulty. Taose of the two classes (of the