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

If we take r2fqiliqi: in the sense of "a woman whose life is in great danger" and not exactly in the sense of "a woman who is dead" as recommended by Dalian and Arundutla (and which might have been the meaning if instead of f^qg a word like sjiiqn had been used in the text), we find at once that Weber's remark in his History of Indian Literature p. 270 "that in Surgery they (the Hindus) attained to high proficiency" is not based on the solitary evidence of rhinoplasty alone.

In performing obstetric operations with success examples like this are not rare. If the two diflTerent readings ^^ITI^ ^"<^ <?f%51'C betaken conjointly into consideration we are impressed with the idea that in ancient

6o THE SUSriRUTA SAMHITA. CChap. VIII.

India Cicsarean operations were very frequently undertaken in cases of puerperal eclampsia, where the molher had been in the deplorable condition of a goat sufTerin}^ from cramps and convulsions as well as in cases of an accidental death not unlike that which fell to the lot of the poor molher of him in whose nnme the operation is called. q^ = goat»in = destroyer (Sec Monier William's Dictionary) hence a goat-destroyer = a tiger or wolf) or in cases where the presence of deformity in the parturient canal or of maUormalion of the foetus prevented the natural delivery of a living child. The incision is not to be made anywhere else but exactly in the place where Kelkin saw the illiterate Negro successfully apply his knife, the selection of !(f^' ({{^^ as suggested by some commentators being a tempest on a tea pot especially when the subject is beyond the grave. In a living subject the selection of a proper site for the o,"eration is of course very commendable. Hence we venture to suggest that extraction of the living foetus from the womb by making incision through this part of the pelvis was also attempted later on. We extract here the two dififerent readings and leave our readers to judge whether we are correct to draw the above inferences. — Ed.

^r«fi^ ^^^^\^\: f,fg : H^^e^ qf? oi5?i«i% ori: ai^.^ qij^sc^^^- r^?'^ I Bagabhala S'arira S'.hanam. ch. II. slo. 53.

^ft^^\K U^^w. ffg: v^^'H gf? ?i?igiii5^^*i% « m^fqc^;*?-

Thus ends the eighth Chapter of the Nidana Sthanam in the Sus'ruta Samhitd, which treats of Niddnam of difficult labour and false presentations.

CHAPTER IX.

Now \vc shall discourse on the Nidanam of Vidradhi (abscess etc.). I.

The blessed Dhanvantari, the honoured of the gods, who for the promulgation of the knowledge of the Ayurveda and for administering proper medicines (to the sick), took his birth at Kasi, (Benares) as a king, thus fully discoursed on the symptoms of Vidradhi (abscess etc.) to his disciple, Sus'ruta. 2.

Definition and classification :— The

extremely deranged and aggravated Vayu, Pittam and Kapham, resorting to the bone and vitiating the Tvaka ( skin ), blood, flesh, and fat of a person (with their own specific properties), gradually give rise to a deep-seated, painful, round or extended swelling which is called Vidradhi by the wise. The disease admits of being divided into six types such as the Vataj'a t>-pe, the Pittaja type, the Kaphaja t\'pe, the Sannipatika type, the Kshataja type (traumatic), and the Asrija i^which has its seat in the vitiated blood). Now we shall describe their specific symptoms. 3-4,

The Vsttaja Type : — This abscess assumes a black Or vermilion coKnir, is felt rough to the touch and is characterised by a sort of excruciating pain. The growth and suppuration of the abscess are brought about in a variety of forms (owing to the variable and irregular action of the deranged Vayu inolvcd in these cases). 5.

The Pittaja Type : — This abscess assumes a blackish }clIow colour or one like that of a ripe Audumvara fruit. It is attended with fever and a burning sensation, and is of rapid growth and suppuration. 6.

62 NIDANA STHANAM. Chap. IX.]