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

The Kaphaja Type:— This abscess is shaped like an Indian saucer (s'arava) and seems cold to the touch. It assumes a light yellow colour and is characterised by numbness, itching and little pain. The growth and suppuration of this abscess is very slow. The secretions from a Vataja abscess are thin, those from a Pittaja type are yellow, while the exudations from a Kaphaja abscess arc white. J.

The Sannipatika Type:— An abscess of

the Sannipatika type is of varied colour, and is attended with a varied sort of pain (sucking, drawing, turning etc.) and exudes secretions of various colours (white, yellow, etc.). It is little raised or elevated at its top, large and irregular in its shape and does not uniformly suppurate in all its parts. 8,

Agantuja or Kshataja Type :-~The local

or inherent heat of an ulcer, (caused by a blow or a dirt) in a person, addicted to unwholesome regimen, is augmented and conducted by the deranged Vayu and vitiates the blood and Pittam, thus giving rise to a kind of abscess which is known as the Agantuja Vidradhi (traumatic abscess). Symptoms of the Pittaja type likewise mark this type of abscess and fever, thirst and a burning sensation attend it from the very beginning. 9.

The Raktaja Type: — This abscess assumes a black or tawny colour, covered with a large number of black vesicles, and fever and an intolerable burning and pain attended with all the symptoms peculiar to the Pittaja type, mark the present form of the disease. It is called Raktaja Vidradhi. Of external Vidradhis or abscesses, those of the Sannipatika type should be regarded as incurable. 10 — 1 1.

Antara-Vidradhi ;— Now we shall describe the characteristic features of internal abscesses (Antara-

[Chap. IX. THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA . 63

Vidradhi). The Vdyu, Pittam and Kaphah of the body, deranged through eating heav}-, incompatible and incongenial (to the physical temperament of the eater) articles of food or of dr\-, putrid and decomposed substances, or by excessive coition and fatiguing physical exercise, or by voluntary repression of any natural urging of the body or through the eating of food which is followed b\' an acid reaction, either severally or collectively give rise to a tumour-like (Gulma), raised, or elevated abscess in the interior of the organism, which is often felt to be shaped like an ant-hill. 12-13.

Localities: — They are generally found to be seated at the mouth (neck) of the bladder, or about the umbilicus, or in the sides, or in the Kukshi (inguinal regions), or on the Vrikkas, or on the liver, or in the heart, or on the Kloma, or on the spleen, or in the rectum. Their general characteristics are identical with those of the several types of external abscess. The symptoms of their suppurated or unsuppurated stages should be determined in the light of the chapter on Amapakvaishanyiam (Ch XVII Sutra.). 14-15.

Their specific symptoms : -Now hear

me describe the symptom.s which specifically mark these internal abscesses according to their seats in the different regions of the organism. An abscess appearing in the restum (Guda) is marked by the suppression of the flatus (Vata). Seated in the bladder, it gives rise to difficulty of urination and scantiness of urine. Appearing about the umbilicus it produces a distressing hic-cough and a rumbling sound (Atopa) in the intestines. Seated in either of the sides (Kukshi) it tends to aggravate inordinately the vayu of the body. Appearing in the inguinal region it gives rise to an extreme catching pain at the back and waist. Seated in either

64 NIDANA STHANAM [Chap. IX.

of the Vrikkas it brings about a contraction of the sides. Appearing on the spleen, it produces symptoms of difficult and obstructed respiration. Seated on the heart it gives rise to an excruciating and piercing pain within its cavity and a drawing pain (Graha) extending all over the body (D. R. — cough). Seated in the Liver its characteristic indications are thirst and difficult breathing (D. R. — hic-cough) whereas a sort of unquenchable thirst is the symptom which marks its seat on the Kloma. 16-17.