An English Translation of the Sushruta Samhita, Vol. III: Uttara-tantra — trans. Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna (1916)

Chap. XLVI ]

UTTARA-TANTRA.

p. 287

case of Murchchhl The diet should consist of cooked red S'dli- rice or barley grains or Srt/2#tf-pulsc.* ^ — 8.

Specific Treatment:— A compound consisting of NdgLi-kes’ara, Marietta , Us'ira , the kernal of Kola as well as Visa (lotus stock) and Mrinila (lotusstem) taken in equal parts should be taken with the decoction of Satina (D. R. — with cold water). Pippali with honey or Pathyd w ith sugar should also be taken. The mouth and the nostrils should be pressed close during a fit and the breast-milk should be given to the patient to be drunk. 9.

Strong medicinal errhinc should be administered and strong emetics should be as well employed in cases of repeated attacks of the fit. Clarified butter duly cooked and prepared w ith the decoction of Haritaki or with expressed juice of Amalaki should be prescribed. The decoction remedial to Pitta ja-fever should be given in a cold state, mixed wdth Drdksha , sugar, parched paddy, Nilotpala and Padma and well perfumed with any good-smelling scent. 10.

Sannyasa : — The case of a patient lying in a comatous state and incapable of being roused up or brought to under the circumstances owing to the aggravated nature of the delusion (unconsciousness) due to an extensive preponderance of the deranged bodily Dosha (involved therein) should be looked upon by an intelligent physicion as extremely hard to cure. This is said to be a case of Sannyrfsa (Epilepsy ?). Just as a lump of clay, when throwm into water, should tfc instantaneously taken up before it is being finally desolved therein, so a patient lying unconscious under an attack of suspended

* Chakrapdni and Vrinda both -read Mudga also in the list of the diet.

p. 288

THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA.

[Chap. XLVI.

animation ( Sannyisa ) should be speedily restored to consciousness with the help of medecinal remedies before the process of final dissolution ( lit. — death ) sets in his body, il — 12.

Treatment : — The patient should be tried to be roused up with the application of strong eye-salves (Anjana), unguents and inhalation of smoke (Dhuma) or by pricking needles into his finger-nails or by discoursing sweet words and music in his hearing or by shaking his limbs roughly or by rubbing his skin with the fruits of Atmagupta creepers. An attack of the present disease not amenable to the above remedies but attended with, salivation, laboured breathing, retention of stool and urine and distension of the abdomen should be given up as irremediable. Strong emetics and purgatives should be exhibited after the return of consciousness and diet should consist of light articles of fare. S'ildjatu * mixed with Tri-phald , Chitraka , S’unthi , etc. should be employed in combination with sugar and continued for a month. Matured clarified butter should be used in particular. Medicinal compounds remedial to any case of fever originated by the Dosha in the case may be as well prescribed in any case of Murchchhd ; and a case dtie to the action of poisom should be remedied with the antitoxine remedies (mentioned in the Kalpa Sthdna). 13—14.

Thus ends the forty-sixth chapter of the Uttara-Tantra in the Sus'ruta Samhitfi which deals with the (symptoms and) treatment of Murchchhtf.

* According to Dallana S'iUjatu should be prepared with the said drugs after the manner of Bh4van4 saturation and then be applied with sugar.

CHAPTER XL VII.

Now shall discourse on the (symptoms and) medical treatment of alcoholism and its kindred maladies (P£ns(tydya~Pratishedha). i.

Properties and actions of Wine

Wine is heat-making in its potency, keen or sharp in its properties, subtile in its essence, acts as a soaker or cleanser of moisture and albuminous matter (Vis'ada), is dry, and instantaneous in its action (Asukara), stimulating or exhilarating in its effect (Vyavâyi) and is -diffusive (Vikâs'i). It destroy cold and shivering by virtue of its heat-making potency. It suspends ail cognitive process (lit.-intellectual motions) on account of its keenness or sharpness, enters into every limb and member of the body by reason of its subtlety ( Sukshmatva ), destroys Kapha ( phlegm ) and semen in virtue of its Vais'adya, enrages or aggravates the bodily Vâyu on account of its dryness ( Rukshmtva ), and is instantaneous in its action by reason of its As'ukâritva. It is exhilarating on account of its Vyavdyitva and diffusive (coursing swiftly all through the body) for its Vikds'itva, Wine is acid in its taste, is light and appetising, and produces fresh relish for food. Others assume the presence of*all the tastes except the saline one in it. 3 — 4* Wine taken in combination with cooked meat and boiled rice, or any other articles of food profusely saturated with a Sneha (clarified butter, etc.) adds to the longevity, muscular strength and corpulency of a person (using it in moderate quantities) and to the exhilarated state of mind accompanied with beauty, fortitude, vigour and valour and these benefits one may derive frpm the proper use of wipe. This fiery liquid in com37

p. 290

THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITX. [Chap. XLVII.

bination with the aggravated bodily fire ( Kdya-Agni ) produces the symptoms of intoxication and unconciousness, etc. ( Mada ) in a foolish person taking it without food or in an empty stomach and in an inordinate quantity. 5..