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

The proper. use of oil duly cooked in combination with the expressed juice of Bhringa-rdja weighing ten times as much, would relieve cough and asthma. 23.

Meat a8 Diet S — Essence of any bird of the Vishkira species (e.g. chicken, Liva, etc.) charged with the juice of any acid fruit (e g. pomegranate, Vijapura, etc.) and with clarified butter and salted with a profuse quantity of Saindhava , or the soup of Kulattha cereals, properly cooked with the heads of Ena deer, etc., as well as milk duly cooked with (Anti-asthmatic and Vdyusubduing) drugs (e.g. Pancha-mula) would destroy cough and asthma. 24.

The five Lambatives A lambative com-

* Some editors add this sentence after the next (Tdlisddi) Ghrita.

t Vjtotf-GHurita is mentioned in the treatment 'of Rakta-pitta (Qu XLV t 20, Uttara-Tantra). It should be prescribed in cases of asthma when Pitta predominates.

t Shatpala-Ghrita is mentioned in the treatment of Vâa-Vyâlhi. At should be prescribed if Vstyu prevail.

UTTARA-TAiiTRA.

Chap. LI.]

■t,

3^3 posed of any of the following five groups of drugs mentioned in a hemistich each, viz , Tinis'a-seeds, Karkata • S'ringi and S'uvarchikd ( Jatuka-creeper)> or DurdrlabhA , Pippali \ Katuka ixAHaritaki;, or porcupine’s hair, peocock’s feather, Kola* (Chavya) Mdgadhikd , and Kana* * or Bhdrgi , Tvak , (cardamom), S'tingavera> Sarkarci (sugar) and SW/flâr-bark, or the well-pounded seeds of Tri-kantaka alone, should be licked with honey and clarified butter by a patient suffering from cough and asthma. 25.

Powders of sapta-chchhada-ftow e rs and Pippali should be taken with curd-cream (Mastu) or powders of fried barley grains (?) previously soaked for several times in the expressed juice of tender ^^fo-twigs together with honey should be taken. As an alternative, a patient suffering from asthma wou'd drink the Tarpana (cordial) prepared with the above-mentioned barleypowder (by mixing it with a copious quantity of water and) with honey. 26.

A potion prepared with the flowers of S'irisha , Kadali and of Kunda and with Mdgadhikd and dissolved in the washings of rice would completely cure all forms of asthma. The pith or inner pulp of AV#-stone, roots of Tdla (palm) tree (D. R. — Tâla-muli) and the burnt skin f of a deer of the Rishya species, should be taken with honey ; or Bhdrgi with honey and clarified butter, or Kadamba- seeds and Nimba in combination with honey and the washings of rice. 27 — 28.

Drdkshd , Haritaki \ Krishnd> K ar kata- d ring i and

* Magbadhiki and Kana are synonyms and mean Pippali. Some, therefore, prescribe two parts of Pippali in the compound. Others prescribe one part of Pippali, and one of Gaja-pippali.

t The skin of the deer should be burnt in a covered earthen pitcher and the black contents should be used.

3 24 the SUSHRUTA SAMlIIxX. [Chap. Li.

Durdlabhd in combination with honey and clarified butter, should be licked by a patient whereby he would get rid even of a violent attack of asthma. A lambative composed of the equal parts of Haridrd Markka , Drdkshd , treacle, Rdsnd, Kand and S'athi. should be given to be licked with oil by an asthma-patient, conforming to the regimen of wholesome diet. 29 — 30.

The expressed liquid of cow-dung and horse-dung should be licked by the patient with honey and powdered Pippali in cases of cough and asthma. The medicinal remedies or compounds mentioned in connection with Pându-roga, and edema (Sotha) or cough, may be employed with efficacy both in cough and asthma. A compound made of Bhdrgt\ Tvak , Tryuskam, oil, Haridrd , Katu - rohini , Pippali ’, Markka , Chanda and the expressed liquid of cow-dung should be given (to be licked). Utktfrik i should be prepared with Tala-keeta-vija * Taken internally, it instantaneously subdues even a violent attack of asthma. 31 — 34.

Articles recommended S— Matured clarified butter, Pippali \ soups of Kulattha , or of the flesh of any J ingala animal, Suri, Souviraka (fermented riceboilings), Hingu , the expressed juice of Mdtuluuga, honey, Drdkshdy Amalaki and Bilva are recommended (as diet) in cases of asthma and hiccough. *35.

Application Of Sv.eda S — Oily fomentation (Snigdha-Sveda) with the help of oil and salt should be applied to the patient suffering from asthma and hiccough, whereby the hardened Kapha (accumulated in the channels) would be liquefied and the deranged bodily Viyu pacified. If the Vdyu and Kapha be not thereby

* We do not know what ‘Tala-kocla’ is. Some printed editions read “Tttlpa-kceta” which would evidently mean a “bug”. Dallana is silent on the point*

Chap. Li.]

UTTARA-TANTRA.

p. 325

pacified, the patient should be first treated with Sneha and then with a diet consisting of boiled rice cooked with meat-soup. Application of Dhuma-inhalation should then be resorted to. 36A.