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

crop of white pustular growths (Pidak&) on the Sclerotic coat (Smkla), near the limit of the black coat (Iris) and covered over with shreds of veins are called the SintPidaksC The disease in which a speck coloured like the Indian bell-metal (Kdmsya) and covered over with a vein (Sird) appears on the region of the Scleratic coat is called the Balrfsa*. 8-13.

Thus ends the fourth chapter of the Uttara-Tantra in the Sus'ruta Samhit£ which treats of the pathology of the diseases of the Sceloretic region of the eye.

* The reading in Mâdhava’s Nidana is quite different here, and Dallana seems to support that. It is defined as the disease in which a hard speck appears like a drop of water on the white coat and looks like bell-metal in colour.

CHAPTER V.

Now we shall discourse on the chapter which* deals with the pathology of the diseases of the black part of the eye— Choroid including the Iris (Krishna-gataRoga-Vijniniya). r.

The diseases which are found to invade the region of the Choroid including the Iris (Krishna-mandala) have been briefly said to be four in number. Their names are Sa-vrana-Sukra, A-vrana-Sukra, Pâkdtyaya and AjakA 2.

Symptoms : — A puncture-like dip in the region of the (Krishna-mandala) with a sensation there as if the part has been pricked with a needle and attended with an excruciating pain and a hot exudation is called Sa-vrana-^ukra. If the seat of this disease considerably remote from the pupil — entire part of the Drishti (Retina) be marked by the absence of pain and discharge and be not deep-seated and if there be not double spots, it offers very little chance of remedy. 3-4.

Symptoms and Prognosis of A-vrana-dukra : — A whitish film appearing on the region of the Choroid including the Iris (Krishna) like a speck of transparent cloud in the sky, and attended with lachrymation and slight pain due to the eye-disease known as Abhishyanda (Ophthalmia — lit. secretion) is called the A-vrana-^ukra. This is easily curable. A case of Avrana-S>ukra (non-ulcerated film) which is thickened, deep-seated and long-standing, may be cured only with the greatest difficulty, while an long-standing case of this disease, if it is mobile, covered with shreds of flesh, vein-ridden, stretching down to the second layer of skin (in the eye) and obstructing the vision,

Chap. V.]

UTTARA-TANTARAM.

p. 19

severed in the middle and marked with a reddish tint in the extremities, should be deemed as incurable. Several authorities aver that the appearance of Mudgfa like specks or films on the region of the Iris, attended with growths of pustules and hot lachrymations, should be like-wise regarded as incurable. The fact of its (speck) assuming the colour of the feather of a Tittira bird is an additional indication of the incurable nature of this disease. 5The appearance of a whitish milky film over the black part of the eye slowly shrouding it entirly with its mass and attended with acute pain is known as the Akshi-Prfkâyaya. This is invariably found to result from an attack of Akshi-kopa* and is due to the concerted action of all the Doshas. A painful reddish growth, like the head of a goat, found to shoot forth from beneath the surface of the black part and attended with reddish slimy secretion is called an Ajak& 6-7.

Thus ends the fifth chapter of the Uttara-Tantra in the Sus'ruta Saiti^ hitS. which treats of the pathology of the diseases of the black part of the eye.

* According to Mâdhava’s reading in his Nidana, this disease need not necessarily result from an attack of Akshi-kopa, and there need not be an acute pain, and it would be incurable.

CHAPTER VI.

Now we shall discourse on the chapter which deals with the (symptoms and) pathology of the diseases affecting the eye as a whole (Sarva-gata-ROgaVljnaniya) i.

Names and causes The four types of Abhishyandha (Ophthalmatis), the four types of Adhimantha, the two forms of Akshi-pAka (suppuration of the eye) attended with or without swelling, these ten, as well as HatAdhimantha, Anila-ParjAya, £>uskAkshipAka, Anyato-vAta, AmlAdhyushita, Drishti, SirotpAta and SirA-Harsha are the names of the (seventeen kinds of) diseases which affect the eye as a whole. Nearly all these forms of eye-diseases may result from the Abhishyanda (Ophthalmitis). Hence a wise physician shall try speedily to remedy a case of Abhishyanda (Ophthalmitis ) as soon as it is found out. 2.

Specific symptoms of Abhishyanda : — The symptoms which mark a case of Abhishyanda due to the action of the deranged Vrfyu are pricking pain (in the eyes), numbness, horripilation and irritation in the eyes, roughness and parchedness of the organ, cold lachrymations and headache. A case of Pittaja-Abhishyanda exhibits the following features, viz ., burning and inflammatory suppuration of the eyes, longing for coldness (in the eyes), excessive hot lachrymations, cloudy vision and a yellowness of the eye. In the Kaphaja type of the disease, the affected organ longs for the contact of warm articles and is attended with a heaviness, itching sensation, swelling, excessive whiteness and a constant deposit and discharge of slimy mucus. The special type of this disease which has

Chap. VI. J

UTTARA-TANTARAM.

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