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

Agastya- Leha : — Two Palas each of the drugs known as Das'a-mula , Gaja-pippali , Atma-guptd , Bhdrgi, S’athi , Pushkara- roots, S’unthi , Pdthd , Gulancha> Granthika (Pippali-roots), S , amkha-pushpi ) Rdsnd , Chitraka , Apdmdrga , and Durdlabhd , and one Adhaka (half a seer) of PVwtf together with one hundred large-sized Haritaki should be boiled with one Drona measure of water and taken down from the oven with its threequarter part evaporated in the process. It should then be filtered through a piece of linen. A Tuld weight of treacle should be dissolved in the above decoction and duly cooked with the addition of a Kudava measure each of oil and clarified butter. When the cooking is

334 the sushruta samhitX. [Chap. Lit finished, powdered Pippali should be added as an afterthrow and honey should be mixed with it, when cooled. One Karsha weight of this elixir Leha should be licked every day in combination with two Abhayds. It conquers cases of phthisis, Grahani edema, dulness of appetite, hoarseness of voice, cough, Pdndu, asthma, head-ache (Siroroga), Hrid-roga (diseases of the heart)., hiccough and Vishama Jwara. A j-egular use of this elixir improves strength and memory, imparts vigour of mind and energy of action and removes disinclination to work. It was first concocted by the holy sage, Agastya. 30.

Clarified butter duly cooked with the decoction made by boiling the drugs of the Madhura or any other suitable group with the essence of Kulira (crab), Sukti, Chataka, Ena-deer and Ldva proves curative in the case of cough due to the presence of any ulcer (in the lungs) or to any wasting process in the system. The use of clarified butter duly cooked with S'atdvari , Ndga-vald and Vald proves beneficial to a person afflicted with cough. 31—32.

Thus ends the fifty-second chapter of the Uttara Tantra in the Sus'ruta SamhitX which deals with the (symptoms and) treatment of cou^h

CHAPTER LIII.

Now we shall discourse on the chapter which deals with the (symptoms and) medical treatment of hoarseness of voice (Svara-bheda-Pratishedha). i.

Etiology : — The Vâyu and the other Doshas are deranged and aggravated by such causes as extremely loud speaking, taking poison, reading at the top of the voice, external hurt or injury and exposure to cold, etc., * and finding lodgment in the sound carry .- ing channels, they affect the voice. The disease is called Svara-bheda (hoarseness of voice) and is classified into six different types. 2.

Specific Symptoms 8—' The Vitaja type imparts a black colour to the face, eyes, urine and stool and the voice acquires the sound of the rough and hoarse braying of an ass +. The face, eyes and the stool and urine of the patient are tinged yellow in a case of the Pittaja type and the voice sounds sunken as if proceeding from the throat with an internal burning sensation. In the Kaphaja type the patient constantly feels a sense of constriction in his throat with mucus and is only enabled to speak slowly and softly and that specially in the day. Symptoms specifically belonging to the three preceding Dosha-originated types, are simultaneously present in the type due to the concerted action of the three Doshas (Tri-Dhoshaja) together with indistinctness of speech and incapability

* Here Pitta- aggravating and Vayu -aggravating causes also are intended by the word i-e. t etc. in I t pallana’s reading evidently is indistinct).

336 THE SUSI1RUTA SAM11ITA. [Chap. LIIL of articulation. This type should be deemed as incurable. 3 — 6.

Symptoms of Kjshayaja and Medoja types S— In the Kshayaja type the voice emits vapour and, becoming lower and lower, it ultimately disappears. This stage of Svara-bheda (loss of voice) should be given up as incurable. In an attack of the Hedoja type the patient speaks very indistinctly, the voice remaining, as it were, inside his throat. And his throat, lips and palate become sticky. 7-8.

Prognosis : — Svara-bheda in cases of weak, old, emaciated, or fatty patient, as well as a long-standing, congenital or Tri-Doshaja one should be regarded as incurable. 9.

General Treatment The body of the

patier.t should be first rubbed wiih a Sneha (clarified butter, lit. — treated with emulsive measures) and the deranged bodily Dosha underlying the root of the attack should be curbed with the help of emetics, purgatives, Vasti, errhines, Avapida-Nasya, lambativcs, smoke-inhalations or gargles. Measures and remedies previously mentioned in connection with the treatment of cough and asthma should be as well employed in their entirety in the present disease. Now hear me describe the medicinal remedies which arc specifically beneficial to a patient afflicted with an attack of Svarabheda. 10.

Treatment of V^taja Type : -in the

Vsftaja type of the disease, the patient should take, after a full meal, clarified butter mixed with the expressed jiyce of Kdsa-marda y Vdrtdku and Mdrkava with Artagala (Arjua). In the alternative, Ghrita prepared from goat’s milk and duly cooked with Yava-Kshdra and Aiantoda or with Chitraka and Amahika , or with

Chap, till.]

UTTARA-TANTRA.

p. 337

Deva-ddru and Agni (Chitraka) should be taken with honey. The diet of the patient in such a case should consist of boiled rice taken with treacle and clarified butter, followed by draughts of tepid water. 1 1.