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

S’irisha- seed, La$'una> S’untki \ Siddhdrthaka % Vacha , Manjishthd , Rajani and Krishna should be pasted together with goat’s urine and dried in the shade. Vartis (sticks) prepared with this should be applied with the bile (of a cow) along the eye-lids as an Anjana. Vartis prepared with Naktamdla- fruit, Tri-katu , roots of S’yondka and of Vilva as well as the two kinds of Haridrd should be used as an Anjana in a similar way. Saindhava , Katuka , Hingu , Vayasthd (Guduchi) and Vachd f pasted together with goat’s urine and with the bile of a fish, should be similarly used as an Anjana in cases of attacks by the Grahas which would not otherwise yield. 26-28.

Matured clarified butter, Las’nna , Hingu , Siddhdr - thaka, Vacha , Golomi , Ajalomi, B hu takes’ i (JatAmAmsi), Jatd (Gandha-mAmsi), Kukkuti (a kind of bulb), Sarpagandhd, Kdna , (Kshira-kAkoli), Vishdnikd (MadhurikA), Risky aprokta, Vayasthd , S’ringi \ Mohana-Valli y (VatapatrikA), Arka- roots, Tri-katu , Zatfd (Priyangu), Anjana (RasAnjana\ Srotonjana , Naipdli ’ Haritala and other articles which have the efficacy of exorcising evil spirits, as well as the dungs, hairs, skin, VasA, urine, blood, bile nails, etc. of lions, tigers, bears, cats, elephants, horses cows, dogs, Salyakas, lizards, camels, mongooses, etc,, should be used in the preparation of oil and clarified butter which should be used internally as well as in snuffing and as unguents. Pills made of the above drugs should be used in sprinkling (wash) and their powdered compound in dusting (the body of the patient). A paste prepared with the above drugs should be used as plasters. The due and proper application of the oil, Ghrita, etc. thus prepared would, in a very short time, surely cures all sorts of mental disorders. 29.

Unholy and improper articles should not be em-

$80 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITX [Chap. DC.

ployed in a case due to the influence of any Deva Graha (divine spirit). No hostile measure should be adopted in a case of possession by a Graha other than that due to the influence of a Pis'dcha Graha in as much as the mighty Grahas, if offended, might kill both the patient and the physician for the act A physician, treating such a case with discretion according to the rules laid dawn in the chapter known as the Hitdhita (Ch. XX, Sutra-Sthdna) may acquire both fame and wealth. 30-31.

Thus ends the sixtieth chapter of the Uttara-T^ntra in the Sus'rutaSamhiti which deals with the (symptoms and) treatment of the disease brought on through super human influences.

CHAPTER LXL

Now we shall discourse on the chapter which deals with the (symptoms and) medical treatment of Apasmdra (Apasmara-Pratishedha). r.

Derivative Significance s— The word “Smriti” signifies the faculty of past sense-perceptions and (the prefix) “Apa” denotes the privation (of any object or attribute). Hence, this disease (in which an individual loses the faculty of past cognitions) is termed Apasmrfra (Epilepsy) and it turns fatal. 2.

Causes : — Excessive, inadequate and improper attention to the objects of the sense as well as to their actions, partaking of filthy, impure, incompatible and uncongenial articles of fare and regimen of conduct, repression of any natural urging of the body or aggravation of the Rajas and Tamas (nescience), or going in unto a woman in her menses, or indulgence in amorous fancies, fright, anxiety, anger, or grief, etc., leads to an aggravation of the bodily Dosha s which in their turn affect the mind (Chetas) very greatly and give rise to ApasmsCra. 3.

The sense-carrying Srotas (channels) of the body overwhelmed by the concerted action of the deranged Doshas bring in a predominance of Rajas and Tamas (Nescience) causing the patient unconscious and forgetful of all past memories. He writhes in agony and throws his hands and legs in convulsive jerlcs with contracted eyes (D. R. tongue) and eye-brows. He gnashes his teeth, with foams at the mouth, etc., and falls to the ground with open eyes, the consciousness returning a short while after. The disease is called Apâsmtfra which is

3$2 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITX tCfaap. LXI.

classified into four distinct types— viz. } VAtaja, Pittaja, Kaphaja and SannipAtaja. 4.

Premonitory Symptoms ' The throb* bing of the heart, emptiness or lightness(of the chest i.e. a sense as if the external world is vanishing away fastly), perspiration, pensiveness, fainting, stupid appearance and sleeplessness are the symptoms, which are usually found to usher in an attack (of ApasmAra). 5.

Symptoms of VaCtaJa and Pittaja

types S-In the Vatoaja type of ApasmAra the patient fancies that a dark supernatural being is coming after him to seize his person and is frightened and faints in consequence with shivering grinding of the teeth i. e . lock-jaw, laboured breathing and foaming at the mouth. Fainting is excited by a terror of being seized by a yellow and fierce-looking being in the Pittaja type which is further marked by thirst, increased heat of the body, perspiration, fainting, mild tremor of the limbs and restlessness. 6—7.

Kaphaja and Sannipataja Types:—