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

Where the patient is excited by a fancied dread as if a supernatural being of white colour is coming to apprehend him, it is a case of the Kaphaja type which is moreover characterised by the, exhibition of such symptoms as shivering, nausea, sleepiness, falling prostrate on the ground and vomiting of mucus. Pain in the heart, thirst and nausea are the specific characteristics of the three types respectively. But delirious talk and the making of indistinct and moaning sounds are present in all the types, The specific features of all the three foregoing types manifest themselves in concert in a case of Satonipitika type. 8—10.

Discussion on its cause The sudden appearance of the disease without any apparent cause

Chap. LXI.]

UTTARA-TANTRA.

p. 383

and also its sudden and spontaneous disappearance after a short while without any apparent treatment, have induced several medical authorities to hold that ApasmAra is not due to any (aggravation of the) Dosha. Several authorities, on the contrary, have described, on the authority of other works on the subject, the gradual aggravation of the (suddenly) deranged Doshas as well as the concomitant symptoms of the disease in its various phases with the spontaneous and speedy nature of its abatement (though only temporary). Hence it may be presumed that as seeds sprout in autumn only, when the rains make the ground ready to receive them, the shortness of time being counted as no factor potent enough to obstruct the process (of sprouting), so the deranged Doshas of the body though gradually aggravated bring on, as a matter of fact, an attack of Apasmâra with all its concomitant symptoms, only under conditions favourable to its appearance which may, however, be short and transitory in its duration. Hence this dreadful ApasmAra is certainly a disease of idiopathic origin, it.

General Treatment Medicinal agents and remedies to be mentioned in connection with insanity (Unmada) may be as well employed in the present disease. The use of matured clarified butter both internally and as unguents is recommended. Medicinal measures and compounds mentioned under the head of possession by the Grahas are also specially beneficial in the present disease. Oil duly cooked with S'igru $ KatViitiga , ^SyonAka), Kinna (sedimpnt of wine) and with the expressed juice of Nintba - barks and with cow’s urine weiging four times as much, should be employed as unguents. Draughts and embrocations of oil duly cooked (separately) with the biles of a lizard, a mongoose, an elephant (or snake), a deer of the Prishata class, a bear

384 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITX [Chap. LXI, and a cow, are recommended. Strong medicinal errhines (Siro-virechana) as .well as strong emetics and purgatives should be administered. The divine # Rudra god and the host of his followers should be regularly worshipped and propitiated every day. 12 — 15.