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

THE SUSHRUTA SAM II CT A.

[ Chap. XII.

Young bamboo-sprouts, Arushkara , Tdla (palm) and Ndnkela (cocoanut)* should be burnt to ashes and alkaline water should be duly prepared therewith. The burnt ashes of elephant’s bones should be soaked several (seven) times with the above alkaline preparation in the manner of Bhâvand saturation. The application of this preparation in the manner of an Anjana tends to remove the discolouring nature (whiteness) of a case pf Sukra f. 22.

Treatment Of Ajak£L : —The thin watery matter accumulated in the eye in a case of Ajakat should be drained by making a puncture on either side ( of the cornea ) with a needle after which the incidental ulcer should be filled with powdered beef mixed with clarified butter. Scarification should be many times made in the event of the ulcer becoming raised. 23.

Treatment of Akshi-paka Applications of Sncha and of Sveda (fomentation) to the affected locality should be made in cases of the two kinds of eyedisease known as Sa-sopha and A-sopha Akshi-pika (inflammation of the eye-lid whether attended with any local swelling or otherwise). Venesection should then be resorted to. Eye-washes, eye-drops (Aschyotana), errhines (Nasya) and Puta-paka measures should also be employed. 24.

After having cleansed the system of the patient both internally and externally the following compounds should be used as an Anjana (in cases of the two kinds

* The spathe (JatA) of the palm tree and the shell of the cocoanut fruit should be taken in preparing the compound — S'ivad£sa.

+ The prepared powder of elephant’s b->ne should be mixed with honey and rubbed over the affected part ( S'ukra) with the tip of the finger or with a S'aldkd (rod). The eye should then be washed with the infusion of Triphald — PallanaChap. XII ]

UTTARA-TANTRAl^.

p. 51

of Akshi-pa'ka). Saindhava and clarified butter pasted together in a copper vessel with flesh or Maireya or curd or with, curd-cream should be used as an Anjana. As an alternative, the rust of bell-metal pasted with clarified butter, or Saindhava pasted with breast-milk, or equal parts of the pith of Madhuka tree and Gairika pasted with honey, or Saindhava and copper pasted with breast-milk and clarified butter should be used as Anjanas. The compounds of DAdimba , Ataveta , As* manta , JCola> and Saindhava pasted with any acid juice* should be applied to the affected organ in the manner of a Rasa-kriya£ measure for the cure of (the two kinds of) Akshi-pika. 25-26.

Animal flesh and Saindhava salt soaked in clarified butter and mixed with S'nnthi and breast-milk should be applied to the affected organ in the manner of an Aschyotana or as an Anjana. A compound consisting of Jati flower, Saindhava , S'uuthi , Pippali and huskless Vidanga pasted together with honey, may as well be used as an Anjana with advantage in a case of Akshi-pa'ka. 27-28.

Treatment of Puyalasa Blood-letting

(after the application of Sneha and Sveda) and poulticing (Upanaha) of the affected locality arc efficacious in the affection of the eye, known as Puysftasa. The measures and remedies which prove curative in cases of Akshi-pika should as well be employed with discretion in this case by a physician. An Anjana (eye-salve) composed of Ardraka , Saindhava apd Kdsisa (Sulphate of iron), or Kds'isa Saindhava , Ardraka , iron and copper dust pasted together with honey, should be applied to the affected eye in the manner of an Anjana (in a case of Puydlasa). 29 -30.

* Some add honey in the lUt.

TIIE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA.

[Chap. XII.

Si

Treatment of Praklinna-vartma

The deranged Doshas of the system should be duly* removed (corrected) and the patient should be duly soothed in a case of Praklinna-vartma, after which washes, eye-salves, eye-drops (Aschyotana), snuffs (Nasya) and fumigation (Dhuma) should be resorted to according to the Dosha involved in each case. A compound composed of Musta , Haridrd , Yashti-niadhu , Priyangu , Siddhdrtha , Rodhra, Utpala-sdrivd f pasted together * should be employed in the manner of an Aschyotana measure. As an alternative, the compound consisting of Rdsdnjana and honey should be used as an Anjana. 3 r ~3 2 -

The decoction of the leaves and fruits of Anuxlaka should be duly prepared (in the manner of Rasa-kriyi) and used as an Aujana. Rasa-kriyaC preparations prepared with (the expressed juice of) the roots of bamboo, or VartlS prepared with the same by (condensing it by) cooking it (again) in a copper vessel, should be used for the above purpose. Rasa-kriya preparations prepared with Triphald , flowers of Paldsa , or Khara-nuinjari , should be similarly applied to the affected organ. Eyesalves made of powdered Kdmt ya-mala and cotton fibres (Tantu) burnt together and pasted with the milk of a she-goat and mixed with (white) Marich:i and powdered copper should be used as a Pratyanjana to the eye (already weakened by the use of Anjana.) 33 -34.

* Dallana says that the deranged Doshas of the system should be cleansed with the application of Sneha, Venesection, purgative, errhincs and A'sthapana.

t In place of some read ‘sfarfafrarfTfTfw:’, meaning, in this case ‘Sy^ma-lata 1 by the term ‘Asita^sariv^’. Others again mean ‘Rasdnjana 1 by the term ‘Asita’. — Dallana.

t Dallana recommends ‘rain water 1 as the liquid for the preparation.

Chap. Xll. J UTTARA-TANTRAM. 5 j