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

sac and the cornea) should be duly fomented. A quarter part only of the protuberance or growth should be kept apart, while the remaining upper three quarters should be secured with a hook and cut with a knife. Half of the aforesaid quarter part should then be cut away (very carefully), as lachrymal sinus (and consequent lachrymation) w'ould otherwise set in. The seat of operation should be subsequently rubbed (Pratisdrana) with a compound of honey and Saindhava- salt. Scarifying (Lckhana) powders should then be applied to the affected part for the complete recovery of the disease (any complaint still remaining), io.

Churna-Anjana -Powders of S’amkha (conch-shell), Samudra-phena , marine oyster-shell, crystal, ruby, coral, As niantaka, Vaidurya (Lapis lazuli), pearl, iron, copper and Srotonjana (antimony) taken in equal parts and mixed together, should be stuffed in a ram’s horn* and then let the intelligent one apply this Churnaanjana (powder) to the affected locality, morning and evening everyday, as such applications are extremely efficacious in all types of Armans, Pidakds, Sird-jdla, Arsds, Sushkdrs'as and Arvuda, etc., in the eye. n.

Treatment of inner part of the eyelids : — The mode of treatment in a case of any affection in the inner lining of the Vartma (eye-lid) is given below. The affected part should be first fomented and then the eye-lid should be over-turned (held at an angle), and the diseased growth or swelling should be carefully lifted up with a needle, when an experienced physician should cut it at its root or base with the help of a sharp Mandaldgra instrument. After that the affected part should be rubbed with a pulverised compound consistDallana explains K Ahik.i~$*ring<i as a kind of fnguJi tree.

Chap. XV. ]

UTTAR A-TANTRAM.

p. 63

ing of Saindhava , Kdsisa (Sulphate of iron) and Pippali. The affected eyedid should then be carefully cauterised with a (red-hot) rod after a (complete) cessation of the bleeding. The residue of its root or base, if any, should be scarified with a scarifying alkaline (caustic) preparation. Decoctions of strong emetic and purgative drugs* should be (internally) administered for the elimination of the Doshas (from the Vrana — ulcer). The measures and remedies mentioned in connection with Abhishyanda (Ophthalmia) should also be prescribed with regard to the nature of the bodily Doshas involved in the case. The patient shall observe strict regimen ot diet and conduct for a month after the surgical operation. 12.

Thus ends the fifteenth chapter in the Uttara-Tantra of the Sus'ruta Samhita which treats of the remedies of eye-diseases requiring excisions or surgical operation.

* Some commentators say that emetics and purgatives should be internally administered, but Dallana and the Panjika k^ra oppose this view.

CHAPTER XVI.

Now we shall discourse on the curative measures for the remedy of diseases occurring on the eye-lashes and hence on the eye-lid (Pakshma-kopa Pratl* shed ha), i.

Surgical Treatment s— in a case of Pakshma-kopa which is an affection of the eye-lid and which has been described before as admitting only of palliative treatment, the patient should be first treated with a Sneha and made to take his seat (in a proper position). A cut in the shape and size of a barley corn should be made in the eye-lid horizontally parallel to (the part of the eye-ball lying between) the Kaninaka (pupil) and the Apânga (exterior corner of the eye) leaving two parts below the eye-brow and one part above the cye-lashcs. The surgeon should then diligently suture up the two edges of the incisions with (horse’s) hair. After the application of honey and clarified butter to the operated part, it should be treated in the manner of an (incidental) ulcer. A piece of linen should be tied round the forehead and the horse’s hair sewing up the operated part should be attached thereto. The stitching *hair should be carefully removed after the complete adhesion* of the two edges of the incidental ulcer. 2.

Cauterisation In case of the failure of the preceding measure, the eye-lid should be carefully examined and lifted up in an inverted posture and the diseased cyst (Bali) should be very carefully cauterised with fire or alkali. As an alternative, the Pakshma-

* According to Vagbhata, the stitching hair should be removed on the fifth day.

Chap. XVI. ] * UTTARA-TANTRAM* 65