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

Palliative measures are all that are possible in cases of looseness, dislocation, sunkenness and the thiashed condition (Pichchita) of the eyes as well as in a case of Hata-drishti (loss of eye-sight). Cases of wrong or erroneous vision, marked by the dilation of the pupil, absence of any considerable redness and those cases where the eye (eye-ball) is in its proper place and is not affected in its power of vision prove amenable to, medical treatment. S~6.

A sunken eye may be uplifted either by holding the breath (PrAna-vâyu) or by inducing vomiting or sneezing, or by throttling or obstructing the wind-pipe. Where the eyes would be found to be hanging down from the sockets, the measures and remedies prescribed before* should be resorted to, and the patient should be made to take in long breaths of air (through the nostrils) and cold water should be poured on his head. 7.

Symptoms and treatment of Kukunaka S — The seventy-six kinds of eye-diseases herein mentioned before, occur to adults as well as to infants, but a peculiar disease, due to the action of deranged Vdyu, Pitta, Kapha and blood, sometimes manifests itself in (the inner lining of) the eye-lids of an infant and this is known as Kukunaka. Its exciting cause is the vitiated condition of the breast-milk of the mother. In this disease, there is excessive itching in the eyes, and the child frequently rubs his eyes, nose and forehead with his fist ; there is constant lachrymation and the child cannot bear the least light of sun’s rays. The orgkn should, in such cases, be speedily bled (by applying leeches) and be scraped (with rough leaves). The organ should further be rubbed with Tri-katu and honey pasted together.

* Sec Qiikit'ita-sthAna, Chapter II, Para 29.

p. 104

THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITX. [Chap. XI&

The mother (or the nurse) should also be treated in the manner prescribed before (in cases of an affection of the breast-milk). Compounds of Saindhava salt, honey and powdered Khara-manjari (Apimdrga) seeds, as well as those of powdered Pippali , Saindaava- salt and honey with the vehicle of breast-milk should be given to the child for emetic purposes, but this should be discontinued as soon as vomiting would set in. 8-10.

To a child who takes both breast-milk and other solid food, the emetic should be administered with the admixture of Vachd , and to a much older child (/.*., one who has given up taking breast-milk) the emetic should be given with the admixture of Madana fruit, n.

Decoction of the tender leaves of Jambu , Antra and Amalaki should be used for washing and sprinkling purposes. Clarified butter duly cooked with Trfyhald or with Guduchi should be dropped into the eye as an Aschyotana measure. 12.

Anjanas composed of Manah-s'ld , Marietta , S'amkha (conch-shell), Rasdnjarta and Saindhava pounded together and pasted with honey and treacle should be applied to the affected organ. Compounds of Murvd y honey and powdered copper should also be used as Anjana. The compound prepared by burning black iron (steel), clarified butter, milk and honey mixed together should be similarly used as an Anjana. As an alternative, the Gutikrfnjana made up of Trikatu , Paldndu (onion), Yashti-madhu , Saindhava , Ldkshd (lac) and Gairika (earth) pasted together, should be used. The Anjana made of NintbaA eaves, Yashti-madhu , Ddrvi , *

* “Bdrvi” generally means Ddru-haridrd ; but, here, on the authority of Videha, Dallana takes it to mean the two kinds of ffaridrd, viz., Haridr£ and £>*'ru-haridrd.

Chap. XIX. ] UTTARA-TANTRAM. IO$

copper (powdered) and Lodhra taken in equal parts and pounded together, is also efficatious. 1 3.

An Anjana prepared with Rasdnjana (Antimony), S'amkha , curd and Saindkava kept together for a period of half a fortnight, * should be applied to the affected organ of the child in cases of Sttkra, and the directions given under the head of Kaphaja-Abhishyanda should also be followed by experienced physicians in such cases of the eye-disease of children. 14.

Conclusion : — The Science of medicine is as incomprehensible as the ocean. It cannot be fully described even in hundreds and thousands of verses. Dull people who are incapable of catching the real import of the Science of reasoning would fail to acquire a proper insight into the Science of medicine if dealt with elaborately in thousands of verses. The occult principles (of the Science of medicine), as explained in these pages, would, therefore, sprout and grow and bear good fruits only under the congenial heat of a (medical) genius. A learned and experienced (medical) man would therefore try to understand the occult principles herein inculcated with due caution and with reference to other Sciences. 1 5.

Thus ends the nineteenth chapter of the U ttara-Tantra in the Sus'ruta Samhitd which deals with the medical treatment to be adopted in cases of hurt or injury to the eye.

* The method of preparing this Anjana, as explained by Dallana on the authority of Videha, is as follows S'amkha (conch-shell) and Saindkava should be first pasted together with curd (Dadhi) and then a quantity of Rasânjana should be soaked with this preparation for seven days and a half and Varti should then be prepared therewith and applied to the eye as an Anjana.

CHAPTER XX.