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

Fasting should be continued as long as the least quantity of the deranged Dosha or Doshas would remain intact in the organism, and light food should then be given with discretion after the Doshas have been fully assimilated in (to) the sysmtem. 41.

Prohibition of Fasting Fasting is prohibited in a case of fever due to a wasting process in the body or incidental to the action of the deranged bodily Vdyu or appearing in consequence of any serious state of the mind (c. g. lust, anger, grief, etc,) as well as in cases in which fasting has been forbidden as in the chapter on Divi-vrana (Chapter I, 25 — Chikitsisth£na). 42.

Effect Of Fasting : — Fasting in the case of a patient in whom the bodily Doshas have been deranged and of whom the digestive fire has become dull, lead to an assimilation of the deranged Doshas and kindles the digestive fire, produces remission of fever, lightness of the body and relish for food. 43.

Satisfactory and excessive fasting 8 — Easy and natural passing of Vâyu and stool and urine, intolerable keenness of thirst and appetite, lightness of the body, sprightly, action of the mind and the sense-organs and a weakness of the body are the results which spring from Satifactory fasting ; while such symptoms as loss of strength, thirst, dry* ness (of the mouth), insomnia, vertigo, doziness, fatigue and such other supervening symptoms (as difficult breathing, cough, fever, hic-cup) mark an excessive fasting. 44—45Tepid water Tepid (boiled) water is appetising and it tends to disintegrate the accumulation of Kapha and restores the deranged bodily Pitta and

184 the SUSHRUTA SAMHITX. [Chap. XXXIX.

Vâyu to their normal condition. The use of tepid water which allays thirst is highly efficacious in cases of fever due to the actions of the deranged bodily Kapha and Vâyu, as it tends to cleanse the internal passages of the body and helps in the easy movement of the deranged bodily Doshas in the organism. The effect of cold water is just the reverse and its inherent cold tends to aggravate fever. 46

Pcyfif 5 — A potion consisting of water boiled with the admixture of the following bitter drugs viz. Gdngeya (Musta\ N agar a, U sir a, Pdrpata , U dicky a (Bdlaka) and red sandal-wood should be given, when cooled, for drinking in a case of Pittaja fever, as well as in one due to the effect of any liquor or poison *. A Peyfifc prepared with digestive drugs should be given to the patient when hungry in as much as it is digestive, appetising, light and febrifugal. Tasteful decoctions of digestive drugs, which alleviate thirst, remove bad taste in the mouth, bring about a fresh relish for food and prove remedial for fever, should be given after the seventh day in a case of fever which, in consequence of a plethora of deranged Dosha in the system, would not abate even after the observance of fasting and the subsequent use of Yavafgu and where the digestive power of the patient has been impaired. 47 — 49,

A decoction of Pancha-mula assimilates the bodily Dosha in a case of Vdtaja fever, while a decoction of Musta> Katuka and Indra-yava mixed with honey (when cold) proves curative in a case of Pittaja fever, and a decoction of the component drugs of the Pippalyâdi group helps the assimilation of the deranged bodily Dosha in a case of Kaphaja fever. Decoctions remc-

* According to different authori ies purely boiled water, when cooled; may also be given in such cases.

Chap. XXXIX.]

UTTARA-TANTRA.

I8 5

dial to each of the deranged bodily Doshaa should be administered in combination in a case of fever due to the concerted action of any two deranged Doshas of the body. A decoction should not be given to a patient immediately after eating, drinking or fasting, nor to a patient afflicted with thirst, extreme weakness, emaciation and indigestion. 50.

Symptoms of Pakva-Jwara Abatement of the bodily heat, lightness of the body and an easy passing of stool and urine are the indications from which the assimilation of the deranged bodily Doshas should be presumed, and it is then that febrifuges should be administered according to the nature of the deranged bodily Doshas underlying the case under treatment * Some, however, believe that the assimilation of the deranged Doshas should be presumed from the changes in the symptoms characteristic of the Doshas. 51.

Symptoms of Ama-jwara : — A crushing sensation in the region of the heart, drowsiness, salivation, aversion to food, non-assimilation of the deranged bodily Doshas, suppression of stool (and wind), copious discharge of urine, laziness, sense of heaviness in the abdomen, stoppage of perspiration, undigested stool, dissatisfaction, somnolence, heaviness and numbness of the limbs, dulness of appetite, bad taste in the mouth, a sense of physical languor and increased virulence and continuity of the attack of fever (abnormal rise in the bodily temperature) are' the symptoms by which a learned physician should ascertain the