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

* Some read these two lines in a different way, They would mean that the non-assimilation (A'ma) of the deranged Doshas would be presumed by the presence of high fever, heaviness of the body and stoppage of the excreta (Mala), and the reverse is the sign of their assimilation (P£ka).

p. 24

p. 1

undigested state of the deranged bodily Doshas ushering, in an attack of fever. 52.

Time for administering Febrifuge:—

According to several authorities, medicines (febrifuges) should be given in a case of fever after the seventh, or according to others after the tenth day of the attack. Febrifuges may be administered earlier in the cases of Pittaja fever, or in the event of the deranged bodily Doshas being digested earlier. An administration of (febrifugal) medicine in an undigested stage of the fever is sure to produce a recrudescence of the disease. Corrective, purifying and soothing (Samaniya) remedies (in a case of fever with undigested Dosha) helps the lapse of the disease (fever) into a Vishama type. S3 — 54The spontaneous motions of the bowels (Mala) of a patient suffering from fever should not be stopped unless they are excessive, vvhen the case should be medically treated as one of Atisdra (Diarrhea). 55.

Preliminary Treatment:— A suitable purgative should be administered even in a case of acute fever if the digested Malas (fsecal matter etc.) are accumulated in the internal passages of the Koshtha (abdomen), in as much as their presence in the organism in that undigested state may usher in an attack of Vishama Jwara attended by distressing symptoms, or may produce loss of strength. Hence they should be eliminated from the system with the helf of emetics, etc. Emetics, Asthdpana-enemas, purgatives, S>iro-virechana and errhines should be successfully employed for the purpose. Emetics should be at the outset exhibited in a case of Kaphaja fever where the patient would be found to be a person of considerable physical strength, and purgatives should be given in a case of

Chap. XXXlX.] UTTARA-TANTRA. 1 87

fever marked by the predominant action of the deranged Pitta in the event of there being laxity of the bowels (intestines). Nirudha-vasti should be applied in a case of Vitaja fever attended with aching pain in the limbs and with Ud^varta (obstinate constipation of the bowels), whereas Anuvatsana-vasti should be prescribed for a patient with a strong appetite, if there be pain in the regions of the back and the waist. Siro* virechana (head-purgative) should be adiministered in cases marked by the accumulation of the deranged Kapha in the head, as the pain in and heaviness of the head would be relieved, and the sense-organs roused up thereby to their normal functions. 56-A.

A plaster composed of Deva-ddru , Vacha , Kushtha , S'atdhvd , Hingu and Saindhava pasted together with Kdnjika should be applied lukewarm to the abdomen in a case of fever attended with painful tympanites if the patient be weak, whereas a medicated plug (Varti) prepared with the above drugs should be applied into the anus in a case marked by the upward coursing of the bodily Vâyu attended with suppression of stool and urine, and Yavatgu prepared with Pippali , roots of Pippali, Yamani and Chavya should be given to the patient as a potion, it being remedial for the deranged bodily Vâyu. 56.

Administration of Ghrita:— The residue of the deranged bodily Dosha having lurked in the system (of a patient) even after the exhibition of proper emetics and purgatives, the fever should ^be remedied by draughts of medicated clarified butter, if the system of the patient be sufficiently dry (Ruksha). 57.

A weak patient with only a small quantity of the deranged bodily Dosha should be treated with the help of soothing (Samaniya) remedies. Fasting should be

1 88 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. XXXIX the principal cure for all types of fever due to (Santarpana) over-eating etc., provided the patient be found to possess sufficient strength. 58.