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

f Ariskta according to Dallana and S'rikantha (the commentator of Vrinda) may mean either Nimba or Phenila ' (soap-b rryl. But S'ivaddsa, the commentator of Chakradatta, explains Arishta to mean (leaves of) Nimba . The practice, however# is, to use the leaves of Nimba ,

Zq6 THE StfSHRtfTA SAMHITA. [Chap. XXXtX.

ing it with half a Kudava measure of Yava parley), half a Pala weight of Manjishthd and a hundred Prastha measure of Amla (KAnjika). The oil is called Prahlrfdana (refreshing) Taila and it relieves the burning sensation of the body due to an attack of fever. 136.

In the alternative, the body of the patient should be plastered with the pasted drugs of the Nydgrodhddi , Kdkolyddi or Utpalddi groups, or anointed with a Sneha duly cooked with the decoction of the drugs of the preceding groups and with Atnla , or the patient should be given a bath (Avagiha) in the £>ita-kasiya * of these drugs. On the alleviation of the burning sensation, the patient should be raised out of the tub and then washed with the spray of cold water and smeared with soothing sandal pastes, etc. Young, gay, beautiful and lotus-faced damsels with their youthful cooling breasts profusely smeared with sandal pastes, wearing garlands of beautiful lotus flowers as well as necklace of pearls, etc., and clad in fine silken clothes should be asked to hold the depressed patient in their firm embrace and to kiss him. These damsels should he removed as soon as the patient would exhibit symptoms of exhilaration. He should be given wholesome (Pitta-subduing) food which would give him much relief. Purgative and pacifying (soothing) medicines described in connection with the Pittaja fever are likewise beneficial in the present case. 1 37.

General treatment of the Complications 5 — The deranged Pitta should be crushed and remedied first of all in a case of fever, involving therewith the co-operation of any of the deranged Doshas of the body, in as much as it is extremely hard

* “dita-kasiya” may here mean either the cold infusion of the drugs 0 x only the cold decoction.

Chap. XXXIX.]

U TTARA-T ANTRA.

p. 207

to subdue the deranged Pitta especially in a case of fever. Such distressing symptoms as vomiting, epileptic fits, thirst, etc. should be remedied with such therapeutic agents as are not hostile or aggravating to the principal disease (fever) but are antidotal to the exciting factors. 138.

Specific treatment of the complications : — Now hear me tell you other specific remedies for the complications. A plaster composed of Yashti - madhu , Rajani , Musta , Dddima t Amla-vetasa, Rasdnjana , Tintidika (tamarind), Nalada (Mdnsi), Patra > Utpala , Tvak (cinnamon), Vydghra-nakha , the expressed juice of Mdtulunga , honey and Madhu-s'ukta , * if applied to the head, would alleviate heat in the head, delirium, vomiting, hic-cough, and shivering — concomitants in cases of fever. Vomiting would yield to the use of a compound consisting of Madhuka flower, H river a, Utpala and Madhulikd mixed with honey and clarified butter and used to be licked up with the tongue as a lambative. It is equally efficacious in water-brash, hic-cough, Raktapitta (hemoptisis) and asthma. Fits of cough and asthma in cases of fever rtfadily yield to the use of the electuary prepared with Tri-phald , Pippali and Mdkshika ■f and mixed with honey and clarified butter. 139— I4T.

A plaster of Viddri ) Dddima , Lodhra , Dadhittha and

* Madhu-s'ukta is prepared by preserving the expressed juice of fambira-lemon, Pippali and honey in an earthen jfot formerly used in keeping honey. It should be laid for a month under the heap of paddy before use. (Dailana) For an alternative mode of preparation see SRIPTC) Chapter X— ^ t Dailana takes “ Mdkshika ” in the sense of honey and comments largely on the seperate use of honey (s^j) * n Ike compound. But we are inclined to take “Mdkshika” as the mineral of the same name.

p. 208

THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITX. [Chap. XXXIX.

Vijapuraka pasted together may be applied with advantage to the scalf of a fever-patient afflicted with thirst and burning sensation. Pastes of Dddirna and sugar, and of Drdkshd and Amalaka , if kept in the mouth, or a gargle ^Gandusha) of milk, expressed juice * of sugar-cane, Mddhvika , * clarified butter, oil and warm water, according to the exigency of the case, would remove the bad taste in the mouth in fever. An empty feeling in the head in fever would be relieved by using as an errhine (Nasya) the medicated clarified butter prepared with the drugs of the Jivaniya group. 142 — 144.

A pulverised compound consisting of Tri-phala\ S'ya'ma', Trivrit and Pippali mixed with honey and sugar, can be given for purgative purposes with benefit after the digestion of the derangsd Dosha in a case of chronic Pitt^ja fever, in an up-coursing Raktapitta and in shivering. The system of the patient should be cleansed with similar purgatives and lardaceous lubrications in cases of Kaphaja and Vâtaja fever. Lambativc of honey, sugar and Abhaya! should be given in a case marked - by vertigo (Bhrama) even after the subsidence of the aggravated Dosha. 145.