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

allay the the accompanying fever and remove the blood (in the stool). Injections of the decoction (of the drugs) of Madhura group (such as Kdkoli, etc.) in the manner of an Anuvdsana Vasti, should also be applied every day — at daytime or in the night, if the patient be feeling any pain. 90.

A Vasti applied with the admixture of oil would pacify the aggravated bodily Vdyu and Pravdhikd, would be removed with the pacification of the deranged bodily Vdyu. The main treatment, therefore, in a case of Pravahikd is to restore the deranged local Vdyu to its normal condition, (which is identical with a cure). 91.

Medical Treatment s— The drugs known as Pdthd, Ajamodd , Kutaja-seeds , S'untki and Mdgadhikd taken in equal parts, pasted together and dissolved in tepid water or milk duly boiled with the testicles of a goat and mixed with clarified butter would prove efficacious in a case of Pravdhikd. Clarified butter mixed with oil and duly cooked with S'unthi and Kshavaka would give instantaneous relief, if licked. Yavdgu duly prepared with the admixture of Vilva and the expressed juice of Gajds'ana (Sallaki), Kum - bhikd and Dddima and with curd, oil and clarified butter would prove highly beneficial. The use of milk just drawn, would similarly prove beneficial in the case. 92.

A wise and experienced physician should employ the foregoing medicinal compounds and decotions in the complaints of the bowels and of the Stomach (Udardmaya) as well as light, appetising and emulsive (Snigdha) articles of fare and other articles of food prescribed before as diet in the cases. 93.

Yavfifg'U Yavdgu (gruel) is always efficacious in cases of fever and Atisdra in as much as it allays

232 THE SUSHRUTA SAM HIT A. [Chap. XL.

thirst, is light in digestion and appetising, and acts as a cleanser of the bladder (diuretic). 94.

General Principle of Treatment

Drying (Ruksha) measures should be employed in a case due to the excessive use of any oily or emulsive food and emulsive (Snigdha) measures should be adopted in a case brought on through an excessive use of any dry (Ruksha) article. The cause of terror should be first removed in a case due to fright, while the mind should be calmed or consoled in the case due to any grief or bereavement. The treatment in cases (of Atisdra) due to piles or worms (in the intestines) as well as in those due to the effect of poison (introduced into the system) consits in employing therapeutic agents which are simultaneously remedial both to the disease and to its exciting factors. Complications or distressing concomitants such as vomiting, thirst, fainting fits, etc., should be removed with drugs which are not incompatible with the main treatment of the disease, and which do not aggravate the exciting factors. In a case of fever or Atisdra marked by the simultaneous aggravation of the deranged bodily Doshas, the deranged Pitta should be first remedied, while in all other affections, it is the deranged bodily Vsfyu which should be first curbed down or corrected. 95 — 96. ,

Indications Of cure Non-emission of stool at the time of urination and the free emission of flatus (Viyu), as well as the rousing of the appetite, and the lightness of the abdominal cavity (Koshtha) are the indications of cure in a case of Udarâmaya (Diarrhoea, etc.).* 97.

* The printed edition of Dallana’s commentary says that these are the symptoms of cases of aggravated Atisfai.

Chap. XL. ]

UTTARA-TANTRA.

2 33

Static or Dynamic causes of Diseases and Treatment S — Some diseases are due to the dynamics of Karmas (deeds done by a man in the present or any prior existence), and some are due to the effects of deranged bodily Doshas, while there may be others which have their origin both in the dynamics of Karma and the necessary physiological (Doshaja) causes. Of these a Karma-origined disease may come on without any apparent exciting factor and it disappears with the extinction of its (Karma’s) result effected by means of any remedial measure (e. g. penance, etc.) other than medical treatment, whereas as a Dosha-origined disease is conquered as soon as the involved deranged Doshas of the body are restored to their normal condition. Cases due to a slight derangement of the bodily Doshas but attended with a good deal of troubles as well as those due to the excessive aggravation of the Doshas but attended with only slight troubles should be attributed both to the physiological causes and to the dynamics of Karma, and these are cured only when both of these causes viz., Karma and aggravated Doshas are removed. 98.

Grahani • — The Graham (lit. the uppermost extremity or the receiving ducts of the intestines) is affected by the causes which produce dulncss of appetite. The digestive fire of a patient is again deranged, even after * the subsidence of an attack of Atisâra, if, with the dulness of appetite, he be still intemperate and injudicious in matters of food and drink. Hence the regimen of diet and conduct in a case of Atisara should be as laid down in connection with the

* The use of ‘W in the text shows, say the commentators, that Grahani is possible even without a previous attack of Ati$£ra.

p. 30

p. 234

THE SUSHRUTA SAMH1TA.

[Chap. XL.