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

Sprinkling (of water), baths, plaster (Pradcha) unguents and dietetic treatment should be similarly applied in Vâtaja cases. Contacts with vessels filled with cold water should be applied in Pittaja cases, while the use of emetics, rubbing, fomentation (Svcda), fasting and other Kapha-subduing remedies should be recommended in Kaphaja types. Applications of Sncha and su:h'like

Chap. XLIl J U TTARA-TAN TRA. 2$?

remedial measures are specifically recommended in the disease, according to the Dosha or Doshas involved in each case. 42. '

Prohibited articles S — A person suffering from Gulma, should refrain from taking Vallura (dried meat), Mulaka (radish), fish, dried pot-herbs, any preparation of pease, Aluka , (potato of any kind) and any kind of sweet fruit 43.

Causes and symptoms of £ula s— Now

I shall deal with the causes, the characteristic symptoms and the treatment of Sula occurring in any specific locality of a Gulma even without its actual presence or formation therein. A voluntary retention of flatus (Vâta), stool or urine, over-eating, indigestion, eating before the digestion of previous food, over-exertion, use of articles of food which are incompatible in their combination, drinking water when hungry, use of germinated grains, dry food or cakes of dry meat, as well as the use of other such-like articles of fare, derange and aggravate the bodily Vâyu, which produces a violent cutting and spasmodic pain (£>ula) in the main cavity of the trunk (Koshtha). The patient complains of as if being pierced with a Samku (spear) in the inside and of a feeling of suffocation under the influence of that excruciating pain, which fact has determined the nomenclature of Smla (lit. — a spear). 44 — 45.

Vataja Sula : — The patient experiences a violent colic whenever in an empty stomach and he feels a difficulty of respiration. The limbs seem to be numbed or stuffed and the flatus, stool and urine arc evacuated with the greatest difficulty — these are the symptoms which mark the Vtftaja type of the disease. 46.

Plttaja Sula s — Thirst and a bifrning sensation }n the body attended with an excruciating pain, giddi33

p. 258

THE SU SI I RUT A SAMIIITA.

[Chap. XLIl.

n6ss, loss of consciousness, desire for cold things and amelioration on application of cooling measures, are the specific features of the Pittaja type. 47.

Kaphaja and Safnnipdtika £ulas s—

An agonising pain attended with nausea, excessive fullness of the stomach and a sense of heaviness in the limbs are the indications which distinguish the Kaphaja type of the disease. The type due to the concerted action of the three simultaneously deranged Doshas of the body (Sfifonipitika Siula) exhibits all the series of symptoms which respectively mark the preceding types, and hence it is said to be incurable. 48-49.

General treatment The symptoms have been described. Now hear me describe the mode of medical treatment (to be generally pursued in curing a case of Sula). Since the deranged bodily Vâyu (which is the principal and immediately exciting factor, is very active in its operation, hence it should be speedily subdued. Fomentations with Payasa , Kris ard or cooked meat saturated with any Sneha (clarified butter, etc.) should be resorted to. Fomentation naturally gives relief to a patient suffering from Sula. The patient should take cooked 7 Wvr/V-leavcs (as pot-herbs) with his meals cooked with a Sneha (clarified butter) and served hot ; or he should eat the tender sprouts of Chiravilva fried with oil, or drink the meat-essence of the flesh of any birds of the Jdngala group charged with a Sneha, or take the meat of any animal of the Vilesaya group. 50.

Treatment of VcCtaJa Sula :—Swd, Sauviraka (fermented rice boilings), S'ukta, the cream of curd and £Jdas*vit (half-diluted Takra) saturated with Kdlasalt *, should be taken in a case of Vsttaja £>ula. The

* Kdla La van a generally means ‘Vit-salt’, but here, according to Palana, it means ‘Sauvarchala-salt’.

Chap. XLII. ]

UTTARA-TANtRA*

2$9 soup of Kuluttha with an adequate quantity of the acid articles (e. g. pomegranate, etc.) and cooked with the soup of Ldui bird salted with Saindhava and seasoned with pepper, exercise a curative efficacy in a case of the Vdyu-origined type. The compound of Vulmga, S , igru ) Kampilla , Pathyd> S’yâma , A mla-vctasa, Suras d, Asva-karna and Sauvarchala should be taken with wine in an attack of the Vayu-origined type of Sula. 51—52.