If a deep seated incision (Prachchhita) in, or an extremely tight fastening (Arishta) around the seat of the bite, or an application of extremely irritant plasters or any such other application thereon gives rise to a local swelling which emits a bad smell and slimy matter it should be inferred from these that the inherent poison in such a case has putrefied the flesh of the affected part which can be made amenable to medicine only with the greatest difficulty. 19- A.
Sypmtomsof wounds from poison--
ed dartSy etc ; The poisonous character of
Chap, v.] KALPA STHANAM. 723
a dart or of an arrow with which a person has been
pierced (Digdha-viddha) should be inferred from the
following symptoms, viz.^ flow of black-coloured blood
from an immediately inflicted wound, suppuration, a
constant burning sensation (in the incidental ulcer) and
sloughing of black coloured, putrefied and morbid flesh
mixed with a mucopurulent discharge from the wound,
and thirst, vertigo, epileptic fits, a burning sensation in
the body and fever. 19.
Treatment of a poisoned wound :— In
a case where all the above symptoms of poisoning are
present whether in a case of snake-bite or of a bite by
a spider (Lutd). or in a case of being pierced with a
venomed arrow, or in a case of poisoning of any kind,
where putrefaction has set in, the putrid flesh of the
incidental ulcer should be judiciously removed and the
vitiated blood of the locality should be speedily extract-
ed by applying leeches thereto. The system of the
patient should then be cleansed with purgatives and
emetics and the affected part of his body should be
profusely sprayed or washed with the decoction (of the
bark) of a Kshiri-Vriksha A poultice prepared with
the anti venomous drugs of cool potency mixed with
clarified butter (washed a hundred times and) placed
inside the folds of linen should also be applied. In the
event of its being caused by the insertion or introduc-
tion of a bone* of any animal, the bone of which is
poisonous in itself, the measures and remedies laid
down above as well as those prescribed under the treat-
ment of the "Pitta-poisoning" should be adopted and
used. 20.
* Dallana holds that by the word "bone" in the text should be un- derstood all the different sources of poison, viz.^ feeces, urine, nail, tooth, bristle, etc., of an animal.
724 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. V.
Recipe of different Agadas :— IVIaha-
g^ada : — The pcwders of Trivrit^ Vis'alyd, Yashti- madhu, the two kinds of Haridrd, Raktd (Manjishthd), Natendra (Aragvadha), the five kinds of officinal salt and 7>2-/^^^^, pasted with honey, should be placed inside a horn. This Agada or anti-poisonous compound used as snuff (Nasya), collyrium and anointment acts as a good neutraliser of poison. It is irresistible in its potency and is of mighty efficacy. It is called the Maha(gada. 21.
Ajitagcada : - A compound made of powdered
Vidanga, Pdthdy Tri-phald, Ajamoda, Hingu, Chakra
(Tagara>, Tri-katu, the five kinds of officinal salt and
Chitraka, pasted with honey, should be kept for a fort-
night inside a cow's horn covered with a lid of the same
material. This anti venomous compound (Agada) is
known as the Ajita^gada and is efficacious in cases of
both vegetable and animal poisoning. 22.
TarkShyagada :--A compound made of the
fine powders of Prapaundarika^ Deva-ddru, Mustd^ Kdld-
nusdryd, Katu-rohini, Sthauneyaka, Dhydmaka, Pad-
maka, Punndga^ Talis' a ^ Suvarchikd, Kutannata, Eld,
white Sindhu-vdra, S'aileya, Kushtha, Tagara^ Priyangu,
Lodhra^ Jala {Bdlaka), Svarna-Gairika, Mdgadha^ (red)
Chandana and Saindhava salt, taken in equal parts
and pasted with honey, should be kept inside a horn.
This Agada is called the Tairkshyaigada and is capable
of neutralising the effects even of the poison of a
Takshaka. 23.
RiShabhagada :— A compound made of the
powders of Mdnsi, Triphald, Murangi^ Manjishthd^
Yashti-madhu, Padmaka^ Vidanga^ Tdlis'a^ Sugandhikd^
Eld, Tvak, Kushthay Teja-patra, Chandana, Bhdrgiy
Patola^ Kinihi ( A pdmdrga), Pdthd, Mrigddaniy Karkatikd^
fura (Guggulu), Pdlindi^ As'oka^ Kramuka and flowers
Chap, v.] KALPA STHANAM. 725
of Surasi and of Bhalldtaka^ well pasted with honey
and with the bile of a boar (Vardha), Godha, Peacock,
Sallaka, cat, Prishata (deer) and of mungoose, should be
preserved inside a horn. This anti-venomous medicine
is called the Rishabha'gada. Snakes never visit the
house of the fortunate and mighty one wherein this
well prepared remedy is preserved. Venomous insects
dare not come within the precincts of such a mansion
and even their poison loses its quickness and fatal
character. The sound of trumpets and drums, smeared
with this compound and blown upon and beaten, tend
immediately to destroy the effects of poison. If a
poisoned patient would only look at the banner
plastered with this Agada the poison from his system
would be thereby eliminated. 24
Sanjivana Agada: -a compound made of
the powders oi Ldkshd, Harenu, Nalada, Priyangu, the
two kinds of S'igrJi, Yashti-madhu^ Prithvikd (Eld) and
Haridrd, pasted with honey and clarified butter, should
be preserved inside a cow's horn and covered in the
above manner. This anti venomous medicine is called
the Sanjivana Agada and should be used as snuff,
collyrium and drink. It is capable of restoring even a
man apparently dead (by poisoning) to life. 25.
Darvi-kara- Rajila-Vishahara-Aga-
da \ — An Agada consisting of the powders of S'leshmd-
taka^ Katphala^ Mdtulunga, S'vetd, Girihvd, Kinihi^ sugar
and Tanduliya should be regarded as the best remedy in
cases of poisoning by Darvi kara or Rdjila-bites. 26.
Mandlf-Vishahara Agada: -One part
^dichoi Drdkshd^Sugandhd^ Naga-vrittikd^ and Samangd
* Dallana says that in place of "Sugandha Naga-vrittikd" some read "Sugandha Naga-mrittika" which means **the sweet-scented earth of the mountain" known to be possessed of anti-poisonous virtues.
726 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. V.
(Vardha krdntd), two parts each of the following drugs, viz.^ — leaves of Surasd^ Vilva^ Kapittha^ and of Dddima, and half a part each of the following, viz. : (leaves of) black Sindhuvdra, Antkotha and Gairika^ should be powdered together and mixed with honey. This anti- venomous medicine (Agada) is highly efficacious es- pecially in the case of poisoning by a Mandali-bite. 27.
Vamsa-tvagsCdi Agada:— An Agada should
be prepared with the scrapings of green bamboo
(Vams'a-tvak), Amalaka, Kapittha, Tri-kaiu, Haimavatiy
Kushtha, Karanja-^QQds, Tagara and S'irisha flowers,
pasted with cow's bile. Used as a plaster, snuff or
collyrium, it destroys the poison of a spider, mouse,
serpent or any other (poisonous) insect. Used as a
collyrium (over the eye-lids), as a plaster over the
umbilical region, or as a Varti (plug), it removes the
obstruction of stool, urine and Vdyu (flatus, etc.), or of a
foetus in the womb. Used as a snuff* or a collyrium, its
curative potency is manifest even in such dangerous
eye-diseases as Kdcha, Arman, Kotha, Patala and
Pushpa. 28.
Pancha-^irisha Agada:— A potion con
sisting of a decoction of the roots, flowers, bark, seeds
and sprouts of a S'irisha tree, taken with honey,
the five officinal kinds of salt and a profuse quantity
of powdered Trikutu, proves speedily efficacious in a
case of poisoning by an insect-bite. 29.
Sarva-KsCmika Agada :— An Agada pre-
pared with Kushtha, Tri-katu^ Ddrvi^ Madhuka (flower),
the two kinds of salt (Saindhava and Sauvarchala),
Mdlati (flower), Ndgapushpa and all the drugs of the
Madhura (Kdkolyiidi) group and pasted with the juice
of Kapittha and mixed with honey and sugar destroys all
sorts of poison specially that of a mouse (Mushika). 30.
Chap, v.] KALPA-STHANAM. 72/
Ekasara Agada : — The following i^drugs viz.,
Somardji seeds and Somardji flowers* Katdbhiy Sindhu-
vdra, Choraka^ Varuna, Kushtha^ Sarpa-gandhd^ Saptald,
Punarnavd, flowers of S'irisha, Aragvada and of Arka,
S'ydmd, Amhashthd^ Vidanga, Antra, As'mantaka, black
earth and Kuravaka comprise the Ekasara Agada.
These should be applied singlyt or in combination of
two or three to destroy the eff"ects of poison. 31.
Thu: ends the fifth Chapter of the KalpaSdthana in the Sus'rula Samhila which deals with the medical treatment of snake-bites.
* Some explain "^♦lllt^HJ^ H^" to mean 'Somaraji, Phala (Madana) and Pashpa (Naga-kes'ara).'
t Some explain "^^f^ flrt%^ ^ifq" to mean that the Agada should be used *'once, twice or thrice" according to the requirements in each ca£e.
Chapter Vl
Now we shall discourse on cases of rat-poison- ing (IVIushika-kalpa) i.
Different varieties of rats (WI. Text) :
— Now hear me enumerate the names of the different families of Mushika (rats) briefly referred to before as having their poison in their semen, classified according to their different names, features and the medical treat- ment to be employed for the neutralisation of the effects of their poison. They are eighteen in number and are named as follows :— Ldlana, Putraka, Krishna, Hamsira, Chikkira, Chhuchhundara, Alasa, Kashdya-dasana, Kulinga, Ajita, Chapala, Kapila, Kokila, Aruna, Mahd- Krishna, S'veta, Maha-Kapila and Kapotdbha. 2 A
General symptoms of rat-poison- ing*: — The blood of any part of a human body coming in contact with the semen of any of these different classes of rats or scratched with their nails, teeth, etc., previously besmeared with their semen (S'ukra) is vitiated and gives rise to the appearance of Granthi (nodes), swelling, Mandala, eruptions of circular erythematous patches on the skin, Karnikd (eruptions of patches resembling the calycle of a lotus flower), pimples (pustules) violent and acute erysipelas, Kitima (keloid tumours), breaking pain in the joints, extreme pain (in the body), fever, violent epileptic fits, anemia, aversion to food, difflcult breathing, shivering and horripilation. 2.
Specific symptoms and treatment
of rat- poison ing" :— The general symptoms of rat-poisoning have been briefly described above, "^ow
Chap. VI.] KALPA STHANAM. 7^9
hear me specially describe the symptoms of the bites
by the different families of rats (Mushika). A bite by
a rat of the L^flana class is marked by a copious flow
of saliva, hic-cough and vomiting. The patient in
such a case should be made to use a lambative made
of the roots of Tanduliyaka mixed with honey. A bite
by a rat of the Putraka family is marked by a sense
of physical langour, yellowness of the complexion and
the appearance of nodular glands (Granthi) resembling
young rats. A compound of S'irisha and Ingudi pasted
together and mixed with honey should be given to
the patient as a lambative in this case. A bite by a rat
of the Krishnai (black) class in foul weather and more
especially on a cloudy day is characterised by the
vomiting of blood. A pasted compound of S'irisha
fruit and Kushtha with the washings of the ashes of
Kims'uka (flower) should be given to the patient in
such a case. 3-A.
A bite by a rat of the Hansira species brings on an
aversion to food, yawning and horripilation. In such
a case emetics should be first given to the patient who
should be then made to drink a decoction of the drugs
of the Ara^vadhddi group. A bite by a rat of the
Chikkira class is accompanied by headache, swelling,
hic-cough and vomiting. In such a case an emetic con-
sisting of the decoction of Jdlini, Madana fruit and
Amkotha should be prescribed. A bite by a venomous
Mushika of the Chhuchchhundara (mole) species gives
rise to diarrhoea (watery stool), numbness of the muscles
of the neck and yawning. In this case an alkaline
compound prepared of the ashes of the dry plants of
barley (Yava-ndla), Rishahhi (Atma-guptd) and Vrihati
should be prescribed*. 3-B.
* Different reading*— A bite by a Mushika of the Chhuchchhundara
730 THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA. [Chap. VI.
A bite by a rat of the Alasa species is characterised by a numbness of the neck, an upward coursing of the Vdyu, fever and pain at the seat of the bite. In this case the patient should be made to take the Mahaigada with honey and clarified butter as a lambative. A bite by a rat of the Kasha(ya-dasana species is marked by somnolence or excessive sleep, atrophy (Sosha) of the heart and a general emaciation of the body. In such a case a lambative made of the bark, pith and fruit (seeds) of S'irisha mixed with honey should be given to the patient to lick. A bite by a rat of the Kulinga species is marked by pain, swelling and stripe-like marks about the seat of the bite, the remedy consisting in a lambative made of the two kinds of vS'<3://^'(Mudga-parniand Mdsha- parni) and Sindhuvdra pasted together and mixed with honey. 3-C.
A bite by a rat of the Ajita species is characterised
by vomiting, epileptic fits (fainting), a catching pain
at the heart (Hrid-graha) and blackness of the eyes.
The patient in such a case should be made to lick a
compound made of (the roots of) Pdlindi (Trivrit)
pasted with the milky juice of Snuhi and mixed with
honey. A bite by a rat of the Chapala species is
marked by vomiting, epileptic fits and thirst, and the
remedy in this case should consist of a lambative
made of Tri-phald, Bhadra-kdshtha (Deva-daru) and
fatd'mdnsi (D.R.— Yava) pasted together and mixed with
honey. A bite by a rat of the Kapila species is follow-
ed by Kotha (putrefaction) of the bite, appearance
